Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi have probably done more to bring the music of Leon Russell to larger audience than any other artists, at least over the the last few years.
Russell's influence has never been very far from the TTB -- from their Mad Dogs & Englishmen tribute (Russell was the musical director on the Joe Cocker tour which the original album was culled from) at Lockn', to their collaboration in Chicago this past January.
When Leon sadly passed away this weekend, it wasn't a matter of if, but how, the Tedeschi Trucks band would pay tribute.
Their first move was a touching facebook tribute.
But they saved another poignant message for Sunday night in Peoria, dedicating the show to their friend, and opening and closing the show with songs in tribute.
The opening "Space Captain", a frequent cover in the past few years from Mad Dogs & Englishmen, earned a place of honor
and the encore, "Delta Lady", a Russell composition which closes the album played a similar role last night.
Thanks to Rick Maddox for the captures. Here's the entire Mad Dogs set from Lockn', which features Russell as a special guest.
