Chuck Leavell - wikipedia Chuck Leavell This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. ( December 2012 ) Chuck Leavell Leavell in 2009 Background information Birth name Charles Alfred Leavell ( 1952 - 04 - 28 ) April 28, 1952 ( age 66 ) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. Genres Blues rock, jazz rock, jazz fusion, Southern rock Occupation ( s ) Musician, singer, songwriter Instruments Keyboards, vocals Years active 1969 -- present Labels Capricorn Associated acts The Allman Brothers Band, The Rolling Stones, David Gilmour, John Mayer, The Black Crowes, Sea Level, Eric Clapton, Gov 't Mule, Aquarium Rescue Unit, The Roots Website chuckleavell.com 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 jazz rock ensemble Sea Level. He has served as the principal touring keyboardist and de facto musical director of The Rolling Stones since 1982. As a session musician, Leavell has performed on every Rolling Stones studio album released during his tenure 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. Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Tree farmer and conservationist 2 Selected discography 2.1 Solo albums 2.2 Dickey Betts 2.3 The Black Crowes 2.4 Eric Clapton 2.5 David Gilmour 2.6 Gov 't Mule 2.7 Alex Taylor 2.8 The Allman Brothers Band 2.9 Gregg Allman 2.10 Sea Level 2.11 The Rolling Stones 2.12 John Mayer 3 Bibliography 4 References 5 External links Biography Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Leavell is a mostly self - taught musician. He started on piano, learning some basics from his mother, Frances Leavell. The Leavell family moved from Birmingham to Montgomery, Alabama when he was five, then back to Birmingham for a few years, finally settling in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1962. He learned to play guitar from his cousin, Winston Leavell, and played tuba in junior high for two years. He started his first band, The Misfitz, in 1966. The Misfitz played a steady gig at the YMCA every Friday night, and eventually were the band for a Saturday morning television show, Tuscaloosa Bandstand. After the breakup of the Misfitz, Leavell did session work, and found himself on his first gold record, a single by Freddie North called `` Do n't Take Her She 's All I 've Got ''. Leavell also sought out other local musicians to play with and joined The South Camp in 1968. That band included his early mentor, Paul Hornsby, who had played in The Hour Glass, a precursor to The Allman Brothers Band. In 1969, Hornsby moved to Macon, Georgia to work for Capricorn Records as a studio musician and producer, eventually producing such artists as The Charlie Daniels Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie and others. At Hornsby 's suggestion, Leavell came to Macon and helped form Sundown, which recorded one record on the Ampex label in 1970. That band broke up shortly thereafter, and Leavell found himself doing session work at Capricorn and eventually was tapped to tour with Alex Taylor, James Taylor 's elder brother. Leavell recorded one record with Taylor, Dinnertime, which was released in 1972. Leavell continued to tour with Taylor for a short time afterwards. When Taylor had a falling out with his manager and the founder of Capricorn, Phil Walden, and quit touring, Leavell found himself playing with Dr. John. Leavell claims this was his `` college education. '' While playing with Dr. John, Leavell caught the attention of Gregg Allman, who tapped him to play on his first solo album, the Johnny Sandlin - produced Laid Back. Allman and Sandlin introduced the rest of the Allman Brothers Band to Leavell, and Leavell joined the band in September 1972, when they decided not to recreate their dual lead guitar sound after the death of Duane Allman, who had died the previous October, but rather to use a different instrument as the second lead. Leavell 's work was most prominent on the band 's popular 1973 album Brothers and Sisters, and in particular on the heavily played instrumental `` Jessica. '' However, only one studio album, 1975 's Win, Lose or Draw, followed, again with Leavell 's ebullient piano and keyboard work featured, but with the band in chaos, and on the brink of destruction. Leavell with Sea Level In 1973, Leavell married Rose Lane White, who was working as a staff member at Capricorn Records. The Allmans toured heavily behind