This has become a very popular time to have a vacation. My place of business still doesn't have electricity, and instead of shifting to a location that does, I've opted to chill until more traffic signals are working, and more piles of debris are moved so I can see where the other cars are. Driving the dogs to their fields has proven so exciting, that I'm letting out sighs of relief when I get back inside my own door.
Here's a happy girl. It's Chuck Leavell's wife Rose with him at the White House dinner for Charles and Camilla. Chuck played keyboard on "Jessica" and many other Allman Brothers' songs, has worked with the Rolling Stones for decades, and is on tour with them now. I imagine it's his prominence as a tree farmer that got him this gig, though. Anyways, nice to see a rock musician with an old, happy, first wife and not some young chippy.
Remember, he had his own band for a while in the late '70s, called "Sea Level". Presumably a play on his name. I have an album of theirs somewhere.
Posted by: Baron Bodissey at November 3, 2005 01:20 PMI have two Sea Level alblums in my collection that I distinctly recall and have been a fan of his for more years than I'd care to let on to. He's a very talented keyboad artist that has always been just outside of the center stage spotlight jamming with the best.
Posted by: Gmac at November 3, 2005 01:51 PMChuck was actually the replacement, of sorts, for Duane in the Allman Brothers Band. He and Dickie learned they could play the duet style similarly to the way Dickie and Duane played together, although, of course, Chuck played piano.
Chuck was also instrumental with Willie Nelson in beginning the Farm Aid concerts in the 80s.
Chuck has also done solo work recently, including a solo concert at the old Douglass Theater in Macon for TV - I've seen it aired on public television a couple of times. It was done to raise money to preserve The Big House - the old house on Vineville Avenue in Macon where the Brothers lived and practiced, and where, IIRC, Berry Oakley died following his motorcycle crash.
All of that, and Chuck is a really nice guy, too.
Posted by: Juan Paxety at November 3, 2005 02:12 PMChuck was with the ABB for quite some time, and if I recall correctly, got into trouble for trying to be the leader. He was way too level-headed for that gig.
Dynamite pianist.