Chuck Leavell

irocku / December 20, 2019

This week’s piano lesson is “Joy Boogie” by Chuck Leavell.

Well it’s that time of year again and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with an arrangement from the master himself, Chuck Leavell. “Joy Boogie” is a joyful and explosive boogie-woogie version of the traditional Christmas classic, “Joy to the World”. "Joy Boogie" Piano Lesson There are few people who can match Chuck’s musical chops but we’ve done our best to turn this joyous piano celebration into a lesson that can be enjoyed by everyone; beginners through our most advanced piano students. "Joy Boogie" is packed with many of Chuck's signature techniques. It’s got a killer walking eighth-note boogie-woogie bass line (influenced by Ian Stewart), moving through a scale diatonically while harmonizing each chord tone with the I chord and each passing tone with the IV or V, …

irocku / December 10, 2019

A tale of two Capricorn Studios piano players

In the spirit of the Capricorn studio revival this month we are featuring two Capricorn recordings and the piano players behind these great recordings. "Jessica" was recorded at Capricorn Studios in Macon, Georgia and released in 1973. “Jessica” has proven to be one of Capricorn’s pivotal recordings. The piano solo on "Jessica" was performed by Chuck Leavell; a piano solo that pioneered improvisational rock piano. "Jessica" is this week's featured irocku piano lesson. Click below for the piano lesson and sheet music: "Jessica" piano lesson Here is another lesser known tune recorded at Capricorn Studios. “Shanty” was recorded by Jonathan Edwards in 1971 and released on Edwards’ debut album, Jonathan Edwards which included his gold record single, “Sunshine”, one of the Vietnam era’s …

URock / November 20, 2019

Featured Piano Lesson- “She Talks to Angels” by the Black Crowes

The IROCKU featured piano lesson is “She Talks to Angels” by The Black Crowes. Click below for the piano lesson and sheet music: "She Talks To Angels" piano lesson "She Talks to Angels” is a beautiful rock ballad. Blues, soul, and gospel all wrapped up into one. The Black Crowes recorded two versions of this song for their album Shake Your Money Maker. The first version, released in 1990, begins with an acoustic guitar intro and on the second version, released in 1998, Chuck Leavell provides the intro and background fills on piano. This lesser known recording has some of Chuck’s must beautiful keyboard playing. Pure, poignant, gospel piano that matches Chris Robinson’s dark vocals and lyrics. This is a great song to work on your gospel piano playing. It uses a I, IV,V gospel …

URock / November 19, 2019

The Rolling Stones keyboardist talks to us about biz, music, and saving forests.

Reprint from "Business Jet Traveler" August 2019 Chuck Leavell, the Rolling Stones’ de facto musical director, has played keyboards for the group on record and on tour since 1982. Earlier, he was a member of the Allman Brothers Band (it’s his piano solo you hear on their classic “Jessica”) and a cofounder of the jazz-rock outfit Sea Level, which took its moniker from his first initial and surname. Leavell has also performed or recorded with many other leading musicians, including Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, George Harrison, the Black Crowes, and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour. The latest of his six solo albums, last year’s Chuck Gets Big, finds him backed by a 17-piece brass band and performing original songs alongside classics from the Stones, the Allman Brothers, and other …

URock / November 13, 2019

Capricorn Revival at the Macon City Auditorium

In the 1960s, The Beatles and the Stones ushered in the British Invasion while Berry Gordy brought us Motown. But if you were a high school or college student in the 1970s chances are you also had a few Capricorn Records in your vinyl collection. Capricorn Records was a label hailing out of Macon, Georgia that was founded in 1969 by Phil Walden, Alan Walden, and Frank Fenter. We can thank Capricorn Records for the emergence of Southern Rock; a fusion of blues, rock, and country music with a touch of jazz. If you dig a littler deeper, you might make the case that it was slide guitarist Duane Allman’s innovative session playing at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals that single-handedly paved the musical cow path for Southern Rock. Capricorn’s roster of artists started with Duane Allman …