Brother 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 Lamar Williams and drummer Jaimoe, Leavell stepped up as a frontman for the first time in his career. After The Allman Brothers Band disbanded in May 1976, the trio added guitarist Jimmy Nalls and set about touring behind the moniker Sea Level, derived from Leavell 's first initial and last name. The group lasted five years and released as many albums, each featuring a different configuration of the group. Leavell 's first encounters with The Rolling Stones were auditions on Long View Farm for the spot of piano player alongside Ian Stewart for the Rolling Stones 1981 United States tour. Even though Ian McLagan was chosen, Leavell guested at the Rolling Stones ' Atlanta gig on October 26, 1981. For the 1982 European Tour Leavell landed the position of keyboardist alongside Ian Stewart. Leavell continued to record with the Stones on their next two albums, during a time when the band was not touring. After Stewart 's death in 1985, Leavell occupied the role of the group 's keyboardist by himself, with the exception of the addition of Matt Clifford on the Steel Wheels record and tour. He has continued to tour and record with The Rolling Stones ever since, as well as recording with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on solo projects. The Stones ' most recent studio recording was in 2012, Doom and Gloom. He continued to go on tour with The Rolling Stones, as of 2006, as part of their record - grossing A Bigger Bang Tour. He served as the unofficial `` musical director '' for the band and devised each night 's set list with Mick Jagger. `` It 's my job to keep Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ronnie all happy '', Leavell stated on his web page. In addition to his work with The Rolling Stones, Leavell has worked with George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Gov 't Mule, Train, Tinsley Ellis, The Black Crowes, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Montgomery Gentry, John Mayer, Miranda Lambert, Blues Traveller amongst many others in the studio and on the road, in addition to recording five solo albums. In 2003, Leavell participated in the annual improvisational musical experiment known as Zambiland Orchestra in Atlanta. Leavell was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2004. He is also a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. In an April 2007 radio interview on WOR - AM, Leavell said his three favorite contributions to songs in his career were `` Jessica '' with The Allman Brothers Band, `` Old Love '' on Eric Clapton 's Unplugged, Out of Tears on The Rolling Stones ' Voodoo Lounge, and Drops of Jupiter by Train. In 2011, Leavell played on John Mayer 's album Born and Raised which was released in May 2012, reaching Number One on the Billboard Chart. 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 - 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. Left to Right : Ray Reach, Chuck Leavell and Peter Wolf at the 2008 BAMA Awards in Birmingham, Alabama 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 the Birmingham area. Leavell and several other well - known Alabama musicians ( including Wayne Perkins, Chuck Tilley, Charlie Hayward, and Kelley O'Neal ) donated their time for this project. 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. In 2013, Leavell was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the ' Pinetop Perkins Piano Player ' category. Leavell is the celebrity spokesperson for Sealevel Systems, Inc. Tree Farmer and conservationist In addition to his musical career, Leavell is a tree farmer in Twiggs County outside Macon, Georgia, an occupation that began when his wife, Rose Lane Leavell, inherited land in the early 1980s. Together they created Charlane Plantation, now a 2500 - acre award - winning Tree Farm and hunting preserve. The Leavells are two - time Georgia Tree Farmers of the Year, and were selected as National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year in 1999. They are staunch supporters of sustainable forestry, conservation and environmental protection. Chuck wrote his first book, Forever Green : The History and Hope of The American Forest in 2000. His autobiography, Between Rock and a Home Place was published in 2005, and is acclaimed as one of the best rock autobiographies ever published. In 2006, Leavell