Chuck Leavell
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Chuck Leavell | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Charles Alfred Leavell |
Born | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | April 28, 1952
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Instrument(s) | Keyboards, vocals |
Years active | 1966–present |
Labels | Capricorn |
Website | chuckleavell |
Charles Alfred Leavell (born April 28, 1952) is an American musician. A member of the Allman Brothers Band throughout their commercial zenith in the 1970s, he subsequently became a founding member of the band Sea Level. He has served as the principal touring keyboardist and musical director[1] of the Rolling Stones since 1982. As a session musician, Leavell has performed on every Rolling Stones studio album released since 1983 with the exception of Bridges to Babylon (1997). He has also toured and recorded with Eric Clapton, George Harrison, David Gilmour, Gov't Mule and John Mayer.[2]
Biography
Born in
In 1969, Hornsby moved to
While playing with Dr. John, Leavell caught the attention of
In 1973, Leavell married Rose Lane White, who was working as a staff member at Capricorn Records. The Allmans toured heavily behind Brothers and Sisters, playing stadiums and breaking records for attendance in many venues across the country. Leavell also appeared on a live record with the band, Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas during this era as well as subsequent compilations, live performances and re-releases in later years. During the mid-1970s Leavell also appeared on Dickey Betts's first solo record, Highway Call. In addition during this time, he made multiple contributions on several other Capricorn artists' recordings like Bobby Whitlock, Bonnie Bramlett, The Marshall Tucker Band, Cowboy and more as well as recordings outside the Capricorn family with Tim Weisberg, Charlie Daniels and others. The Allmans found themselves in turmoil in 1976, and broke up that year. Later the band re-formed, but without Leavell as he had moved on to form his own band, Sea Level in late 1976.
While opening shows for The Allman Brothers Band with The Allman Brothers' bass guitarist
From 1982 to 1984, he was part of the group Betts, Hall, Leavell and Trucks, which had been organized by Betts. Although the group received good critical notices, and is viewed positively in retrospect by Leavell, it was unable to garner a recording contract.[3]
Leavell's first encounters with
In addition to his work with The Rolling Stones, Leavell has worked with
In 2003, Leavell participated in the annual improvisational musical experiment known as Zambiland Orchestra in Atlanta.
Leavell was inducted into the
In 2011, Leavell played on John Mayer's album
In February 2012, he and the other existing members of the Allman Brothers Band received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition to his time in the band from 1972 to 1976, Leavell performed two shows with the reunited Allman Brothers Band in 1986. Since 2001, he has performed as a guest pianist at more than a dozen Allman Brothers Band concerts, including multiple shows at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.
Leavell enjoys "giving back" to the community of his birth. In 1992, he played on a record titled "Mr. President", which was produced by noted Birmingham jazz keyboardist and vocalist
On March 20, 2008, Leavell was given a BAMA Award (Birmingham Area Music Award) for his contributions to the Birmingham, Alabama musical heritage. The 2008 BAMA Awards ceremony was held at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (in the historic Carver Theatre in the Birmingham Civil Rights District). Leavell performed at this ceremony accompanied by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars directed by Ray Reach. Also, at the same ceremony, a BAMA Award was bestowed upon keyboardist/producer Peter Wolf.
Leavell makes time to involve himself with other causes, and in 2008 performed with a supergroup which opened for Chuck Berry in Boston. The concert raised money for artists struggling with addiction. Leavell also serves on the Georgia Commission for Hearing Impaired and Deaf Persons.[8]
In 2013, Leavell was nominated for a
The Allman Betts Band- In November 2018, the sons of Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts announced the formation of The Allman Betts Band.
