*Exploring Bassist Leon Wilkeson* Lynyrd Skynyrd's Bottom End
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- Опубликовано: 26 фев 2024
- Who was Leon Wilkeson? What set him apart in the world of bass players? In this video, we'll explore his distinctive playing style, his contributions to Lynyrd Skynyrd's sound, and the role he played in shaping the band's unmistakable Southern rock identity, controversial stories and folklore. We will also cover a fun fact you might not know about in this mini documentary #lynyrdskynyrd #southernrock #documentary #minidoc #bassguitar
Видеоклипы
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Ed King always said that Leon's bass parts were like a song within a song. Coming from the man who tried to fill his shoes, that's about the best compliment one could receive.
Ed King always knew about the music...he lived it and he wrote it! ❤
Leon is by far my favorite bass player. He had the funkiest and the most lively playing and my ear always goes straight to him. Nice to hear someone honoring him. Thank you!
You're welcome.
Aren't these Docs gems?. He did one on Steve Gaines and I thought "Finally". An historian was, at least going to give us some information about a musician , probably only months away from Guitar Journals(e.g. Guitar Player.)
He might have even got acknowledgement from." Rolling Stone" ,ya know, the publication that failed to honor any of the four players in their "top 100 Guitarist
All four should have been included.
Steve Gaines inevitably would have been recognized and credentialed by the music establishment within a year Id
estimate.
@@dantwomey4215 absolutely. Steve Gaines is a big part of the reason my favorite Skynyrd song is "you got that right." Amazing and sadly brief talent.
My favorite bass sound of all time is got to be the beginning of "Travellin Man"
i'm a bassist.. i learned as much skynyrd as i could... fantastic band... awesome bassist
Yeah the base is going off on all those songs, like simple man.
He was completely underrated !!!
Yeah, you knew he had to be "underrated". Come up with something new for Christ's sake.
@@nimitz1739Ed King played bass on Simple Man and all but two songs on Pronounced.
@@danieleidet7131 If that’s the case I don’t get why they said Ed wasn’t a good bass player. He’s doing perfect bass runs to fit the song
One of the Finest and Under rated bass players ever
@@gteefxr3094 I'm sure you know the answer to that question.
I met Leon at a bar in Jacksonville while serving in the Navy. He looks much taller in photos. He was nice, welcoming and cordial. What I would expect from a fellow southerner. R.I.P. Leon.
🇺🇲✌️🇺🇲
I always wondered why he didn’t get recognized as a great bass player. I love his style He deserved more fame! Great video
Same here. Thanks!
Skynyrd fans know!!! The rest are missing out.
The freebird solo you have 3 guitars and Leon's Bass comes in and those rifts are unreal.
7 members and all had a chance to shine!
Man if there ever was a bass player that needed a doc Leon is it. Well done!
I agree. I also think Benjamin Orr of the Cars is another very talented bass player and should be given the respect and recognition he deserves. Both men were fantastic musicians. May they rest in peace.
@@peterbilt-bo1vy You bet! I think Ben got a lot of respect as a vocalist and rock star. He wasn't a standout bassist, but the Cars didn't need that with their awesome tunes.
Another winner RD! Nobody could hold down the bottom end like Leon! RIP Leon and all the original members of the band.
I met Leon and his wife, when they vacationed in Hawaii about a year or so before he died. My band was playing a gig in Waikiki, and Leon sat in with us. He was a super nice guy, very friendly. The next night we met up in another club where my friends were playing. He was a truly kind man and I'll never forget the night I got to jam with a legend who I listened to growing up. I have a photo of us playing together, that I treasure.
You lucky dog.
@@peterbilt-bo1vy, it was pretty cool.
R.I.P. LEON LOVE YOU BROTHER PEACE
RIP Mad Hatter
My all time favorite bass player. The heart of Skynyrd. Great video, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I’ve always loved bass lines as much as guitar riffs and Leon has always been a favorite of mine.
Leon was what is referred to as "deep in the pocket" Always there with the correct groove. I've been a huge Skynyrd fan for about 40 years now since I was a kid and he has always been one of the bassists I admire most, and in my book one of the best bassists of all time. Thanks for making this and shedding some light on one of the leaser known foundations of the powerhouse that was Lynyrd Skynyrd.
You're welcome. Appreciate you watching and commenting!
Thank you. He played with spirit and fire.
I can never miss a River Docks episode.