wrote a children 's book, The Tree Farmer. His most recent book is Growing A Better America : Smart, Strong, Sustainable ( 2011, with J. Marshall Craig ), the theme of which is `` smart '' growth. It has been called one of the best `` common sense environmental books of all time ''. Leavell was appointed by former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to the Georgia Land Conservation Council in 2008. He has also served on the Boards of The American Forest Foundation, The United States Endowment for Forestry and Communities and other influential non-profits and makes frequent trips to Washington, D.C. to discuss forestry and environmental policy matters with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. In February 2012, the same month he received the Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, he was given an Honorary Forest Ranger award from the United States Forest Service. He has stated that he reveres both of these honors equally. 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. 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. Selected 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 Dickey Betts ( 1974 ) Highway Call The Black Crowes ( 1990 ) Shake Your Money Maker Eric Clapton ( 1992 ) Unplugged ( 1991 ) 24 Nights David Gilmour ( 2017 ) Live at Pompeii Gov 't Mule ( 1998 ) Live... With a Little Help from Our Friends Alex Taylor ( 1972 ) Dinnertime The Allman Brothers Band ( 1973 ) Brothers and Sisters ( 1975 ) Win, Lose or Draw ( 1976 ) Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas ( 1989 ) Dreams Gregg Allman ( 1973 ) Laid Back 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 The Rolling Stones ( 1983 ) Undercover ( 1986 ) Dirty Work ( 1989 ) Steel Wheels ( 1991 ) Flashpoint ( 1994 ) Voodoo Lounge ( 1995 ) Stripped ( 1998 ) No Security ( 2004 ) Live Licks ( 2005 ) A Bigger Bang ( 2008 ) Shine a Light ( 2013 ) Hyde Park Live ( 2016 ) Blue & Lonesome John Mayer ( 2012 ) Born and Raised 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 Jump up ^ Saulnier, Jason ( April 8, 2010 ). `` Chuck Leavell Interview ''. Music Legends. Retrieved May 6, 2013. Jump up ^ O'Malley Greenburg, Zach ( August 26, 2011 ). `` Chuck Leavell : The Rolling Stone Who Gathers Moss ''. Forbes. Retrieved January 11, 2012. Jump up ^ LEAVELL, CHUCK ; JOAN RAYMOND ( January 8, 2008 ). `` Rolling ? We 're More Like the Flying Stones ''. New York Times. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Georgia Commission on Hearing Impaired & Deaf Persons ''. Georgia Department of Human Services. Retrieved April 12, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Blues Music Awards Nominees -- 2013 -- 34th Blues Music Awards ''. Blues.org. Retrieved 2013 - 03 - 21. Jump up ^ O'Hanlan, Tom. `` Chuck Leavell to Receive Lifetime Achievement Grammy ''. Sealevel Systems, Inc. Retrieved February 9, 2012. Jump up ^ `` A Rolling Stone Goes ' Green ' Video ''. ABC News. March 16, 2009. Retrieved 2013 - 03 - 21. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chuck Leavell. 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 The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger Keith Richards Charlie Watts Ronnie Wood Brian Jones Ian Stewart Mick Taylor Bill Wyman Tony Chapman Ricky Fenson Colin Golding Carlo Little Dick Taylor Video releases Let 's Spend the Night Together ( 1983 ) Stones at the Max ( 1992 ) The Rolling Stones : Voodoo Lounge Live ( 1995 ) The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus ( 1996 ) Bridges to Babylon Tour ' 97 -- 98 ( 1998 ) Four Flicks ( 2003 ) The Biggest Bang ( 2007 ) Ladies and Gentlemen : The Rolling Stones ( 2010 ) Some Girls : Live in Texas ' 78 ( 2011 ) Sweet Summer Sun : Live in Hyde Park ( 2013 ) The Rolling Stones : Havana Moon ( 2016 ) Documentaries Charlie Is My Darling ( 1966 ) The Stones in the Park ( 1969 ) Gimme Shelter ( 1970 ) Cocksucker Blues ( 1972 ) Video Rewind ( 1984 ) 25 × 5 : the Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones ( 1989 ) Shine a Light ( 2008 ) Stones in Exile ( 2010 ) Crossfire Hurricane ( 2012 ) Olé Olé Olé ! : A Trip Across Latin America ( 2017 ) Tours British Tour 1963 1964 tours 1965 tours 1966 tours European Tour 1967 American Tour 1969 European Tour 1970 UK Tour 1971 American Tour 1972 Pacific Tour 1973 European Tour 1973 Tour of the Americas ' 75 Tour of Europe ' 76 US