Few artists were busier in the '60s and '70s than this pianist/songwriter. The Tulsa, Oklahoma, native moved to L.A. where he became a session musician with the famed Wrecking Crew. His brilliant self-titled debut, released in 1970 on his own Shelter Records, featured tunes that would go on to be covered by everyone from Joe Cocker to Ray Charles to Amy Winehouse. Russell was an integral part of The Concert for Bangladesh in 1971, and he continued recording Top 40 albums throughout the decade, including a 1979 duets album with Willie Nelson. A 2010 Elton John collaboration, meanwhile, yielded the hit album The Union.