Chris O’Dell sits down with author and Buffalo Tom frontman Bill Janovitz to talk about his New York Times bestselling biography, “Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time’s Journey Through Rock & Roll History” — which highlights the complicated, brilliant, deeply human man behind the legend, Leon Russell.
Chris knew Leon personally in his early-’70s. Bill spent years piecing together the full arc of his life. Together they unpack the rock star Leon willed himself to become, the futurist obsessed with technology decades too early, the session genius who quietly shaped records you already love, and the artist who wrote his own goodbye. Plus: the almost-unbelievable story of three Beatles nearly playing on Leon’s debut album and how The Church Studio is bringing Leon’s legacy home to Tulsa.
Bill Janovitz is the founding member of Buffalo Tom and the author of acclaimed music books, including “Rocks Off: 50 Tracks That Tell the Story of the Rolling Stones,” a 33⅓ volume on the Stones’ “Exile on Main St.,” and his latest, a deep-dive biography of The Cars.
Chris O’Dell sits down with her dear friend and rock royalty, Pattie Boyd, the woman who inspired the songs Something and Layla.
In this unforgettable first episode, Chris and Pattie do what lifelong friends do best: wander through 50+ years of shared memories with no filter and no script.
They cover:
• How they first met at an Apple boutique fashion show — with Yoko Ono at the table
• Finding Friar Park — the Victorian folly with 120 rooms, six nuns, and no central heating
• The Hare Krishnas moving in, and what they’re doing now that the world doesn’t know about
• Behind the scenes of the Concert for Bangladesh — Eric on a plane, Bob maybe showing up
• The new Beatles films and why neither Chris nor Pattie has been contacted
…and so much more!
Q&A w/ Chris O’Dell
LIVE from The Church Studio : Miss O’Dell on The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and Leon Russell
Attention Beatles Fans!!! Meet the legendary tour manager and music industry insider, Chris O’Dell, and hear all about her extraordinary career in rock and roll with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Leon Russell and more. Leon wrote 2 songs inspired by Chris including “Hummingbird” and ” Pisces Apple Lady.” As one of the few women to work behind the scenes in the male-dominated rock world of the 1960s and ’70s, Chris made history.
Now a best-selling author, public figure, and devoted mother to her son William, Chris continues to inspire and share her story with the world. She shares her one-of-a-kind experiences through interviews, public appearances, and her acclaimed memoir, Miss O’Dell, which chronicles her time inside the inner circles of rock’s most iconic musicians. She recently moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she will be partnering with The Church Studio to produce a podcast talking about her life and work in the Rock industry..
The Church Studio, a legendary state-of-the-art recording studio, archive, and historic landmark, presents this Q&A session between Church Studio CEO Teresa Knox and Chris O’Dell that honors the life and legacy of Chris while also supporting The Church Studio’s mission to educate, support, and inspire through professional recording, public programs, and interpretive exhibits.
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