A Song For You
"A Song for You" is a song written and originally recorded by American rock singer and pianist Leon Russell for his self-titled debut solo album, which was released in 1970 on Shelter Records. A slow, pained plea for forgiveness and understanding from an estranged lover, the tune is one of Russell's best-known compositions. Russell sang, played piano, and played tenor horn on the recording. It has been performed and recorded by over 200 artists, spanning many musical genres. The Encyclopedia of Country Music wrote in 2012: "In 1970 Russell released his self-titled debut solo album, including such enduring songs as "Delta Lady" and "A Song for You", both written for versatile vocalist Rita Coolidge.
One of the first versions of the song was by Andy Williams, who performed it on his 1971 album You've Got a Friend. "A Song For You" later received broader attention from a live performance by Donny Hathaway recorded on his 1972 album, Donny Hathaway Live. Hathaway's iconic rendition of the song became a massive hit and a standard, often mistakenly credited as his own composition due to its profound emotional impact and gospel-infused arrangement, redefining the song for many listeners, even influencing The Carpenters' version on their album of the same name. Ray Charles recorded a version that earned him the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
On January 17, 2018, "A Song for You" was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame. In June 2026, CBS News included the song in its list of the 250 essential American songs of the past 250 years.
Kodi Lee sang "A Song for You" for his first audition on America's Got Talent Season 14, which aired on May 28, 2019. He was awarded the Golden Buzzer for his performance by guest judge Gabrielle Union and went on to become the Season 14 winner.
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