Name a downtown street after Leon Russell – “Leon Russell Road” is a reality in Tulsa Oklahoma
It all started with a group on Facebook called “Name a downtown street after Leon Russell.” Description of the group is, “A group of fans of the great Leon Russell who think it’s a travesty that no major Tulsa artifact, street or the like has been named for the Master of Space and Time of Tulsa. Do you have any ideas on how to make this happen? Let us know.”
I joined the Facebook group the minute I became aware of it, and it now has over 3,000 members.
Leon Russell and I share a birthday – we were both born on April 2nd. He returns to Tulsa almost every year for his annual birthday bash, and of course, I try to make “our celebration.” I’m including one photo of his April 2010 birthday bash.
I’ve been listening to Leon since high school and enjoy his music as much today.
I understand from a Tulsa World article written by David Harper that Charles Roden discovered the Facebook campaign and got involved by submitting a formal proposal to the city. Roden’s mother attended Will Rogers High School with Leon.
Name a downtown street after Leon Russell – Leon Russell Road is a reality in Tulsa Oklahoma
Leon Russell Road is 3rd Street between Peoria & Utica Avenues.
It’s in the heart of the Pearl District whose boundaries are I-244 to the north, IDL (Inner Dispersal Loop) to the west, 11th Street to the south and Utica Avenue to the east. The Pearl District is an area of downtown/midtown that is going through an awesome revitalization and is home to many local vendors and artists.
Garden Deva’s Lisa Regan held her 11th Annual Open Studio party this weekend at 3rd and Trenton. Their festivities wound up around 6:00pm in preparation for the dedication and celebration of naming Leon Russell’s Road.
The location for the homage is appropriate, because Leon and friends recorded music at the Church Studio at 304 South Trenton Avenue, a stone’s throw north of Lisa’s Garden Deva studio.
Leon will be playing with Elton John in Tulsa this Friday, November 12, at the BOK Center at 8:00pm. We are expecting to hear tunes from the recent release, “The Union,” along with all the favorites we know the words to.
I’m sure he’ll take a minute to drop by his old studio to see the new sign for his old street.