They will kick off 2019 with a new Allman Betts Band album and a worldwide tour that will feature new music, songs from their solo projects and classic Allman Brothers and Gregg Allman tunes in honor of the 50th Anniversary of The Allman Brothers Band. The new album, which is slated to be released in the Spring of 2019, will be produced by Matt Ross-Spang with Leavell on keyboards.[11]
A documentary of Chuck Leavell's career and life outside of music, Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man,
The film, featuring Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood, David Gilmour, Dickey Betts, Warren Haynes, John Mayer, Julian Lennon, Billy Bob Thornton, Charlie Daniels, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, Chris Robinson, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Mike Mills, Pat Monahan, John Popper, and Lee Ann Womack among others will be available for streaming beginning December 1, 2020.[14]
Tree farmer and conservationist
In addition to his musical career, Leavell is a
Leavell was appointed by former
Leavell and Joel Babbit are the co-founders of The Mother Nature Network, an environmental news and information website that launched in January 2009. The site has grown to be the most visited independent environmental website in the world.[citation needed] Leavell serves as Director of Environmental Affairs, and sits on the board of directors for the company. He hosts two video series on mnn.com: "Love of the Land," in which he discusses sustainability and conservation issues, and "In The Green Room," a series in which he interviews fellow celebrities about the environment and their philanthropic work.[15]
Leavell hosts the public television series America's Forests with Chuck Leavell.[16]
In 2022, Leavell was recognized as an honorary lifetime member of the Society of American Foresters in recognition of his “commitment to understanding forest management practices, engaging policymakers to support our nation’s forests, and using his platform to communicate the critical benefits and pressing challenges of our forests”. [17]
Educator
In response to requests from fans and teachers alike, Leavell and Howard Citron co-founded IROCKU, a rock and blues piano instructional website that launched in June 2011.[18] The website includes classic rock and blues piano arrangements, video lessons, and also offers live lessons with stage and session musicians. In August 2017, Leavell and Citron received a United States Patent entitled “ Apparatus, System and Method for Teaching Music and Other Art Forms” related to IROCKU's web-based teaching methodology.[19]
Discography
Solo albums
- (1996) A Homemade Christmas from Charlane Plantation
- (1998) What's in That Bag?
- (2001) Forever Blue: Solo Piano
- (2005) Southscape
- (2007) Live in Germany: Green Leaves and Blue Notes Tour
- (2012) Back to The Woods: A Tribute to the Pioneers of Blues Piano
- (2018) Chuck Gets Big (with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band)
Alex Taylor
- (1972) Dinnertime
Sailcat
- (1972) Sailcat Self-titled
Gregg Allman
- (1973) Laid Back
The Allman Brothers Band
- (1973) Brothers and Sisters
- (1975) Win, Lose or Draw
- (1976) Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas
- (1989) Dreams
Chuck Berry
- (1987) Hail Hail Rock 'N' Roll - (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Dickey Betts
- (1974) Highway Call
Aretha Franklin
- (1986) Aretha
Sea Level
- (1977) Sea Level
- (1977) Cats on the Coast
- (1978) On the Edge
- (1979) Long Walk on a Short Pier
- (1980) Ball Room
- (1997) Best of Sea Level
Duke Jupiter
- (1978) Sweet Cheeks (producer)
The Rolling Stones
- (1983) Undercover
- (1984) Rewind (1971–1984)
- (1986) Dirty Work
- (1989) Steel Wheels
- (1991) Flashpoint
- (1993) Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones
- (1994) Voodoo Lounge
- (1995) Stripped
- (1998) No Security
- (2002) Forty Licks
- (2004) Live Licks
- (2005) A Bigger Bang
- (2005) Rarities 1971–2003
- (2008) Shine a Light
- (2012) Light the Fuse (a digital download through Google Music)
- (2012) GRRR!
- (2013) Hyde Park Live
- (2015) From the Vault – Live at the Tokyo Dome
- (2015) Sticky Fingers Live
- (2015) Live at Leeds
- (2016) Totally Stripped
- (2016) Havana Moon
- (2016) Blue & Lonesome
- (2017) Sticky Fingers – Live At The Fonda Theatre 2015
- (2018) San Jose '99
- (2018) Voodoo Lounge Uncut
- (2019) Bridges to Bremen
- (2019) HONK
- (2019) Bridges to Buenos Aires
- (2020) Steel Wheels Live (10" Vinyl, 2 track, Picture Disc, RSD 2020)
- (2020) Steel Wheels Live
- (2021) A Bigger Bang Live (10" Vinyl, 2 track, RSD 2021)
- (2021) A Bigger Bang: Live on Copacabana Beach
- (2022) Licked Live in NYC
- (2023) Grrr Live!
