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7-5 Leon Russell
 I love you in a
place where there's no space or time
I love you for my life you are a friend of mine
And when
my life is over
Remember
when we were together
We were
alone and I was singing this song for you
"Master of Space & Time"
Leon Russell
One of the things I
enjoy most during my summer hiatus is attending some great concerts
literally in my back yard. In addition to being famous for it's skiing
and scenic beauty, Telluride Colorado
also plays host to a wide and constant variety of musicians. Summer
festivals include Bluegrass, Jazz, ,Blues & Brews, Chamber
Music, etc. Plus every bar worth it's peanuts hosts live music almost
nightly with many name entertainers and the local Opera House
rocks on a regular basis.
 On
July 3rd one of my All-Time favorites played at the Rico Bar. If
you've never heard of Rico, Colorado, you're not alone. It's another
little old mining town that all but ghosted out in the 60's &
70's. But due to the fact it's only about 25 miles from Telluride, it
is now staging a resurgence as young people discover the joys of a
mountain lifestyle at a much more affordable price than Telluride.
Still, if they count past 500 when taking a census, somebody stood up
twice.
Hence
when I had the chance to see Leon Russell in the Rico Bar it
was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. The joint was jumpin' with
people from 16 - 80, all 150 of us. I got a seat on some stairs at
stage height about 5 feet off stage left, which left me with a birdseye
view of Leon & the band.
 Now
I wasn't expecting too much. After all, Leon's not had an easy life and
he looks like he's about 80 (he's actually 66). After hearing Bob Dylan
up here last year and the disaster that is his voice, I figured Leon's
naturally gravelly tones would not be in their best shape either.
Man was I in for a surprise! Leon hit the stage with that long white
hair, longer whiter beard, his Southern Colonel White Coat and cowboy
hat and rocked us for 2 solid hours without a break.  Great
chops, pounding the ivories, voice solid in everything from screaming
Hard Rain's Gonna Fall & Stranger in a Strange Land to romantic
crooning in Lady Blue and A Song For You. His bassist, Jackie
Wessel, has been with him for 26 years and he's got a hot-finger kid
named Chris Simmons on lead guitar that's nobody's huckleberry.
If
you don't know who Leon Russel is - get yours elf together.
He started playing back-up bands in Oklahoma in the 50's, started
headlining and soloing in the 60's and has played with nearly everybody
of note since then including Eric Clapton, BB & Freddie King,
Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner and Steve Winwood, to
name a few. He put together Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs & Englishmen
tour as well as George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh, he's made
albums with Willy Nelson, the Rolling Stones, The Monkees, Delaney
& Bonnie - the list is endless.
Leon's
on tour this summer coming to a series of small to medium
venues somewhere near you. If you get a chance I highly recommend you
drop what you're doing and get yourself over to the show. You will not
be disappointed.
If you've been lucky enough to miss my summer travel series, feel free
to follow along as I regale you with tales both taudry and true
including:
#1.
Myths & Legends of the Great Southwest
#2.
Trout Lake Colorado - My Slice of Heaven
#3. The
Smugglers Union Mine
- Travels at Timberline
#4.
An Ode to Roadhogs
Gene
Wunderlich - Selling Southwest California Homes including
Temecula, Murrieta & The Southern California Wine Country
Remember, Don't wait to buy real
estate - Buy real estate and wait.
THE
OPINIONS IN THIS
COMMENTARY ARE STRICTLY GENE WUNDERLICH's PERSONAL OPINION. WHILE ANY
REASONABLE &/or RATIONAL PERSON SHOULD AGREE, THESE VIEWS MAY
NOT
REFLECT THOSE OF ACTIVERAIN, COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE OR
ANY LOCAL, STATE OR NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS.
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Gene Wunderlich - Realtor®, Government Affairs Director
Temecula,
CA
More about me…
Southwest Riverside County Association of Realtors
Office Phone: (951) 894-2571
Cell Phone: (951) 205-1911
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;)
;)
Indeed. It's that time of the year, glorious summer, when the "action" turns to the out of doors and most of it is free for the coming. Folks hit the sidewalks and lawns to sit around outdoor concerts, wine festivals, outdoor cafes, sidewalk sales and more.
I love summer time.