Meeting Chuck Leavell: the Rock Legend and Now Conservationist
Chuck Leavell is more than the keyboardist for the Rolling Stones—he’s a passionate conservationist with a love for bird dogs and forestry.
The platinum albums gleamed in the soft morning light shining through the windows. My eyes moved across the wall decorated with black and white images documenting intimate behind the scenes moments of Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones, 1970s concert posters of the Allman Brothers, and Eric Clapton and Miranda Lambert album covers.
Between more musical memorabilia and a large, framed poster advertising the Rolling Stones’ 1990 “Urban Jungle” tour hang white-tailed deer shoulder mounts, turkey fans on full display, and a beautiful life-size bobcat mount captured mid-pounce, swiping a flushing quail from the air.
Books on forestry, quail, and bird dogs sit alongside a pool table painted with the famous Tongue and Lips of the Rolling Stones; while a piano sits next to a large, stone fireplace, its keys waiting for expert fingers to strike a musical number after a long day afield.
Not to be confused with a museum showcasing some of the greatest rock and roll history of the 20th century, I’m a guest in a quail hunting lodge that sits deep amongst the Georgia pines and red clay. A place where not only a love of music shines bright, but also a lodge dedicated to conservation and the love of Bobwhite qail.
The memorabilia isn’t a collection from a longtime fan of rock and roll’s most famous bands, but rather that of Chuck Leavell, the keyboardist for these legends of music. A talented musician, Leavell loves the roaring crowds of a rock concert as much as he loves the whisper of wind blowing through the pines and the music that is the flush of a covey of quail.
Chuck Leavell the Keyboard Player
If you’re a rock and roll fanatic, you know the name Chuck Leavell. The Alabama native has served as the keyboardist behind some of the greatest rock bands of all time, collaborating with the biggest names in music history.
His career began in the late 1960s, after moving to Macon, Georgia to work for Capricorn Records, a move that would eventually lead him to a world of rock and roll stardom.
When the Allman Brothers found themselves searching for a new band member after the tragic passing of Duane Allman, the band landed on Leavell. Deciding not to replace the lead guitarist but rather bring a new instrument to the band, Leavell and his keyboard would bring a unique sound to the Allman Brothers from 1972 to the band’s dismantling in ’76.
It would be 1981 before Leavell would first play with the English icons, the Rolling Stones, and as they say, the rest is history. Often referred to as “the fifth Rolling Stone,” Leavell has played a key role in the band’s sound, both on stage and in the recording studio. Leavell continues to record and tour with the Stones to this day, serving as not only the keyboardist but the musical director for the band.
But it was the early 70s when Leavell’s life of rock and roll would find another passion far from the lights and sounds of the stage. The keyboardist would marry Rose Lane White, a staff member of Capricorn Records, and a woman who brought with her a family that shared a deep love of the outdoors and hunting.
“I was on a dove hunt with Rose Lane and her Uncle Baby Joe. Baby Joe was assigned to look after the long-haired hippie piano player,” Leavell laughed while reminiscing to me on how his love for forestry and quail began. We were sitting on the porch of Leavell and Rose’s farm just outside of Macon, Georgia. It was early March, and the weather still clung to the feels of winter. “We were hunting doves, but a covey of quail busted from the brush and scared me to death. I said, ‘Joe! What was that?’ and Joe said, ‘…them birds, boy. You want to go bird huntin’?’”
As Leavell told it, Uncle Baby Joe showed up the next day in an Oldsmobile 88 with two bird dogs in the backseat—pointers—and that’s where his love for Gentleman Bob began. Soon after that hunt, Baby Joe gave Leavell his first pointer, Sam, who he credits with hooking him to the sport of upland hunting.
Chuck Leavell the Conservationist
By 1981, Leavell and Rose Lane were used to the hustle and bustle of a career as a rock and roll band member, while in their down time, their love of the calm and serenity of south Georgia only grew. After inheriting 1,000 acres from her grandmother, the couple knew it was important to do right by the land and find something productive for this new slice of heaven they were given. It was here that Charlane Woodlands & Preserve was born.
“I kept thinking about where the instruments come from that I am so passionate about,” explained Leavell. “Wood. That’s where the instruments that gave me my lifestyle come from.”
