My name is Mark Leonard and I was born on Long Island, New York and I started playing the keyboards at age 5. Took organ lessons from age 6-10 and studied music theory for many years after.
Started working in music studios at age 14 and was a studio musician for Strong Island Records on Long Island where I wrote recorded and co-produced numerous freestyle songs in the mid to late 80’s.
I signed my first house record with MicMac Records in 1991. Continued working in studios all over the New York area, and in 1997 moved to Florida to work with Tom Laroc on assorted music projects and to engineer at a pre-production studio on South Beach.
Its never been about money, but always about the music. The feeling when you get a mix just right, or when you coach a vocalist to that magical take.
I’ve never dreamt of doing a live show or being on stage in front of the lights.
My high is the behind the scenes work, or mixing in a dark smokey studio until the sun comes up.
My ear for music is what keeps me on top of my game. Im always the first person to hear if a note is off pitch, or if a highhat is out of time. I examine every piece of music as I hear it and am always listening to every part of it.
I simply cant help it.
Music touches me deeply. Certain songs touch me so deep, that I burst out in laughter and tears at the same time ( EWF - After The Love is Gone (Live) ).
It’s always been about the music for me. Its my life, with or without my keyboard skills.
I currently do production work for The Opium Group on Miami Beach and set up, service, and operate sound and lighting systems in thier nightclubs.
( Opium and Mansion on South Beach)
I still work on projects at home in my spare time but, that seems to be less and less lately. There is so much shit music out there, maybe one day I will just snap and let the world hear some of the stuff I do.
Maybe.
