The journey of Leland Parks began just after high school.Leland briefly attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock,Texas but decided instead to play music full time. Leland's band 'Wildfire' moved to the Dallas/Ft.Worth area in the early 1970's. Working at the local clubs playing the current songs of the times, Leland expanded his musical horizons and chops playing 5 nights a week strengthening his musical stamina and knowledge of his instrument. Leland finally migrated to the rich musical surroundings of Austin,Texas in 1978. He landed right in the middle of the famous Armadillo Headquarters and it's own Onion Recording studio to work with the formidable singer songwriter Randy Banks. The opportunities to create original music there, listen too and meet most of the established touring acts who performed at the Armadillo, was an invaluble learning experiance. This led to the opportunity to play with the legendary R & B band-The Cobras. The band was known for its great guitarists like Denny Freeman, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Derek O'Brien along with its horn section featuring Joe Sublett and their 3 great vocalists Paul Ray,Angela Strehli and Junior Medlow. This band was instrumental in helping re-establish
the blues scene in Austin and across the nation.The Fabulous Thunderbirds,SRV and Double Trouble,The Nighthawks and The Roomfull of Blues were all touring around the country,often performing with the Cobras at the R & B venues.During these years Leland got to meet and perform with many great legends including:Willie Dixon,Albert King,Percy Mayfield,Johnny Copeland,James Brown,Professor Longhair,Earl King,Tommy Shannon,Chris Layton,Booker T. Jones,Kim Wilson,Gary US Bonds,Southside Johnny,Duke Robilard,Ronnie Earl,SRV and Double Trouble and many others. When the Cobras disbanded in 1984, Leland was asked to join Alan Haynes and the Stepchildren with Uncle John Turner,former drummer for Johnny Winter.Ths combo toured overseas,sharing the stage with Buddy Rich,The Modern Jazz Quartet,Robert Cray Band,Albert Collins,Wayne Bennett,B.J.Thomas,Delbert McClinton,Joe Hughes,Edgar Winter and many more. After the stepchildren disbanded Leland got the chance to do a major national tour with CBS Records recording artist Mason Ruffner. Filming the first ever allowed video on top of the World Trade Center in 1987 for the song 'Dancing On Top of the World' which was aired in heavy rotation on MTV and now of course, is historical. They opened huge arenas across the USA for CSN&Y,The Beach Boys,
J Geils,Robin Trower and Johnny Winter. Leland then toured for many years with Antones recording artist-Miss Lavelle White playing major Blues Festivals across the nation and in Europe, sharing the stage with acts like Tyrone Davis,John Lee Hooker,The Neville Bros.,Hubert Sumlin,Ike Turner,Charles Brown,Luther Allison,Jimmie Vaughan,Marcia Ball and many more. Plus appearing at New York's prestigious Lincoln Center backing up the late Johnny Adams with Lavelle White and Marcia Ball. Leland now lends his experiances and talents with his current band-Mike Milligan and The Altar Boyz. Leland is road manager for the band and performs regular in Austin,Texas. Leland is also the Vice-President for Doc Blues Records and works to promote its recording artists. Lastly, he is a volunteer for Musicares that helps struggling artists and musicians with recovery and financial issues.Contact info:
[email protected]
www.docbluesrecords.com
www.myspace.com/mikemilliganandthealtarboyz
(512)267-9069 hm./off./fax
The Label (512) 763-1387
Mason Ruffner-Dancin' On Top Of The World http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P2z63Q-eHg
Mason Ruffner Dancin' On Top Of The World
(C) 1987 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
This was an awesome time for me as a touring musician! I got the call from Mason in the Fall of 86'.We went to New York & filmed this for CBS in the Spring of 87'.We all were given cool clothes and guitars and filmed this in reverse so the sun was really coming up.MTV played this in rotation whiled we toured.
MySpace.com/lelandcp LP
Leland wants you to check out a photo on MySpace http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...
Jamming at the Austin Blues Scoiety Jam at Antones on Tuesday, July 8,2008
My Damn Channel » Wasmopolitan Records » Stephen Bruton "Getting Over You" http://www.mydamnchannel.com/Don_Was/Wasmopolitan_...
This song of Stephen's along with his other great one 'Too Many Memories' (For This Heart Too Hold) were very important to me and apply to my love Miss Jean Ann.
We danced to Bruton performing them 'Live' cruising on the Caribbean while on the Delbert McClinton-Sandy Beaches Cruise. We were passing the lights of Cuba at the time.