We all know how important it is for the bass to carry the bottom in the overall hard and heavy orchestration for the bands songs and yes , Leon did that job good . RIP LEON
Hi y’all 😊 I went to school with Leon’s little sister and I know he was named Leon from his dad’s friend in the USN and his dad Russell Wilkeson. ❤ Take care 😊 Holly
Leon and Phil LESH are my favorite bassists of all time
I'm a drummer but i always felt this guys playing held that band together !!
Underrated a True Legend a Real Friend
I say it all the time how underrated Leon was. Thanks for giving him his due. Classic bass lines every bassist should learn.
This a very important band in music history..they are all gone now and missed..rip brothers
Good job, RD... Hello from the Westside of Jacksonville and THANK YOU for including Leon in your catalog of Rock & Roll videos! 🎼🎶🎸😎👍
And us from the Cedar Hills area .
Ditto from Arlington Jax✌🏼🤠🌾
Trout River, Robert E. Lee…High School…
@@ronaldwalsh6246
Forest HS / Cedar Hills 72
@@ronaldwalsh6246 Forrest HS 77 goin 2 heaven👍🏾🤠🌾
Leon has always been my favorite bassist and of course, from my most favorite band of all time. He was a special guy and once gave a ride to a hitchhiking friend of mine. Autographed a photo for my friend and continued on his way. Always felt his style of playing bass gave the band a solid bass line with rhythmic fretting. He was a very solid part of what made Lynyrd Skynyrd who they were. Leon like the rest of his band mates have left us now but, they cannot, and will not, ever be forgotten. Long live Lynyrd Skynyrd!
Great look back R/D The Best Times to be alive.
You are correct in that Leon Wilkeson was tailor made to play for Skynard. His parts were always perfect for the song.
Funny timing as I was just thinking about how little is mentioned about him as apposed to the others.
I agree RD, Leon was never really given his credit due. His influence is all over the Muscle shoals album and Pronounced releases and when second helping dropped that became and still is my favorite album By LS. (As a side note) when the track “One more time” was originally recorded on the muscle shoals album that is one of my favorite cuts by the band over all. I believe either Larry Junstrom or Gred T walker played the bass. the re recorded version from street survivors is as good as it is due to Leon’s presence. Thanks for this great segment!🎶
It was Greg on that song
My 2 favorite Bassists Leon Wilkeson and Bill Church.
a friend of mine asked me if I would to go with him to a Barbecue get together at his friend's place.Had the pleasure of meeting Leon,Gary&there girlfriends, wives,etc..
Most down to earth,nicest guy.Never acted like he was a bigshot(also goes for Gary&Skynard entourage.
Good times
As a Bassist since the early 70s i can appreciate what Leon brought to the table,tried my best to sound like him but theres only one Leon Wilkeson , everything else is just a tribute.R.I.P.
The mad hatter.......Lynyrd Skynyrd wouldn't have been the same without him. Legend!
Leon’s influences were the same as mine. I played bass for thirty years, and Leon’s played influenced me as well. There are so many roads in music that have rusty nails sticking up that you have to watch your step or you’ll hurt yourself badly. I still miss his playing. RIP Leon.
On freebird in England, the bass and drums .are unbelievably ❤😂🎉
I’m a bassist from Jax and Leon would come play with my band all the time and play bass with my band and I would sing. The first time I met him I was 15 and I went to a practice session when he was with King James Version. I was blown away. He always appreciated my ability to play intricate bass parts and sing. I have pics of him playing in my band back in the 80’s if you’d like to see them. Great bass player and thanks for the video.
You're welcome. Thanks for sharing your story. Sure always like to look at pictures from the past. Email me when you get a chance. riverdocs@yahoo.com
I would love to see those!
LOVE THIS DOC LEON WAS EXACTLY WHAT SKYNYRD NEEDED ON BASS AND VOCALS TO 👢 GLAD YOU ARE PAYING HIM HOMAGE
I forgot to say Thank You for this episode RocDoc
You're welcome.
I just recently left Jacksonville. I travel around now that I'm retired in my Fleetwood RV. Anyway, I went by Criswell Park. It's a football field today. I believe it was in the early 80s that it was no longer used as a baseball diamond. Believe it or not, the home plate was still in the ground. You couldn't see it, but I dig up the sod around it, and dirt for it was forgotten about overtime .But now I own it the beginning of a Lynyrd Skynyrd. The home plate in the late summer of 1964, where Ronnie Van Zant hit the foul ball that hit Bob Burns. Gary Rossington was there that is how they met.
