Greg Leisz | |
|---|---|
 Leisz playing mandolin in Eric Clapton's band in 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gregory Brian Leisz |
| Born | September 18, 1949 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, folk, country, pop, jazz, blues, acoustic |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, record producer |
| Instrument(s) | Lap steel, pedal steel guitar, guitar, dobro, mandolin, banjo |
| Years active | Mid-1960s–present |
| Member of | The Forest Rangers |
Gregory Brian Leisz (/liːs/ LEESS;[1] born September 18, 1949) is an American musician. He is a songwriter, recording artist, and producer. He plays guitar, dobro, mandolin, banjo, lap steel and pedal steel guitar.
Leisz grew up in the garage band culture of mid-1960s Southern California. He spent time at the Ashgrove, the Troubador, and clubs on the Sunset Strip . He began playing guitar and soon added dobro and lap steel, inspired to pick up the pedal steel after hearing Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Buddy Emmons. In 1975, he toured with John Stewart (formerly of The Kingston Trio). He was a member of Funky Kings who released their eponymous debut album on Arista Records in 1976. After the band broke up, he became a popular musician both in the studio and on the road.
In 1987, Leisz began working with Dave Alvin (formerly of The Blasters). Their collaboration led to Leisz producing several of Alvin's albums, including King of California, Black Jack David, Ashgrove, and West of the West. In 1989, he played on k.d. lang's Grammy-winning Absolute Torch and Twang and joined her on the resulting tour. For the next eighteen years he toured with Lang and recorded with her, including her album Ingenue. Starting the early 1990s, he worked often with Matthew Sweet, played on Sweet's album Girlfriend and toured with him.
In January 2008, Leisz joined the group Works Progress Administration, a band composed of Leisz, Sean Watkins (guitar), his sister Sara Watkins (fiddle), Glen Phillips (guitar, vocals), Benmont Tench (piano), Luke Bulla (fiddle), Pete Thomas (drums), and Davey Faragher (bass). The group released their debut album, WPA, on September 15, 2009.
In 2010 and 2011, Leisz toured with Ray LaMontagne as a member of his backing band, The Pariah Dogs. He toured in 2013 as a member of Eric Clapton's band, in 2015 as a member of Jackson Browne's band, and again in 2017. He appeared in the 2016 Cameron Crowe cable television series Roadies, accompanying Jackson Browne on three songs in the last episode of the series.
Leisz played mandolin on the mid-2021 Bob Dylan recordings of "Blowin' in the Wind," "Masters of War," "The Times They Are A-Changin' (song)," "Simple Twist of Fate," "Gotta Serve Somebody," and "Not Dark Yet" produced by T-Bone Burnett and recorded and mixed by Michael Piersante for a one-time sale as Ionic Originals.[2]
Leisz's playing has appeared throughout the years on recordings by Aaron Neville, Alison Krauss, Amos Lee, Beck, Bill Frisell, Black Crowes, Bob Dylan, Bon Iver, Bruce Cockburn, Bruce Springsteen, Cass McCombs, Chuck Prophet, Daft Punk, Dave Alvin, Eagles, Emmylou Harris, Eric Clapton, Glenn Frey, Grant Lee Buffalo, Haim, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, John Fogerty, John Mayer, John Stewart, Joni Mitchell, k.d. lang, Lucinda Williams, Matthew Sweet, Meshell Ndegeocello, Paula Cole, Peter Case, Ray Lamontagne, Robert Plant, Rosie Flores, Ryan Adams, Sam Phillips, Sara Watkins, Shawn Colvin, Sheryl Crow, Susanna Hoffs, The Bangles, The Jayhawks, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tracy Chapman, Vampire Weekend,[3] Whiskeytown, Wilco,[4] and Allen Toussaint.[5]
Another close collaborator is Bill Frisell, with whom he tours regularly and is featured on the albums Good Dog, Happy Man, Blues Dream, The Intercontinentals, Disfarmer, All We Are Saying, and Guitar in the Space Age!.
Greg married Estonian musician Mai Leisz in April 2018.
In 2010, Leisz was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist by the Americana Music Association.
In 2011 he received a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album for his contributions to Ray LaMontagne's album God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise (2010).[6]
With Ryan Adams
With Amy Allison
With The Bangles
With Beck
With Jackson Browne
With Peter Case
With Eric Clapton
With Joe Cocker
With Holly Cole
With Paula Cole
With A. J. Croce
With David Crosby
With Marshall Crenshaw
With Shawn Colvin
With Sheryl Crow
With Grey DeLisle
With Don Felder
With John Fogerty
With Bill Frisell
With Amy Grant
With Haim
With John Wesley Harding
With Natalie Hemby
With Joe Henry
With Missy Higgins
With Mark Knopfler
With Miranda Lambert
With k.d. lang
With Amos Lee
With Charles Lloyd
With Jim Lauderdale
With John Mayer
With Joni Mitchell
With Keb' Mo'
With The Murmurs
With Willie Nelson
With Aaron Neville
With Randy Newman
With Mark Olson
With Judith Owen
With Sam Phillips
With Chuck Prophet
With Bonnie Raitt
With Carrie Rodriguez
With Vonda Shepard
With Bruce Springsteen
With Matthew Sweet
With Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs
With Shannon McNally
With Teddy Thompson
With Tiger Army
With St. Vincent
With Rufus Wainwright
With Gillian Welch
With Jennifer Warnes
With Lucinda Williams
With Robbie Williams
With Victoria Williams
With Brian Wilson
With Wolf Bros
With others