The Black Crowes
- (1990) Shake Your Money Maker
Eric Clapton
Gov't Mule
Train
- (2001) Drops of Jupiter
John Mayer
- (2012) Born and Raised
- (2013) Paradise Valley
David Gilmour
- (2017) Live at Pompeii
George Harrison
- (1992) Live in Japan
Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit
Pistol Annies
- (2018) Interstate Gospel
Bibliography
- Leavell, Chuck, with Mary Welch. Forever Green: The History and Hope of the American Forest. Evergreen Arts, 2001. ISBN 0-86554-900-1.
- Leavell, Chuck, with J. Marshall Craig. Between Rock and a Home Place. Mercer University Press, 2004. ISBN 0-86554-975-3.
- Leavell, Chuck. Chuck Leavell: Piano Instruction, Vol. 1 (DVD) 2005.
- Leavell, Chuck, Nicholas Cravotta, and Rebecca Bleau. The Tree Farmer. VSP Books, 2005. ISBN 1-893622-16-9.
- Leavell, Chuck, with J. Marshall Craig. Growing A Better America: Smart, Strong, Sustainable, Evergreen Arts, 2011. ISBN 0-615434-58-4
References
- ^ Graff, Garry. "Rolling Stones' Musical Director Chuck Leavell Covers 'Tumbling Dice': Video Premiere". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 13, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ Saulnier, Jason (April 8, 2010). "Chuck Leavell Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ Leavell and Craig, Between Rock and a Home Place, pp. 260–264. For the ending year, see Tunis, Walter (April 21, 1991). "David Goldflies' jazz vision". Lexington Herald-Leader. pp. C1, C7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ O'Malley Greenburg, Zach (August 26, 2011). "Chuck Leavell: The Rolling Stone Who Gathers Moss". Forbes. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ LEAVELL, CHUCK; JOAN RAYMOND (January 8, 2008). "Rolling? We're More Like the Flying Stones". New York Times. Retrieved January 16, 2008.
- ^ "Chuck Leavell Talks Stones Tour". Relix.com. April 10, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "The Core: The Rolling Stones' Chuck Leavell". Relix.com. January 25, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "Georgia Commission on Hearing Impaired & Deaf Persons". Georgia Department of Human Services. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
- ^ "Blues Music Awards Nominees – 2013 – 34th Blues Music Awards". Blues.org. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
- ^ O'Hanlan, Tom (February 9, 2012). "Chuck Leavell to Receive Lifetime Achievement Grammy". Sealevel Systems, Inc. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
- ^ "Devon Allman + Duane Betts Announce Spring 2019 Album & the Allman Betts Band, Initial 2019 Tour Dates Announced". Musicnewsnet.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- ^ "Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man (2020)". IMDb.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "Allen Farst". IMDb.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man". Chuckleavellthetreeman.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "A Rolling Stone Goes 'Green' | Video". ABC News. March 16, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
- ^ "About". Americasforestswithchuckleavell.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ "Society of American Foresters or SAF is proud to announce Chuck Leavell as the 2022 Honorary Membership Award winner". Americasforestswithchuckleavell.com. September 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
- ^ "Play Like a Rockstar – Rolling Stones' Keyboardist Chuck Leavell Launches Online Rock Piano Lessons". PRWeb. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- ^ 9721479, Citron, Howard & Leavell, Chuck, "United States Patent: 9721479 – Apparatus, system and method for teaching music and other art forms", issued August 1, 2017[permanent dead link]
External links
- Official website
- Chuck Leavell (b. 1952), New Georgia Encyclopedia
- Leavell, Chuck. "Family Forestry in Twiggs County, Georgia / Live in Macon at the Douglass Theatre" Southern Spaces February 2006.
- Interview and article focusing on Leavell's activism. "Chuck Leavell: Wrapped up in Trees" Crawdaddy!March 2008.
- Interview, Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz, NPR, 4-18-08
- Chuck Leavell at AllMusic
- Mother Nature Network
- Chuck Leavell's online piano lessons