LEGENDS | Bill Janovitz: Writing Leon Russell's Definitive Biography, Eric Clapton, and LeonLifers

A candid interview with Bill Janovitz, the author of a newly published biography about Leon Russell's six-decade career as a musician, songwriter and composer. In this segment, Bill Janovitz sits down at the historic Harwelden Mansion in Tulsa, Oklahoma and visits with Teresa Knox of The Church Studio. Bill discusses how the project got started and how he navigated researching the time period between 1976 to 2008. He further shares interactions with rock n' roll legends such as Eric Clapton, Elton John, Rita Coolidge and his thoughts on the LeonLifers and their relationship with Leon Russell.
Bill Janovitz is the singer, songwriter, and guitarist for Buffalo Tom. Formed with fellow band members Chris Colbourn and Tom Maginnis, Buffalo Tom came together in 1986 and has been active on-and-of since then. Bill Janovitz has parallel careers in real estate and (more pertinently) as an author and biographer. Shortly before COVID hit, he was gearing up to write a biography on the late Leon Russell. The pandemic created an initial slow-down, but soon turned into an ironic advantage, as the figures he chose to interview were more available to conduct remote interviews.
The new Bill Janovitz book, "Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time's Journey Through Rock & Roll History" is available to purchase on The Church Studio's online store: thechurchstudi...
Location: Harwelden Mansion, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Guest: Bill Janovitz
Producer & Interviewer: Teresa Knox
Cinematography & Editing: Matthew Simonson
People and locations mentioned:
Leon Russell
Elton John
Jerry Lee Lewis
Mary McCreary
Jackie Wessel
[Bo Sharon]
Bruce Springstein
Randy Newman
Rita Coolidge
Willie Nelson
James Burton
Rickie Nelson
Elvis Presley
Sonny Curtis
Buddy Holly
Eric Clapton
Johnny McDonnell
Out of Our Heads
The Rolling Stones
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Wrecking Crew
Mad Dogs
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Tulsa
Los Angeles
Skyhill
OKPop
The Crickets
New Grass Revival, Pasadena
John Cowan
Leon Lifers
Anything Can Happen
Deadheads
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[@williamharrison2456]

It’s a great book Bill wrote, and it really helped me understand who Leon was in a world that the average person never gets to see! Leon was truly ahead of his time, and a great innovator in his time! He certainly was a one of a kind great performer 🎹🌹🌅❣️

[@ShakeyWayne]

Dear Bill, I’m on page 365 of your fabulous book on Leon Russell. Before I even understood what blues, gospel, R’n B, country etc. really meant to this Ottawa Valley boy (Canada), it was Leon and Mad Dogs & Englishmen that truly opened my ears to these genres. The album was a veritable clinic in the roots music styles that would define my piano playing for decades. My gratitude is deep and ongoing. Thanks for a GREAT book (and to my high school art teacher Dick Totten, for keeping that reel-to-reel loaded with so much great music and inspiration). Thank you, Bill. God bless!🎼👏🙏

[@TheChurchStudio]

Thank you for sharing, Wayne! It's so thrilling to see BIll's book impacting people around the globe in the wake of Leon's music. Greetings from 1,400 miles away!

[@ShakeyWayne]

@@TheChurchStudio Great to hear from you! Thank you!

[@bobcox9064]

Thank you Teresa for continuing to get these interviews and document/share them on video with us.

[@teresaknox8205]

Love that you are such a loyal viewer! Thanks, Bob!!

[@teresaknox8205]

Bill was a blast to hang out with! I highly recommend the book!

[@juniorjohnson5961]

Huge Leon Fan Ordered the book now !

[@ecobeattv6246]

A great book about an amazing musical Hero. LEON is a Superstar. Thank you for the book, Bill.

[@fullschneider]

Already preordered my copy. According to Amazon it will be delivered next Wednesday 😝

[@netw52]

Finished the audio this weekend. Best book I’ve read in ages. So well researched and well organized. It will be the definitive Leon bio. Thrilled that it debuted at #17.

[@godscomic2001]

As a fan since childhood (early 70's), I watched the highs and the lows from a distance. But I feel Bill portrayed this giant effectively and fairly.

[@GLD-hopeful]

Great interview! I'm glad he shared that Leon's band members said although Leon and the band enjoyed the devotion/home cooked meals offered to them by the "Lifers", Leon had to put up a shield so to speak, to keep boundaries from those who imagined they were more to him than his fans. I had envisioned that very scenario when watching various video, etc. I'm reading the book and enjoying it thoroughly!

[@oldmillhill]

Great interview; excellent book.

[@migdald1]

Just finished the book...nothing show of outstanding. The rise, the fall, and rise of one of the all-time greats made for a compelling read. Thank you, Bill J.

[@steveswell1]

Reading Bill's book now...super detailed and intricate and a lovely way to experience "space and time". :)

[@tonysloggett106]

I am simply amazed at the amount of research that Bill must have put into this wonderfully written tribute to and about Leon. thanks !

[@CaptainSpaceTime]

Bill I love this. I m reading your book now... Thankyou.. You probably kmow by now Im doing these Leon Russell covers. and my friend Paul Ahlstrand is arranging some horn parts for me.well we are talking about it . I would love to hear your opinion on this stuff. that Im doin as well.

[@CaptainSpaceTime]

Oops this is going to church Studio ..thats kind of terrifying for me.. but I guess i would love to hear your opinion on what Im doing .. I ve got like 9 songs Im working on as covers through a company that Im getting licenses for to play them , but still Im goin on a flim-flam budget.. no record company support so forgive me if the recordings arent stellar, but im tryin my best to make them high quality .. Ok look me up ,I ve posted 2 so far.

[@AFaceintheCrowd01]

I liked Leon Russell until I read this biography.

[@bmurt4286]

Never meet your heroes

[@chlynn13b92]

He was human, with his flaws but he also was often kind and generous. .

[@kevinl9887]

It happens. This book provided a view I wasn't aware of in music history. I read "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" about Warren Zevon. Musical genius, horrible person. There's worse!