Chris Leighton

Biography

Chris Leighton has been active since 1968 in the local, regional, national, and international music scenes as a live performer, studio musician, record producer, and percussion instructor.

He has recorded over 1200 commercials, 60 albums/CDs, and numerous movie soundtracks since 1970.

He is the recipient of the Washington Blues Society's "Best Drums" Award for 1991, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007 and he also has instructed percussion with Blues in the Schools (bluesintheschools.org).

Chris Leighton joined the Laura Love Band in 1995 as percussionist/drummer and they performed throughout North America and abroad at festivals and nightclubs.   A major label debut, Octoroon, was released on Mercury Records in May 1997, followed by Shum Ticky in September 1998.  They completed a month-long U.S. tour as opening act for Rusted Root in the fall of 1997, with performances on nationally broadcast public TV series "Sessions at West 54th" and public radio shows "E Town" and "Mountain Stage."

He has performed in the Puget Sound area with Rod Cook & Toast (1999 nominee for the Washington Blues Society's "Best New Band" and "Best NW Recording" awards), Nick Vigarino, Henry Cooper, Murl Allen Sanders, Little Bill Engelhart, and various corporate event bands.

Chris has also performed live with:

Randy Bachman Pete Barbutti The Beach Boys Chuck Berry Dee Daniels Jimmy Dean Hani Nassar Rusted Root Bill Frisell Alice Stuart

Bo Diddley The Drifters Herb Ellis Eddie Harris Lightnin' Hopkins Ferlin Husky Adrian Legg Future Man [The Flecktones] Tim & Mollie O'Brien Martha Davis

Doug Kershaw Ben E. King Danny O'Keefe Diane Schuur Floyd Standifer Tex Williams Long John Baldry Joe Craven Linda Tillery Thelma Houston

Chris plays on a personal custom assembled trap kit, drum oil cans, pots and pans, buckets, and various homemade percussion instruments.