Leavell sought to find a hobby that would allow him to still tour with the Rolling Stones all while doing something good for the Earth. The musician and sportsman understood that trees do far more for us than they are given credit for. They provide clean air and clean water, build houses and musical instruments, and provide food and cover for animals.
It was this realization that lead Leavell to study forest management, and his environmental and conservationist era began.
“I took a course to help manage Charlane, and along the way, the interest in wildlife and conservation also came about,” said Leavell as he scratched the ears of his cocker spaniel, sitting quietly by his side. “The flora and fauna fascinated me, and I wanted to focus on quail management and habitat by learning the techniques of prescribed burns.”
Since educating himself, Leavell has focused on forestry, timber production, and wildlife management. Since the beginning of Charlane, the property has grown from 1,000 acres to 4,000 acres, with 70 percent of the land covered in forests filled with loblolly, longleaf pine, and more. Native animals on the property, such as quail, deer, turkeys, and ducks, have seen population growth thanks to habitat restoration efforts.
Awards for his work in music top the record charts, but so does Leavell’s environmental work in Georgia. Adding to his already impressive resume, Leavell has racked up 14 different conservation awards including National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year (1999), Quail Unlimited Outstanding Habitat Award (2000), and Georgia Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year (1990, 1998).
“It’s the music that has allowed me to purchase more land, and build this hunt lodge,” says Leavell. “It’s a wonderful feeling to have a tree thinning and know that the lumber is going to make somebody’s first home.”
Charlane Plantation
Between the pines, I watch as a pair of Brittanys lock up, their noses pointing into thick underbrush. I move quickly towards the bird dogs, taking my Benelli 828U off my shoulder. The covey explodes from the brush as I approach, and I send a load of B&P Upland Game shot at a lone Bob and watch as the elegant bird falls to the clay.
It’s in the field that one can see that the hard work that Leavell and Rose Lane have put into their property has paid off. Tall, strong pines tower overhead, while the understory is healthy from carefully planned prescribed burns that have kept the brush from growing too thick. This has created a strong habitat for Georgia quail and other wildlife.
Leavell saw the opportunity to share his love of bird dogs and quail hunting with the public when they began adding property to Charlane. The Bullard House, a home built in 1835, sat on a portion of property they purchased, and Leavell began offering bird hunts on a small scale out of this historic dwelling. In 2005, they built the main lodge, and they can now handle up to 12 hunts a year.
Although he started with a pointer, Leavell has turned his love of the classic southern pointer to versatile breeds as well. The musician has 10 dogs at his personal kennel, including pointers, German shorthaired pointers, and drahthaars.
Take Me to Church
Blue skies peaked through the towering pines as Leavell and I sat on the porch of the hunting lodge after a morning spent hunting for the South’s King Bob. The Piano Man reminisced about his days of traveling with the Stones and Allman Brothers—the electric atmosphere, big stadiums, and the exhilarating energy from each concert. I could hear the roar of the crowd in my mind, a stark difference from the serene solitude of the Georgia pines around us.
“When I come back here, the energy I get is from the land and the wildlife,” he says, gesturing to the woods around him. “It helps keep my head screwed on straight.”
Staring out at the slice of heaven around me, I’m keenly aware that I am sitting next to a rock legend in his own right. From his days of jamming to stadiums packed with screaming fans, you wouldn’t know it by Leavell’s demeanor. Calm, quiet, and humble are words I would use to describe this music legend.
“I’m just a piano player,” he says through a smirk.
Leavell lives two very different lifestyles; a balance of sorts that helps keep him grounded and reminds him what the important things are in life. Rock and roll will always be what made him, but the forests he has helped grow and manage have set his roots.
The rock legend gets up from his rocking chair, making his way to his UTV with his faithful cocker at his side. She jumps into the front seat and takes her position, a spot she knows well from days of joining her handler around the farm. The tailgate is packed with a chemical sprayer and other tools needed for forest management. Leavell dons a pair of leather work gloves and smiles at me from behind the wheel.
“This is my church,” he says before starting the engine and driving off. “I love to hear the sound of the wind through the pines and the crunch of leaves underfoot. I’m in church every day that I’m here.”
URL: https://www.gundogmag.com/editorial/chuck-leavell-conservationist/549285