For the longest time, I was under the impression t hat Bob Burns was playing in the field the day Ronnie Van Zant hit a line drive that drilled him. Damn near knocked Bob out. Turns out that Bob was sitting in the stands and never saw the ball coming. But, yes, that baseball field was where it started for Lynyrd Skynrd. You own a small piece of history.
@michaelwolf6424 My information comes straight out of Gary Rossington's mouth. It's hard to tell where the truth is on the internet. My friend, but I watched Gary rossington on a video. Say that this happened, so I will believe him. Gary said it didn't knock. Bob Burns out, but it made him cry.
@@michaelwolf6424 ROCK ON!!!
Definitely one of my favorite bass players, loved his fast fingers
I was lucky enough to see him in 96 . It was Peter Frampton and Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 special in Riverbend Cincinnati and as well as Billy Powell and Big Huey was playing with Skynyrd then and got to see him . And I would have put Billy Powell up against any keyboard player they was but he sure didn't get the credit he really deserved . He was absolutely Badd As They Come on a piano .
Billy Powell was one fine piano player!! Don't let anybody tell you different! Thanks for watching!
Yea I always thought piano was kinda nerdy til I heard Billy burnin it up. Billy was amazing and made it look so effortless. I thought it was so cool to watch him play. I saw Billy twice and Leon,awesome show’s
Bad co. Was with them one time and I think 38 S. The second time. Saw skynyrd again after Huey and Leon passed. Great group of musicians. They are so missed. Ronnie, Steve, Alan, Leon, Billy, Gary of course. Ed was very talented and is sadly missed. Drummer Ian Anderson , Huey of course (huge talent).
Cassie & Jo Jo. Last but not least Dean Kilpatrick and Bob Burns (bless his heart). Such a huge group of talent. Pronounced was the first rock album I ever bought and I was lovin it, played it over and over and still have it to this day. I’m so glad I bought that, I think I was about 11 or 12 and before I knew it I was on my way down the rabbit hole, what a ride it’s been. Much love skynyrd💕💙💕💙💕💙💕💙💕💙💕💙
@@Shann300😅😊 Corpus Christi,
Texas
As a bass player I just wanna say thanks for shining a spotlight on a guy who never really got his due. I'd say putting him in the same breath as Berry and Phil Lesh is spot on!! I'm actually going to see Phil and friends next week at the Capitol theater with Warren Haynes and Jimmy Herring on guitars. Bless his heart to still be out there playing at 80 years old! Phil's had alot of great friends lineups but nothing beats the original Q with Warren and Jimmy. So wish Berry and Leon lived a whole lot longer 😢
Yes so stoked someone did a long form video about Leon!
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING LEON TO THE FOREFRONT !
All the bass players I listened to he is one of my favorites.
Your rightr, he layed the rug down for the front guitarists. He Knew how to pump, slide, slur and kick when it was time to do so. Great Southern feel to boot.
I played a Skynard Tribute band back in 1979 and had to study the bass tracks. Learned a lot on bass back then. Thanks Skynard.
You're welcome. Like I said Leon deserves a bit of the spotlight for some of those great songs. In my book he rates right at the top of all those southern rock bassists. Thanks for watching and your comment.
Thanks River Docs.
Lynyrd Skynyrd 💯
Lots of sadness after such a great start for that whole band.
Nice tribute to Leon. I played bass in a Skynyrd cover band years and years ago and I just loved playing Leon's bass lines and I believe you are right sir, Leon Wilkeson was born to play bass in the Lynyrd Skynyrd band. I've seen a few of your other videos, which I enjoyed .
Appreciate it. Thank you very much!
Such a fitting and much deserved tribute, Thank you sir!
You're very welcome
Most underrated bass player I can think of…
leon kicked ass with the right touch.
I have read and hear someone say in a video that the song "Travlin' Man" was Leon's idea. I take that to mean that Leon came up with the lyrics for "Travlin' Man"
No, he came up with the main riffs
Fantastic Bass Player.
Another superb vid, thank you. Leon really was an incredible bassist, often over shadowed but listen and he is right there bringing that extra special bit to the mix that makes it all work.
Hell yea son....RESPECT
RIP, LEON WILKESON.
I couldnt agree more. Great bass player in a great band.
Leon was flawless.
One of the best! One more for from the road- listen to call me the Breeze- I can imagine how those Supper Festival peaveys from the 70s filled the stage.
