| Author |
Topic: New England Legend and Forum member Leigh Howell has passed. |
Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
|
Posted 18 Jul 2013 6:36 pm |
|
Leigh who was living in Scotland I'm told has passed .Leigh was one of the first Artist on Little Darling records in Nashville along with paycheck. He is a member of the Rock a Billy Hall of fame. Leigh move to New England and became a true Country music legend. Living in the Western mass area leigh always had great bands and leaves many friends who loved him as well as his music. Even at 78 his baritone voice never left him as he posted many songs on his facebook account. RIP old friend. Leigh at his home in Scotland. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tixIQfgogG8
Last edited by Joe Casey on 19 Jul 2013 7:20 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
 |
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
Posted 18 Jul 2013 7:52 pm
|
|
This is sad news. I played steel for Leigh back in the 1980s, in a house band five nights a week for five years. We spent a lot of time together. He was a great guy, easygoing and an excellent singer. He posted a lot of videos on youtube in recent years, strumming his Martin and singing classic country songs, still sounded great. He knew thousands of songs! Rest in Peace, Leigh
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel
Last edited by Doug Beaumier on 21 Jul 2013 7:13 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Billy Murdoch
From:
Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
|
Posted 18 Jul 2013 11:09 pm
|
|
I saw a post this morning on Facebook telling of Leigh passing.
Whilst I did not know Leigh personally We corresponded often.He was residing in Edinburgh.
Sincere condolences to His Wife, Family and friends.
Rest in peace Leigh.
Billy |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 19 Jul 2013 2:31 am
|
|
| Sorry to hear that. I only met him through facebook and our drummer Andy Rizzo who knew and had worked with him. |
|
|
|
Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
|
|
|
|
Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
|
Posted 19 Jul 2013 9:14 am
|
|
| Leigh's passing is very difficult to conceive as I remember traveling from Pittsfield, MA., to listen to his band setup in West Springfield, MA. I've been out of touch with him since he moved abroad. Leigh was a true country gentleman, who will never be forgotten. |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
|
|
|
Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
|
Posted 19 Jul 2013 12:46 pm
|
|
| Doug I know it's not but the Drummer looks Like BAER. |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
|
|
|
Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
|
Posted 20 Jul 2013 9:54 am
|
|
| I also played many gigs with Leigh, Pee Wee Goke, and the boys. He was a great singer and friend, and will be sorely missed. |
|
|
|
Sam White R.I.P.
From:
Coventry, RI 02816
|
Posted 20 Jul 2013 10:52 am
|
|
I knew Leigh and I also have a few of his CD's of back up the singer. He will be dearly missed.God be with him all the way.
Sam White
_________________
Dynalap lap 8 String Lap Steel Fender frontman 25B speaker changed Boss TU-12H Tuner.Founder and supporter of the Rhode Island Steel Guitar Association Founder of the New England Steel Guitar Association and the Greeneville TN Steel Jams and now founder of the North Carolina Steel Guitar Jams. Honorary member of the Rhode Island Steel Guitar Association,Member of The New England Steel Guitar Association.
Member of the Florida Steel Guitar Club,and member of Mid Atlantic Steel Guitar Association |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 20 Jul 2013 1:35 pm
|
|
Joe, Andy Rizzo said he first played with him when he was 18. He said he worked with him for 10 years.
I don't know if Andy has the same drums or not. But the ones he has, "have been around for a while"...
Our Monday evening show/jam is temporarily at the Wildwood Community Center on Powell Road. Our regular location, the Oxford Community Center is closed until the doors can be changed (to open outward) to comply with a Fire Marshall inspection. The City of Wildwood also owns the Oxford facility.
Here is a picture that was taken last evening at the Inverness American Legion. Its not very good as it was taken with a "shaky" cell phone cam and was supposed to be a joke for my brother. Andy and his drums are prominent in the picture.
 |
|
|
|
Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
|
Posted 20 Jul 2013 7:46 pm
|
|
Shorter hair now but at least he has it.  I have pictures somewhere of Andy and he has "Fro".  I use to think he never took the drums out of his trunk until the nights he played.. |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
|
|
|
Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
|
Posted 21 Jul 2013 5:38 am
|
|
| I seen a picture a while back with Andy and leigh I'm looking for it. |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
|
|
|
Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
|
Posted 22 Jul 2013 5:07 am
|
|
"Line dance place" I seem to remember the Patty Walker show.  |
|
|
|
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
|
|
|
|
Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
|
Posted 22 Jul 2013 4:11 pm
|
|
I was thinking of the first time I had met leigh. I had just moved to Springfield after being hired as a ist Shift maintenance supervisor for the Milton Bradley Co. During a meeting on a Friday afternoon one of the plant production foreman made mention he was looking for a bass player for his Country gig for a Saturday night. I told him if he had a bass I would help him out so he worked it out and It was at a club called the Chimes on Wilbraham rd. His name was Ray Parker and he was the leader singer. He had hired Leigh Howell on acoustic, Mike Neylon on Drums and Jim Collins on Guitar. I hadn't been on a stage for at least 10 years and of course I wasn't a bass player either but I did OK I guess. Leigh didn't do much singing until maybe the third set and on the last set I was asked if I sang and I got to do a couple. I don't remember anyone ever asking me to play bass again tho.  Collins,Lee and Mike and I laughed about it in later years. It seemed we were all just hired for that night. But if it wasn't for that night I would have never got back into the music which I had not had an interest since I had left Sacramento and into the Army. I always marveled at leighs Voice after hearing him that night. I had asked him why he didn't have his own band. Seems that was his band and his bass player wasn't available that night. What a great run we were both about to have. One big regret I never got to hire a Steeler by the name of Doug Beaumier who was always working. But I did get to work with him a lot. |
|
|
|