Tour 1978 American Tour 1981 European Tour 1982 Steel Wheels / Urban Jungle Tour Voodoo Lounge Tour Bridges to Babylon Tour No Security Tour Licks Tour A Bigger Bang 50 & Counting 14 On Fire Zip Code Tour América Latina Olé Tour 2016 Fall 2016 US Tour No Filter Tour Associated places Redlands Stargroves Nellcôte The Wick Downe House The Mick Jagger Centre Related Discography Songs The Rolling Stones concerts Jagger / Richards Nanker Phelge Rolling Stones Records Promotone The Stones in the Park Altamont Free Concert Rolling Stones Mobile Studio The Rolling Stones : An Illustrated Record The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus Andrew Loog Oldham Allen Klein Peter Meaden John Pasche Instruments played Book Category Portal The Allman Brothers Band Duane Allman Gregg Allman Dickey Betts Jai Johanny `` Jaimoe '' Johanson Berry Oakley Butch Trucks Chuck Leavell Lamar Williams David Goldflies Dan Toler Mike Lawler David `` Frankie '' Toler Warren Haynes Johnny Neel Allen Woody Marc Quiñones Oteil Burbridge Jack Pearson Derek Trucks Jimmy Herring Studio and contemporary live albums The Allman Brothers Band Idlewild South At Fillmore East Eat a Peach Brothers and Sisters Win, Lose or Draw Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas Enlightened Rogues Reach for the Sky Brothers of the Road Seven Turns Shades of Two Worlds An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band : First Set Where It All Begins An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band : 2nd Set Peakin ' at the Beacon Hittin ' the Note One Way Out Retrospective live albums Live at Ludlow Garage : 1970 Fillmore East, February 1970 American University 12 / 13 / 70 Live at the Atlanta International Pop Festival : July 3 & 5, 1970 S.U.N.Y. at Stonybrook : Stonybrook, NY 9 / 19 / 71 Macon City Auditorium : 2 / 11 / 72 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY : 5 / 1 / 73 Boston Common, 8 / 17 / 71 Play All Night : Live at the Beacon Theatre 1992 Live from A&R Studios Compilations and box sets Beginnings The Road Goes on Forever Dreams A Decade of Hits 1969 -- 1979 Mycology : An Anthology Stand Back : The Anthology The Essential Allman Brothers Band : The Epic Years Gold Video albums Live at the Beacon Theatre Live at Great Woods Original songs `` Ai n't Wastin ' Time No More '' `` Blue Sky '' `` Crazy Love '' `` Good Clean Fun '' `` Hot ' Lanta '' `` In Memory of Elizabeth Reed '' `` Jessica '' `` Little Martha '' `` Melissa '' `` Midnight Rider '' `` No One to Run With '' `` Pegasus '' `` Ramblin ' Man '' `` Revival ( Love Is Everywhere ) '' `` Seven Turns '' `` Soulshine '' `` Straight from the Heart '' `` Whipping Post '' Cover songs `` Heart of Stone '' `` Hoochie Coochie Man '' `` One Way Out '' `` Statesboro Blues '' `` Stormy Monday '' `` Trouble No More '' `` You Do n't Love Me '' `` Mountain Jam '' Associated bands The 31st of February The Allman Joys Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit Derek and the Dominos The Derek Trucks Band Gov 't Mule Gregg Allman Band Hour Glass Sea Level Les Brers Related articles Discography Members Museum Summer Jam at Watkins Glen Book Category BIBSYS : 1015387 BNF : cb140445644 ( data ) GND : 130260029 ISNI : 0000 0000 7840 1059 LCCN : n92104189 MusicBrainz : c77c62d3 - f025 - 429c - bcae - 91e83dd3f516 NDL : 01110817 NKC : xx0108546 VIAF : 13411238 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chuck_Leavell&oldid=838306733 '' Categories : 1952 births Living people American rock keyboardists American pianists Backing vocalists Musicians from Georgia ( U.S. state ) American session musicians The Allman Brothers Band members Farmers from Georgia ( U.S. state ) Musicians from Birmingham, Alabama Capricorn Records artists 20th - century American pianists Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from August 2013 BLP articles lacking sources from December 2012 All BLP articles lacking sources Articles with hCards All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2013 Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español Français Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Српски / srpski Suomi Svenska 5 more Edit links This page was last edited on 26 April 2018, at 05 : 31. 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Question: who is the keyboard player for the rolling stones
Answer: Charles Alfred Leavell