American Songwriter: The Quiet Genius of Chuck Leavell, the Greatest Rock Pianist You’ve Never Heard Of
He’s been performing with massive acts like The Allman Brothers Band, The Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton for decades. He’s known as one of the greatest living session musicians, a stellar musical director, and an expert pianist. Despite all these accolades, Chuck Leavell doesn’t get his flowers often. However, that fact probably doesn’t bother him that much. Leavell has always seemed like the kind of talent that prefers to make magic in the background.
Chuck Leavell is almost entirely self-taught as a musician. He began playing the piano at an early age in his native Alabama before moving onto a wealth of instruments, such as the guitar, tuba, and more. He launched his first band in the 1960s and played at the YMCA often. His beginnings were humble, but they led him to starting work as a session musician. His first gold record was a single by R&B crooner Freddie North, and he scored it before he even became an adult.
It wasn’t until his mentorship under Paul Hornsby (of The Hour Glass, the precursor to The Allman Brothers Band) that things started to really take off for Leavell. He worked as a studio musician and producer at Capricorn Records when he was only a teenager. He also did session work and eventually toured with Alex Taylor.
After a stint with Dr. John and some work with Gregg Allman, Leavell formally joined the latter’s band in 1972. His most prominent contributions are to the 1973 record Brothers And Sisters.
From there, Leavell became one of the most prominent session artists in the industry. He worked with a laundry list of musicians through the years, including Charlie Daniels, The Rolling Stones, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Train, John Mayer, Blues Traveller, and many more. While working with the Stones, he became their unofficial musical director and helped Mick Jagger formulate each performance’s set list. He’s been inducted into several Halls Of Fame and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
So, what made Leavell such a legend? And why don’t very many know of his work? Sadly, that’s just what comes with the territory of being a session musician; you don’t get your flowers from fans often.
When it comes to his legacy, though, Leavell was able to blend seamlessly with wildly different musicians, both as a pianist and a singer/songwriter. Take a look at some of your favorite records from the 1970s and 1980s. Leavell’s name might just be buried in the credits.