About Me
Leonard C. King Jr.
Also known as Doctor ProfessorLeonard King, Jr. was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He was
musically inspired very early in life and received his first phonograph
player at age two. "I' ve been told that I used to bother the family
record player all the time so my parents bought me my own. It played on
78's until my father converted it to play all three speeds-78, 45, and
33 1.3."He began his life in music as a singer. His early vocal influences were
Jackie Wilson, Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers, and Chuck Berry. His
interest in rhythm patterns began to blossom soon afterwards. During
this period many drummers were prominent bandleaders in the U.S. and
several of them had popular recordings such as Art Blakey, Gene Krupa,
Cozy Cole, Buddy Rich, Max Roach, and Louie Bellson. "I would use
anything that was available in our house to make rhythm sounds
including spoons, rulers, paint cans, and chairs. Once I started making
dents in the chairs then my parents asked me if I wanted to take drum
lessons and I said 'yes'." Eventually he learned to sing AND play
simultaneously.The Detroit music scene was very fertile in his youth and Leonard had
the opportunity to meet Chico Hamilton, Art Blakey, and Al Jackson, Jr.
of Booker T. and the MG's. He formed a neighborhood band with his two
brothers Gregory, and Atiba King that became known as Leonard King and
the Soul Messengers and remained together for ten years.Leonard King plays with Kevin Carter and James CarterHe formed his own record company entitled Uuquipleu(yoo-kee-ploo)
Records and has recorded several CD's with OOPAPADA featuring Dr. Prof.
Leonard King. The group also includes guitarist Robert Tye, and
organist Chris Codish. Additionally, King has released a CD featuring
James Carter, Gerard Gibbs, and himself.Recently King has implemented his "Drum Fun and Vocals, Too" program
throughout Minneapolis/St. Paul and other cities in Minnesota, and
tours the world regularly with James Carter.Leonard King has been fortunate to perform with many artists such as Dr.Donald Byrd, Paquito D'Rivera, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Johnny
Griffin, David Murray, Franz Jackson, Eddie Kendricks, T-Bone Walker,
Earl Van Dyke, Bobby Watson, Lyman Woodard, Roy Brooks' Aboriginal
Percussion Choir, Eddie Jefferson, Johnnie Taylor, Regina Carter,
Barbara Dane, Herb Ellis, and Alvin Batiste. Recording credits include
sessions with Lyman Woodard, Pamela Wise, James Glass, and former
students James Carter & Rodney Whitaker.
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