Garth Brooks, Leon Russell added to Songwriters Hall of Fame
Garth Brooks (Associated Press file photo)
Leon Russell (Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman Archives)
Oklahoma superstars Garth Brooks and Leon Russell are among the musical powerhouses picked this year for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Along with Brooks and Russell, the 2011 inductee class will include the team of Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, whose hits include “Like A Virgin” and “True Colors”; John Bettis, who penned “Human Nature” and “Crazy for You”; and Allen Toussaint, who wrote “Working in the Coalmine” and “Yes We Can.”
“We are inspired by the striking caliber and range of the 2011 Songwriters Hall of Fame class,” said Songwriters Hall of Fame chairman and Elk City native Jimmy Webb in today’s announcement.
“John, Garth, Leon, Billy, Tom, and Allen each represent a unique breed of artist, warmly respected by their peers and revered by all lovers of song. As songwriters, their work has forever enriched our world’s music.”
Certified by the Recording Industry Association of America as the top-selling solo artist in U.S. history, Brooks has sold more than 128 million albums and is the only solo artist in RIAA history to have six albums top the 10 million mark. An Owasso resident, Brooks’ songwriting credits include his hits “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” “The Thunder Rolls,” “Unanswered Prayers” and “We Shall Be Free.”
A Tulsa native who was raised in Yukon, Brooks helped propel country music to the musical forefront with his smash albums “No Fences,” “Ropin’ The Wind,” “The Hits” and “Double Live” and an eclectic musical style blending working man’s blues, honky tonk, bluegrass and arena rock. His most recent release, the 2007 collection “The Ultimate Hits,” has been certified five-times platinum.
In the midst of his booming career, Brooks retired in 2001, delivered his last record for Capitol Records and moved back to Oklahoma to raise his three daughters. In 2009, he emerged from retirement to begin a five-year stint performing acoustic shows at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas.
In December, the 1984 Oklahoma State University alumnus played a series of nine arena shows in Nashville that raised $5 million for the flood relief efforts in Tennessee. The concerts featured Brooks’ wife, fellow Grammy-winning country star Trisha Yearwood.
A Lawton native, Russell is in the midst of a career resurgence that began with last fall’s release of “The Union,” his duet album with fellow singer/songwriter/pianist Elton John.
Russell grew up in Tulsa, began his musical career at age 14 and graduated from Tulsa’s Will Rogers High School. The rock Renaissance man was a sought-after session musician in the 1960s. In the ’70s, he led Joe Cocker’s famed “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” tour, performed with George Harrison and Friends at the Concert for Bangladesh and released a series of successful albums.
His songwriting credits include “A Song For You,” “This Masquerade,” “ Delta Lady,” “ Tight Rope,” “Bluebird,” “ Back To The Island,” and “Hummingbird.” Joe Cocker had a hit with “Delta Lady,” B.B. King with “Hummingbird,” and The Carpenters with “Superstar,” which Russell co-wrote with Bonnie Bramlett. George Benson’s recording of “This Masquerade” won the Grammy for best record of the year in 1977. Russell had his own chart success with “Tight Rope” at No. 11 in 1972 and “Bluebird” at No. 14 in 1975.
In an effort to revive the career of his musical idol, John invited the Oklahoma Music Hall of Famer to record a collaborative album with him, with the acclaimed T Bone Burnett as producer. “The Union” debuted in October at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, ahead of new releases from Rod Stewart, Shakira, Bob Dylan and the “Glee” cast.
Russell and John were nominated at the 2011 Grammys for best pop collaboration with vocals for “If It Wasn’t for Bad,” a track Russell wrote for “The Union.”
In March, John will do the honors as Russell is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame’s 42nd Annual Induction and Awards Dinner is set for June 16 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Additional special award honorees will be announced soon.
-BAM
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