ARCHIVES
ONE ON ONE WITH CHUCK LEAVELL
by Michael Buffalo Smith From our archives. The following
interview (edited for reprint) appeared in GRITZ magazine back in June, 2000. Nineteen years ago! (The uneditted ver- sion also appears in my book Capricorn Rising: Conversations in Southern Rock on Mercer University Press). My how time flies. Chuck has continued to do great things in forestry and conservation as well as musically. We are proud to an- nounce that he kindly agreed to pen a foreword for our new book on the All- man Brothers band, The Road Goes On Forever, coming in August on Mercer Univer- sity Press!
POUNDING KEYS & HUGGING TREES A Conversation with Chuck Leavell
What can you say about Chuck Leavell? He is and has been one of the most sought-after keyboard players in rock and roll, from his classic work with The Allman Brothers Band- remember "Jessica?" - to his band Sea Level, and his unprecedented tours with The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and George Harrison- to his album and live appearances with everyone from The Black Crowes and Blues Traveler to Govt Mule, Leavell has maintained a reputa- tion as one of the very best. Dividing his time between his music and his Charlane Planta- tion, Chuck is truly "the hardest working man in show business" (besides James Brown, of course!). In an exclusiveinterviuew, Leavell talks about forestry, President Carter, Mick & Keith, The Allmans, and more.
Chuck, where are you from originally? I was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1952. My dad was an insurance salesman, and worked for Protective Life there at the time. We moved to the country outside of Mont- gomery around '56 for a few years. I went to first and second grades
there...then back to Birmingham for a couple of years, then fi- nally, when I was in the sixth grade we moved to Tuscaloosa, and we stayed there. So there was some moving around, but we finally settled in T-Town, and that's what I consider the hometown of my youth. And you know, there were so many good players that came from Tuscaloosa. Some of which unfortu- nately aren't with us any more. Like Lou Mul- linax, a great drummer that worked with us early on. And Tippi Armstrong, one of the best guitar players ever. There are guys that are still around from Tuscaloosa that are still playing that many people don't know much about. Bill Connell was a top notch drummer. He played with the Allman Joys and others,
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