Tulsa Musician Remembers Friend, Idol, Leon Russell

<p>When the world learned Sunday morning that Leon Russell had died, millions of his fans knew they'd lost a legendary musician. But one Tulsa guitar player knew he'd lost much more.</p>

Monday, November 14th 2016, 7:12 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Musician Remembers Friend, Idol, Leon Russell

When the world learned Sunday morning that Leon Russell had died, millions of his fans knew they'd lost a legendary musician.

But one Tulsa guitar player, Beau Charron, knew he'd lost much more.

"I just remember him being my buddy, my friend," Charron said.

He has played guitar, pedal steel guitar, organ and a variety of other instruments in Leon Russell's band for the last seven years. That, he said, was like a dream come true.

"When I was 15 I loved Leon, and I was going to see him, and never did I think for a second that, years later, I'd end up working for him, you know, just one of my idols," Charron said.

On stage, Leon Russell was iconic with his white hair and beard, hat and shades; and to Charron, Russell was a mentor and even father figure.

"I'm forever in his debt as a musician," he said.

Russell was inducted into the Songwriter and the Rock and Roll Halls of fame in 2011. He had a heart attack in July and by-pass surgery as a result - the plan was to resume touring in the new year.

"I just really wish I could see him again. We were all looking forward to going back out in January with him getting healed up," Charron said. “Just to know that you can't do it at least one more time is really hurting."

No one lives forever, but the music written and recorded by Russell decades ago will never die.

The Church Studio on 3rd Street near downtown was Leon Russell's recording home for years; it's now the site of a makeshift memorial.

Fans have been leaving flowers and notes since his death was announced.

We haven't heard yet about services for Russell either here or in Nashville.