Eric Leeds
Encyclopedia
Eric Leeds is an American
jazz
and funk
musician
who plays the saxophone
and other woodwind and brass instrument
s. He is best known for his work with Prince
.
, the son of a retailer. He moved to Richmond, Virginia
at the age of seven, where he lived from 1959 to 1966, and then moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
at the age of fourteen, where he attended junior high school and college. Leeds lived in Pittsburgh for eighteen years and started a music career there. Leeds studied saxophone with mentor Eric Kloss
, who had signed to Prestige Records
at the age of sixteen. He attended Duquesne University
. He played in a band named "On The Corner" during the 1970s, which consisted of 2 trumpets, 1 tenor sax, 1 baritone sax, and a 4 piece rhythm section
. Eric played baritone sax in the band. Rich Mansfield, also known as Brother Rick and the musical director from the American Soundtrack series played tenor sax in the band.
Leeds' brother, Alan Leeds
, was the tour manager for Prince in the early 1980s and introduced his brother to Prince not long after the Purple Rain
tour. Prince was impressed by Leeds' talents and featured him in the band The Family
in 1985. The band was short-lived, but Prince invited Leeds into The Revolution
for his Parade tour. Leeds brought along long-time friend Matt Blistan, who was renamed Atlanta Bliss
by Prince.
After the breakup of The Revolution, Prince retained Leeds and Bliss for his succeeding band and used their talents greatly over his next three albums. Bliss left the fold in 1989 but Leeds lent his talents to Madhouse
and various Prince projects throughout the years.
In 1991, Leeds released the album Times Squared on Prince's Paisley Park Records
, which incorporated rock, pop and jazz sounds. The tracks that Leeds chose for the album were recorded between 1985 and 1988. A second album, entitled Things Left Unsaid, was released in 1993 with one Prince contribution.
The Family reunited in 2007 under the name "Fdeluxe" with all original members, including Leeds. They are currently recording for a new album.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who plays the saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
and other woodwind and brass instrument
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
s. He is best known for his work with Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
.
Biography
Leeds was born in Milwaukee, WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, the son of a retailer. He moved to Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
at the age of seven, where he lived from 1959 to 1966, and then moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
at the age of fourteen, where he attended junior high school and college. Leeds lived in Pittsburgh for eighteen years and started a music career there. Leeds studied saxophone with mentor Eric Kloss
Eric Kloss
Eric Kloss is an American jazz saxophonist.Blind since birth, Kloss first played professionally in the Pittsburgh area in the 1960s, and played with Pat Martino in 1965; later that year he made his first recordings at age 16 for Prestige Records...
, who had signed to Prestige Records
Prestige Records
Prestige Records was a jazz record label founded in 1949 by Bob Weinstock. The company was located at 203 South Washington Avenue in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and recorded hundreds of albums by many of the leading jazz musicians of the day, sometimes issuing them under the names of several...
at the age of sixteen. He attended Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
. He played in a band named "On The Corner" during the 1970s, which consisted of 2 trumpets, 1 tenor sax, 1 baritone sax, and a 4 piece rhythm section
Rhythm section
A rhythm section is a collection of musicians who make up a section of instruments which provides the accompaniment section of the music, giving the music its rhythmic texture and pulse, also serving as a rhythmic reference for the rest of the band...
. Eric played baritone sax in the band. Rich Mansfield, also known as Brother Rick and the musical director from the American Soundtrack series played tenor sax in the band.
Leeds' brother, Alan Leeds
Alan Leeds
Alan Leeds is American music executive, tour manager, production manager, writer and archivist best known for his work organizing performances and concert tours for artists such as James Brown, Prince, D'Angelo and Chris Rock. In addition to his career in management for artists, Leeds is...
