An Evening with Chuck Leavell of the Rolling Stones September 25, 2009

Chuck Leavell has been pleasing the ears of music fans for more than 30 years. His piano and keyboard work has been heard on the works of Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, The Black Crowes, George Harrison, The Allman Brothers Band, The Indigo Girls, Blues Traveler, Train, Montgomery-Gentry, Lee Ann Womack and many, many more. In addition to being a well established pianist/artist in the music industry, Leavell is also a published author, tree farmer, and keeps busy with his advocacy work on behalf of the environment.

At the age of 15, Leavell made his way to Muscle Shoals, AL, and the legendary studios there, where he played on several records, including Freddy North's soul classic "Don't Take Her, She's All I've Got."

In 1972, shortly after the death of Duane Allman and prior to the death of Berry Oakley, Leavell was asked to join the Allman Brothers Band. He was barely 20 years old at the time. The first album he recorded with the band was Brothers and Sisters, which included the classics “Ramblin' Man” and “Jessica.” The album hit number one on Billboard's Pop charts. He went on to record two more albums with them before the Allmans disbanded.

Emerging from the break-up of the Allman Brothers Band, Leavell formed the rock/jazz/blues fusion group Sea Level with ABB drummer Jaimoe Johanson. The band toured relentlessly during the late '70s and released five critically
acclaimed albums. Catching the ears of and becoming friends with the late rock 'n' roll impresario Bill Graham and keyboardist Ian Stewart, the original "sixth" Rolling Stone, in 1982 he was invited to assume a significant keyboardist/vocalist role for the Stones that continues today.

Says guitarist Keith Richards: "Without the continuity that Chuck brings to us, the Stones would not be the Stones."

Official Website: http://www.merrimackhall.com/leavell.html