Leon Russell: The Last Interview
Laurie Kirby, FestForums | June 14, 2024
Photo Credit: Derek Trucks
To work on a music doc is delightful. To work on one featuring Leon Russell was exhilarating. And yet that’s just what happened. As a lifelong fan of Leon Russell (I insisted on seeing him for my 13th birthday), I was thrilled to be hired to assist on a music doc by director Jesse Lauter and executive producer Wayne Forte featuring the legendary rocker and so many more music legends. It was a spectacular labor of love.
"Learning to Live Together: The Return of Mad Dogs & Englishmen" turned out to be Russell’s last film appearance. I vividly remember interviewing Rita Coolidge shortly after his death, where she reminisced about their bond and how he wrote "Delta Lady" for her.
The film revisits Joe Cocker’s iconic 1970 Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour, culminating in a tribute festival reunion at LOCKN’ in 2015, hosted by Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi. The Tedeschi Trucks Band performed alongside 12 original Mad Dogs members, including the aforementioned Leon Russell and Rita Coolidge with guest musicians Chris Robinson and Dave Mason. The documentary captures the electrifying performances at LOCKN’ and archival footage from the first tour, celebrating the twice lightning in a bottle experience. As singer Claudia Lennear proclaims, it was like a “shooting star, if you saw it great, if you didn’t, it’s gone.”
Since its festival run, the film has taken flight. It’s been on Delta Air Lines since June 1 (which I excitedly announced to fellow passengers whilst on a flight coincidentally June 1st), Virgin Atlantic flights starting June 24, and The Criterion Channel from July 1 onward, which is as prestigious as it gets. Lauter expressed his honor and excitement about the wide release. But his next chapter is even more thrilling.
Peter Shapiro of Dayglo Presents has just announced that he has chosen Jesse Lauter as Head of Production & Media. Lauter will oversee video and audio production for Dayglo's properties, including The Capitol Theatre and Brooklyn Bowl venues. He will direct live-streams for FANS.live and Relix, and work on special projects like festivals and album releases. States Lauter about his union with Shapiro “ we both love magic and the spirit of positive music.”
Lauter is excited to join the team, highlighting his long-standing relationship with Dayglo. Shapiro praised Lauter's qualifications and vision, noting his diverse background with renowned artists and notable tribute projects.
“There have been some pretty awesome developments in my world” citing the film developments as well as the creative development and production of various special projects for Dayglo, including festivals, events, and album releases. Let’s keep on eye on Jesse as he climbs to further successes.
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