Lafayette Leake

about

Lafayette Leake (June 1, 1919 - August 14, 1990) was a blues and jazz pianist, organist, vocalist and composer who played for Chess Records as a session musician, and as a member of the Big Three Trio, during the formative years of Chicago blues. He played piano on many of Chuck Berry's recordings. Leake was born in Winona, Missouri in 1920. Information about his early years is sparse, but in the early 1950s he joined the Big Three Trio replacing Leonard "Baby Doo" Caston and began his association with Chess Records, where he worked closely with bassist, producer and songwriter Willie Dixon. Leake played piano on One Dozen Berrys, Chuck Berry's second album, released in 1958 under Chess Records, as well as playing on Berry's Chuck Berry Is on Top, on which he performed in the classic rendition of "Johnny B. Goode". Leake also played on numerous other Chess sessions, from the '50's through the '70's backing many of the Chess greats, including many classic Sonny Boy Williamson recordings. He was the also the piano man of countless sessions with Otis Rush, Junior Wells, Little Walter, and many others. During the 1960s Willie Dixon formed the Chicago Blues All-Stars. Leake was their resident pianist, and toured and recorded with them until the mid-1970s. After that he did little recording or touring, although he appeared with Chuck Berry at the Chicago Blues Festival in 1986, and recorded "Hidden Charms" with Willie Dixon in 1988. As well as a respected performer, Leake was a

top songs

albums

Easy Blues (France, 1978) [Blues Reference]

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Chess Blues

Easy Blues

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Chess Blues 1954-1960 (Disc 3)

Easy Blues (France, 1978) (Blues Reference)

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Blues Reference: Easy Blues

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Chess Blues 1954-1960 [Disc 3]

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Easy Blues (France, 1978)

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Chess Blues Disc 3

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Chess Blues (Box Set)

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Chess Blues (1954-1960) - Disc 3

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Easy Blues (France, 1978) - Blues Reference

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