Leon Russell attends one of Elvis' August 1972 Las Vegas shows

[DarylR]

Hello,

Several years ago, I came across this bit in Billboard magazine. It appeared in the August 19, 1972 issue of Billboard. It mentions that songwriter / musician and recording artist Leon Russell had recently attended one of Elvis' shows in Las Vegas. Leon Russell is the guy who wrote songs such as "Delta Lady" (popularized by Joe Cocker), "Superstar" (popularized by the Carpenters amongst others), and "A Song For You." As some of you may know, Elvis is purported to have rehearsed the song "Delta Lady" prior to his January / February 1970 Las Vegas engagement. Here's a link to a pdf file of the Billboard issue in question. It's on page 12 of the pdf.

https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-A ... -08-19.pdf

Here's a video in which Leon Russell talks about meeting Elvis in Las Vegas. He does get the hotel name wrong in the video. He says it was the MGM Grand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf5H5uYd4NU

The question I have is does anyone know which show or shows Leon may have attended? Did Elvis introduce Leon in the audience and probably most importantly, did Elvis sing any of "Delta Lady" either before or after the introduction? Maybe someone such as Ciscoking could answer some of these questions since he's big into audience recordings. I presume that Leon attended a show within the last week of the date of the Billboard issue but that could be wrong as well. Nonetheless, Elvis' engagement at the Las Vegas Hilton began on August 4, 1972, so at worst, it would have occurred sometime between August 4, 1972 and a week after the date of the Billboard magazine date, which would be August 26, 1972.

I've included James Burton's recording of "Delta Lady" from his 1971 A&M Records album (produced by Felton Jarvis) titled "The Guitar Sounds Of James Burton."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwUvhCWMTyU

Daryl

[jokerlola]

I got to see Leon in Denver twice in the last 2 years of his life and he opened both shows with Elvis' version of I Got A Woman, telling this same story. These were both great shows! He would tell great stories before each song. I was really looking forward to seeing him again when he passed. I was able to be right up to the stage for both shows and got him to sign a concert poster at both shows.

[Ciscoking]

I am not aware of a show where Elvis introduces Leon or sings Delta Lady...sorry Daryl.

[DarylR]

https://youtu.be/qQXgCiW3IzQ?si=74aBQYsSeQ1PM5Yl

I've also attached a clipping of the aforementioned Billboard magazine mention of Leon Russell attending one of Elvis' shows in August 1972.

Screenshot_20231122-050855.png

[Rickeap]

Good to hear, thanks.
I wish Elvis had done Delta Lady

[John]

https://youtu.be/qQXgCiW3IzQ?si=74aBQYsSeQ1PM5Yl

I've also attached a clipping of the aforementioned Billboard magazine mention of Leon Russell attending one of Elvis' shows in August 1972.

Screenshot_20231122-050855.png

Great find there, DarylR. Thanks.