Artist Bio Leo Matthew Chamberlain (blues/rock/acoustic) Leo plays the Guitar Piano Hammond Organ Bass Percussion Mandolin. Leo is considered my many as a musicologist when it comes to the history players styles and techniques of the BLUES. Leos GEAR: 1959/2009 Les Paul Standard (faded finish) Takamine 12-string jumbo acoustic-electric Blue Les Paul Custom telecaster (built by Leo) Mesa Boogie Mark IIB (Straight into amp no effects) 70s Yamaha CP-70 Piano 1971 Hammond Porta-B organ Alesis QS6.1 synth Ensoniq digital Piano EMU B3 simulator 1st guitar: 1960s japanese solid body electric Crate amp Pro Tools LE recording software...Leo is also a recording engineer and Master Electrician. More About Leo Matthew Chamberlain [Blues/Rock Musician] Leo Matthew Chamberlain (musician) Leo Matthew Chamberlain (born Oct 20 1966) is a self-taught musician who plays the guitar piano Hammond organ bass percussion mandolin. Some consider him a musicologist when it comes to the history players styles and techniques of the blues. �@ Early Life Leo grew up in Fort Myers Florida. Parents John Sr. (1928-2002) and Goldie (1929-2002). He received his first guitar from his brother Mike at the age of 10 and by age 13 he was playing Jimi Hendrix tunes note for note. Leos dad John Sr. was a piano prodigy who was playing at age 5. John Sr. had his own radio show at 16 in Louisville Ky. He also performed for then General Eisenhower while in the Army and later at the Ryman (Opry) in 1952. It is only natural that Leo wanted to be a musician there was always music in the house and his Dad was his hero. Leos Mom had a beautiful singing voice and sang all the time. Leo started piano at age 8 but lost interest when he soon discovered he could never play like his Dad. In middle school Leo wanted to learn the trombone and be like Tommy Dorsey but the teacher refused to teach it. That was the end of Leos interest in band at school. At about 10 Leo heard Koko Taylor and discovered Alligator Records - the blues was all he wanted to study! Leos brothers Mike and Jim would always play great music around the house and Leo discovered Rarre Earth with Peter Rivera Allman Brothers Band (Dickey Betts in particular) Santana and many others. You can hear all of these influences in his melodic very bluesy style especially the Dickey Betts influence. In the 80s Leo discovered the legendary Gary Moore. The bluesy style of Gary Moore is a main component of Leos style. �@ Career In 1983 he formed a band called Grey Haven who played blues Hendrix Dokken and the heavy rock of the day. About 19 Leo was gigging professionally with his Dad and brother. This band travelled frequently and had a great following in Ft. Myers and southwest Florida. and played for a sea of people at the Edison Pagent of Light. Dixie River Band (DRB) played many special events over the years including festivals CMA gatherings and private parties. During his time with DRB Leo was offered the lead guitar spot for Roni Stoneman of Hee Haw fame when she heard him play at GWs Roadhouse. This would have provided Leo access to other artists such as Charlie Daniels but Leo was quick to turn down the job: favoring to play music with his Dad and brother instead. About this time Chamberlain discovered George Lynch and Jimmy Dormire and they were a huge inspiration. For the last several years Leo was playing lead guitar and keyboards in a band with his brothers Flashback (see friends). In 2009 Leo decided to retire from performing other peoples music and decided to concentrate on writing and recording original music in his private recording studio. Leo is also a Master Electrician and Recording engineer that utilizes the industry standard Pro Tools recording software. Leo is currently working on a follow-up demo cd for Mr. Bruce Iglauer at Alligator Records. �@ Musical Style On guitar Chamberlains picking style is varied. From fingerpicking ala Albert Collins to flamenco technique picked up from Roy Buchanan to a flatpick. I play with a flatpick he says when I play alot of faster passages. One element not in his style is the two-handed tapping technique popularized in the 80s. I am from the blusier school of players like Hendrix and Clapton and I just never found that technique all that pleasing to the ear. I can do it but I avoid it!. Early in his musical career Chamberlain studied the various styles of his favorite blues players including musicians like B.B King Albert Collins Roy Buchanan Son Seals Clapton Hendrix Son House Howlin Wolf Mississippi John Hurt and Sonny Terry. On piano and keyboards his main influence is his father who Leo says: Dad was the best piano player that ever lived in my opinion. Influences such as Frankie Carle Floyd Cramer and Mickey Gilley filtered down to Leo from his father. �@ Gear Main guitar: 2009/1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard with faded finish Takamine 12-string jumbo acoustic-electric Custom Telecaster (built by Leo) Les Paul (blue) Mesa Boogie Mark IIB Amplifier straight into the Boogie amp - no effects Yamaha CP-70 piano Hammond Porta-B organ.