Chuck Leavell

Chuck Leavell is a man of many talents. Leavell is known as one of pop music's most respected and sought-after pianists, a devoted husband and father, and a modest man who has a knack for taking his talents to the right places at the right times. In addition to his musical expertise, Leavell is now known as a respected author having penned a book on forestry and conservation as well as one of the most sought after keynote speakers around. Leavell takes his passion to the streets giving speeches to a variety of groups and also spends his time in Washington, DC meeting with committees, environmental officials and government officials to help shape policy and to promote sound forestry management practices in America. Leavell continues to tour and record and manages plenty of time in to work on his beloved pristine pine forest plantation.

Chuck Leavell has been pleasing the ears of music fans for more than 30 years now. 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, and many, many more. His association with the Stones has been a long one, beginning back in 1982 and still going strong.

In March of 2005 Leavell found himself recording with the Stones yet again for their upcoming CD and will be on board for their '05/06 world tour. Other recent projects include the last two Richard Ashcroft (formerly of the Verve) solo CDs, Human Conditions and Alone With Everybody. Additionally, Chuck will be heard on upcoming releases by Shemekia Copeland (as-yet-untitled), and Widespread Panic's John Herman (Just Ain't Right). Chuck also appears on the Rolling Stones' Licks Live, Michael Lee Ferkins' Mood Swing and the last two Richard Ashcroft (formerly of the Verve) solo CDs, Human Conditions and Alone With Everybody. He is also on the Grammy winning hit single by the band Train, Drops Of Jupiter. Prior to the Forty Licks tour he was recording in Nashville with Lee Ann Womack, The Montgomery-Gentry Band and others.

His recent solo piano CD called Forever Blue: Solo Piano has garnered great critical acclaim and his brand-new project, Southscape will be released in Aug. of 2005. Forever Blue, a collection of seven original songs and three classics including Georgia On My Mind and Higher Ground. Leavell released his first seasonal album,What's In That Bag?, in 1999 and since that time it has become a holiday favorite.

In addition to his musical expertise he is now a respected author having penned a book on forestry and conservation called Forever Green: The History and Hope of the American Forest. This book is now in its second printing in the U.S. and has been translated and released in Germany and Austria. Chuck takes this passion to the streets by giving speeches and presentations to a variety of groups and also spends time in Washington, D.C. meeting and speaking to committees, environmental officials and high level government officials to help shape policy and to promote sound forestry management practices in America. This has resulted in Chuck being one of the most sought after keynote speakers around. He and his wife Rose Lane were given the ultimate honor for their outstanding management of their own forestland, Charlane Plantation by being named National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year in 1999.

His new autobiography with co-writer J. Marshall Craig entitled Between Rock and a Home Place has garnered such overwhelming reviews that one critic even declared it the "best rock autobiography ever." Leavell also discusses his passion for forestry and the environment as well as his dedication to his family.

When he was 15, Leavell made his way to Muscle Shoals, Alabama 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 1969 Chuck moved to Macon, Georgia where Southern music impresario Phil Walden had recently opened Capricorn Records and studio. There he joined Alex Taylor's (brother of James Taylor) band Friends and Neighbors. He spent the next year and a half with Taylor and appears on his Capricorn album, Dinnertime. After his stint with Taylor, Leavell spent six months on the road with Dr. John, who was managed at the time by Walden. Leavell refers to his time with Dr. John as his "college education", because he spent most of his time watching a master at work.

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 on piano and electric piano. 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 with his punningly named rock/jazz/blues fusion group Sea Level, the band toured heavily during the late '70s and released five critically acclaimed albums.

In addition to his solo projects and working with the Stones and their various solo projects, Leavell is an in-demand session player and producer. His credits include recordings by Gregg Allman, Chuck Berry, the Black Crowes, Blues Traveler, Larry Carlton, Eric Clapton (notably, the Grammy-winning Unplugged album), Aretha Franklin, George Harrison, Warren Haynes and Gov't Mule, John Hiatt, the Indigo Girls, Train, Dave Edmunds, Dion and scores of other artists.

On April 1, 2004, Chuck, along with OutKast, Orlando Jones, Dallas Austin and Alex Cooley, received the prestigious Heroes Award from the Atlanta Chapter of the Recording Academy. The following October, Chuck joined the ranks of many other great Georgia musicians when he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

A well established pianist in the music industry Chuck continues to tour and record with national artists and manages plenty of time to work on Charlane Plantation, his beloved hunting and pristine pine forest plantation.