, was the tour manager for Prince in the early 1980s and introduced his brother to Prince not long after the Purple Rain
Purple Rain (album)
Purple Rain is the sixth studio album by Prince, the first to officially be credited to Prince and The Revolution, and is the soundtrack album to the 1984 film Purple Rain.Purple Rain is regularly ranked among the best albums in pop music history...
tour. Prince was impressed by Leeds' talents and featured him in the band The Family
The Family (band)
The Family is a band formed by Prince, and one of the first signed to his record label, Paisley Park Records. The band renamed themselves Fdeluxe in 2009.-History:...
in 1985. The band was short-lived, but Prince invited Leeds into The Revolution
The Revolution (band)
The Revolution was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979 by Prince. Although widely associated with rock music, the band's sound incorporated heavy metal, pop, funk, R&B and hard rock elements. Before their official break-up, The Revolution had released one studio album,...
for his Parade tour. Leeds brought along long-time friend Matt Blistan, who was renamed Atlanta Bliss
Atlanta Bliss
Atlanta Bliss is the stage name of Matthew Blistan, an American jazz musician who specializes in the trumpet. He is most well known for his work with Prince from 1986–1989. He came to Prince's attention through his association with Eric Leeds. The duo had been in a jazz group prior to working...
by Prince.
After the breakup of The Revolution, Prince retained Leeds and Bliss for his succeeding band and used their talents greatly over his next three albums. Bliss left the fold in 1989 but Leeds lent his talents to Madhouse
Madhouse (band)
Madhouse is a jazz-fusion band from Minneapolis that was created by Prince. Two Madhouse albums were officially released in 1987.-History:...
and various Prince projects throughout the years.
In 1991, Leeds released the album Times Squared on Prince's Paisley Park Records
Paisley Park Records
Paisley Park Records was Prince's record label, associated with and funded in part by Warner Bros. Records. It was started in 1985, following the success of the film and album Purple Rain...
, which incorporated rock, pop and jazz sounds. The tracks that Leeds chose for the album were recorded between 1985 and 1988. A second album, entitled Things Left Unsaid, was released in 1993 with one Prince contribution.
The Family reunited in 2007 under the name "Fdeluxe" with all original members, including Leeds. They are currently recording for a new album.
Solo albums
- Times Squared (February 19, 1991), Paisley ParkPaisley Park RecordsPaisley Park Records was Prince's record label, associated with and funded in part by Warner Bros. Records. It was started in 1985, following the success of the film and album Purple Rain...
- Things Left Unsaid (February 16, 1993), Warner Bros.Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
- Now & Again (October 31, 2000), Nouveau
Prince albums
- Parade (1986)
- Sign 'O' the Times (1987)
- The Black Album (1988)
- LovesexyLovesexyLovesexy is the tenth studio album by Prince, released on May 10, 1988. Lovesexy was issued as a substitute record after the release of the infamous The Black Album had been suddenly cancelled. The Black Album and Lovesexy almost act as companion pieces, sharing the song "When 2 R in Love", but...
(1988) - BatmanBatman (album)Batman is the eleventh studio album by musician Prince and the soundtrack for the 1989 film Batman. As a Warner Bros. stablemate, Prince's involvement in the soundtrack was designed to leverage the media company's contract-bound talent as well as fulfill the artist's need for a commercial revival...
(1989) - original soundtrack - Scandalous Sex Suite (1989) - single
- The Love Symbol Album (1992)
- One Nite Alone...One Nite Alone...One Nite Alone... is the twenty-fifth studio album by Prince. It features him on piano and vocals with a few embellishments here and there. It was released online in 2002 through the NPG Music Club and it was never even available in stores. Many fans have only heard the album through MP3...
(2002) - live album - N.E.W.SN.E.W.SN.E.W.S. is the twenty-seventh studio album by Prince, containing four tracks of 14 minutes duration each. Recorded at Prince's Paisley Park Studios over a single day, the album was initially available through Prince's NPG Music Club website on May 26, 2003 before becoming widely commercially...
(2003)
External links
- Interview part1, part2
- FDeluxe MySpace page