Blue Spot Band Members:

Chuck Leonard

Chuck Leonard is a chameleon. Typically, good drummers can play lots of styles effectively. But Chuck seems to be at the top of his game in every style.

At eighteen, Chuck hit the road with the Peter Green Organ Trio, and for two years played nightly up and down the east coast. At the end of that stint, he was picked up by the Four Tops and for the next four years toured the world nonstop. At the end of that run, he stayed in Detroit a couple of years playing with every major Motown group of the day. That is why he can play shuffle and R&B better than anyone ever heard. O.K., the short list would be -

From the pop world: Four Tops, The Supremes, Nancy Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Spinners, Ben E. King, Chi-lites, Rueben Phillips and house band at the Apollo Theatre.

Now from the jazz world: Joe Williams, Count Basie, Donald Byrd, Cleo Lane, Billy Eckstine, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria. And some North Carolina standouts: Eve Cornelious, Chip Crawford, Ray Codrington, Bus Brown, Brother Yusef as well as my first band, 'ROUND MIDNIGHT.

When I come to a gig with a new song I've just learned or one we haven't played together yet, he wants to know what recording I learned it from. It is more than likely that he knows exactly which recording and will proceed to play that arrangement down to the last rim shot.

Chuck was sitting in for the regular drummer in a New York club one night. The leader was jazz great, Donald Byrd. When Byrd was ready to introduce the other musicians, he turned as he said Chuck's name and said: I thought I knew something about music, but I've learned some things tonight.

Chuck continues to amaze me even after years of gigging. He is always willing to play any tune and any groove with the same enthusiasm, whether it's a Donald Byrd in New York or Joe Schmo on the south side of Podunk. And then you'll hear, Sell it, sell it.

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