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'''Charles Alfred "Chuck" Leavell''' (born [[April 28]], [[1952]] in [[Birmingham]]) is an American pianist and keyboardist.  He was formerly a member of The Allman Brothers Band, a founding member of the jazz-rock combo Sea Level, and a popular session musician.  Later, Leavell was the keyboardist for Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones.
'''Charles Alfred "Chuck" Leavell''' (born [[April 28]], [[1952]] in [[Birmingham]]) is a pianist and keyboardist.  He was formerly a member of The Allman Brothers Band, a founding member of the jazz-rock combo Sea Level, and a popular session musician.  Later, Leavell was the keyboardist for Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones.


==Biography==
==Biography==
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In an April [[2007]] radio interview on WOR-AM, Chuck said his three favorite contributions to songs in his career were "Jessica" with the Allmans, "Old Love" on Eric Clapton's ''Unplugged'', and "Already Over Me" from the Rolling Stones' "Bridges to Babylon" record.
In an April [[2007]] radio interview on WOR-AM, Chuck said his three favorite contributions to songs in his career were "Jessica" with the Allmans, "Old Love" on Eric Clapton's ''Unplugged'', and "Already Over Me" from the Rolling Stones' "Bridges to Babylon" record.


On [[March 20]], [[2008]], Leavell was bestowed with a BAMA Award ([[Birmingham Area Music Awards]]) for his contributions to the Birmingham 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]]).  Chuck 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]].
On [[March 20]], [[2008]], Leavell was bestowed with a BAMA Award ([[Birmingham Area Music Awards]]) for his contributions to the Birmingham 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]]).  Chuck 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]].


In April 2008, Leavell performed with a supergroup which opened for [[Chuck Berry]] in Boston.  The concert raised money for artists struggling with addiction.
In April 2008, Leavell performed with a supergroup which opened for Chuck Berry in Boston.  The concert raised money for artists struggling with addiction.


==Discography==
==Discography==
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* Interview and article focusing on Leavell's activism. [http://crawdaddy.wolfgangsvault.com/Article.aspx?id=6194 "Chuck Leavell: Wrapped up in Trees"] ''Crawdaddy!'' March 2008.
* Interview and article focusing on Leavell's activism. [http://crawdaddy.wolfgangsvault.com/Article.aspx?id=6194 "Chuck Leavell: Wrapped up in Trees"] ''Crawdaddy!'' March 2008.
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89753447 NPR interview, ''Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz'' 4-18-08]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89753447 NPR interview, ''Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz'' 4-18-08]
* ''Birmingham Weekly'' Article:  [http://www.bhamweekly.com/archive_article.php?article_id=698&issue_id=106&vol=11#article The keys and the trees - Chuck Leavell’s life as tree farmer and in-demand keyboardist]
* Thompson, Brent (March 13, 2008) "[http://www.bhamweekly.com/archive_article.php?article_id=698&issue_id=106&vol=11#article The keys and the trees - Chuck Leavell’s life as tree farmer and in-demand keyboardist]."  ''Birmingham Weekly''.
 
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Leavell, Chuck}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Revision as of 18:31, 12 June 2008

Charles Alfred "Chuck" Leavell (born April 28, 1952 in Birmingham) is a pianist and keyboardist. He was formerly a member of The Allman Brothers Band, a founding member of the jazz-rock combo Sea Level, and a popular session musician. Later, Leavell was the keyboardist for Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones.

Biography

Leavell is a mostly self-taught musician. He was originally inspired by seeing Ray Charles in concert (with Billy Preston in the backup band) to seek a music industry career, and subsequently dropped out of high school to do so. Chuck made contacts with Macon, Georgia-based Capricorn Records, where he met his future wife, and relocated to Georgia.

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 Ray Reach for the purpose of raising money for the homeless in Birmingham. Chuck and several other well-known Alabama musicians (including Chuck Tilley, Charlie Hayward and Kelley O'Neal) donated their time for this worthy project.

In an April 2007 radio interview on WOR-AM, Chuck said his three favorite contributions to songs in his career were "Jessica" with the Allmans, "Old Love" on Eric Clapton's Unplugged, and "Already Over Me" from the Rolling Stones' "Bridges to Babylon" record.

On March 20, 2008, Leavell was bestowed with a BAMA Award (Birmingham Area Music Awards) for his contributions to the Birmingham 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). Chuck 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.

In April 2008, Leavell performed with a supergroup which opened for Chuck Berry in Boston. The concert raised money for artists struggling with addiction.

Discography

Solo albums

  • What's in That Bag? (1998)
  • Forever Blue: Solo Piano (2001)
  • Southscape (2005)

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.

External links

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