irocku / October 15, 2019

A Rare Solo Show With Chuck Leavell

An Evening with Chuck Leavell Friday, December 13th, 2019 Mill Town Music Hall - Bremen Ga Time: 7:30 PM with the Randall Bramblett Band About Chuck: Chuck Leavell has been pleasing the ears of music fans for more than 40 years now. His piano and keyboard work has been heard on the works of Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, John Mayer, 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, long time tree farmer, co-founder of the popular website The Mother Nature Network, and keeps busy with his advocacy work on behalf of the environment. At the age of 13, Chuck got …

irocku / August 14, 2019

Billboard Article: Rolling Stones’ Musical Director Chuck Leavell Covers ‘Tumbling Dice’: Video Premiere

Here's an article from Billboard, Aug 13, 2019: "As the longtime music director for the Rolling Stones -- not to mention his tenures with the Allman Brothers Band, Sea Level, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, John Mayer and others -- Chuck Leavell has full rights to take on the group's catalog in his own fashion. So, not surprisingly, his brassy take on "Tumbling Dice" with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band, whose video is premiering below from the keyboardist's just released new album Chuck Gets Big, is something different than what we're used to hearing him do with his "British brethren." This (album) is really a celebration of the career," Leavell tells Billboard, "so of course there's something from the Allman Brothers, something from Sea Level, something from the Stones, instrumentals …

irocku / August 13, 2019

WSJ Article: Chuck Leavell Remains the Calm Center of the Rolling Stones

Here's a great interview from the Wall Street Journal, Aug 9, 2019: One of the greatest pianists in rock ’n’ roll history divides his energy between music and farming "Chuck Leavell is the calm in the eye of the Rolling Stones’ crossfire hurricane. Throughout the band’s current 17-show “No Filter” tour of American stadiums, you’ll find the keyboardist center-stage, within eyeshot of every member of the 11-person group. He’s the guy they look toward to steady the ship if they feel a song wobbling or need a reminder or a cue. While the 76-year-old Mick Jagger rooster-struts across the giant stage, showing no signs of his recent heart surgery, Keith Richards and Ron Wood peel off the loud, raunchy guitar riffs that have defined the band’s music for 55 years, and Charlie Watts …

irocku / August 8, 2019

Full Concert Video- “Chuck Leavell & His Big Band” live at the Gramercy Theatre, Aug 7

Here is the full concert of “Chuck Leavell & His Big Band” live at the Gramercy Theatre, Aug 7. This concert is a real treat. Chuck performs many of his signature songs from the Allman Brothers, The Rolling Stones, and some of his own but he goes BIG with the 16 piece “Big Apple, Big Band” which includes many of NYC’s top studio and session musicians. As a special surprise for the audience, for “Honky Tonk Women”, Chuck brought out a few of his bandmates from the Rolling Stones; Charlie Watts on drums, Daryl Jones on bass, Sasha Allen on vocals, Karl Denson on sax, and Matt Clifford on cow bells. It was obvious that Charlie had a blast, Sasha got to shine and belt out the verse, and Karl’s sax solo was electrifying. And Daryl did what Darryl does best- he held down the groove. …

irocku / April 10, 2019

Top Country Piano Players

When it comes to country music, the piano has always played second fiddle to the guitar. But there are a handful of pianists who have broken through to help shape the sound of country music. "Get Rhythm" piano lesson Most notably is Floyd Cramer, who could be considered the King of Country Piano for his work with Hank Williams, Chet Atkins, and Elvis Presley. Hargus “Pig” Robbins is considered Nashville’s top session keyboardist, recording with Dolly Parton, Patti Page, Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rogers, Merle Haggard and a dual recipient of Country Music Association’s musician of the year. We can’t leave out Moon Mullican, the “King of Hillbilly Piano Players”. And Ray Charles made his mark on country music with “I Can’t Stop Loving You” ranked on the list of 100 Greatest Songs of …

Skip links

Chuck Leavell