He was my favorite part of the Skynyrd show I saw in 2000
Leon was a BEAST on bass guitar. I have been told i am very good at bass myself and i learned listening to Leon.
The GREAT Leon Wilkinson.I’ve learned so much from him.Playing a lot of Skynyrd in my band.We just had a gig, took no prisoners.Thanks Leon,RIP, you would have been proud!
He had a real busy style in some songs that I loved. Gimme 3 steps perfect example.
Leon was a great player and has been compared to some of the best bassmen.
And he deserves to be at the top of the list. But let's get him in the company he deserves to be in for a change... with the true giants of the instrument from the best era of rock.
Leon is right there with martin turner and andy fraser.
He was perfect for Skynyrd. Always brilliant but never in the way or over doing it. He made every tune he played on better for his part of the given number.
Rock solid but inventive at the same time... just like Turner and Fraser.
Great doc!! Glad I found this. Excellent tone, very tasteful licks and lines. Truly legendary and a cornerstone for the band. If there was ever a perfect bassist for a particular group- it was Leon.
Thanks and I agree with you! Leon was meant for Skynyrd.
One of the best bass players or was
Well done!!
That’s crazy! I’m 53 now, my family moved to Jacksonville Florida in 85.
Lynyrd Skynyrd was so big in Jacksonville and being a bassist myself I really enjoyed his bass lines still to this very day. I consider myself a rock bassist tho. But love how his lines really do fit in with LS music.
Interesting story.🤔
There will always by many myth's with legends of bands . I remember winning a meet and greet at Riverport , with the LSB . Leon , Billy , Randell to sign autographs. They played well . I have seen the band in several different personnel changes but they never failed at the talent that provided their brand.
Leon will always be one of my favorite bass players
Manythnx River Docs 🤘
Leon was a great bass player. As a bass player, I always looked at him as one of my main musical influences.
The bass line in Gimme Three Steps was always a favorite of mine. Good to know that Leon wrote it, even if Ed played it.
Watch videos of Leon playing and Skynards current bass player,Leon is playing so much more. He's amazing.
Leon was the fourth guitarist in Lynyrd Skynyrd! Right up there with Berry Oakley! Amazing how well he played with the drummers he had to work with especially artimus trainwreck pyle!
Leon Wilkeson is one of the all time best bass players hands down. When I feel he is also very underrated, when I listen to Skynyrd my ears hon in on his bass playing.. That smell, I know a little, Freebird live, call me the breeze, double trouble, I'm a country boy Saturday night special are some of his best sounding tunes he was a part of there's alot more ofcourse but he is in the top 5 best bassits
I don’t know if Leon Russell and Leon Wilkeson ever got to play together but it would have been cool if they did. I saw Skynyrd live about a week before he passed and when I heard that he was gone I couldn’t get my mind around it. Between the plane crash and years of substance abuse his body had a lot of hard miles on it. I wish he could have been around a lot longer.
Leon was a perfect fit for the Band....Like you said..Ed would not been the type to murder...Hell far....he was kinda a misfit compared to the rest,He was straight/clean guy..not a murderer by no means.
Thanks
Never thought much about what happened to him, didn't know he died that way. Powerhouse solid bass. It was a life pretty well lived, including two huge second-chances. You can't ask for much more than that.
The Best 🎸🦅💔
fantastic player
Yes he was.truely one of a kind
Putting the raw talent and natural southern boogie of this legendary group aside, their look and appearance is timeless. Can you get anymore “badass” than Leon’s look? I know, I know. It’s supposed to be about the music. But, damn! The hair! The curls! The beards! The shades! Fk!
RIP brother Leon sir heaven also needs some Rock n Roll
RD,
Like always enjoy your work/channel. Boe 👍😊
Awesome! Thank you!
Leon's bass playing added to the Skynard sound, like the commentator said, he laid down the bottom end with tasteful, sweet baselines. Also like the commentator said his backing vocals were strong and right on point. Never saw Skynard with Ronnie, had tickets to see them on the last tour when the plane went down and was devastated. I had only been into them for about a year and was looking forward to seeing them live but fait came and took that away. Saw the new version until Leon Past and that was it for me. RIP Leon.
Leon actually wasn’t a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, however. Larry Junstrom was the original bass player for Lynyrd Skynyrd, when the group was still known as My Backyard, but obviously quit the band before they were discovered by Al Kooper and signed to MCA. Larry was also a member of 38 Special for several years.
As many commenters have posted here, Leon Wilkeson was a true genius who fit in like a glove with LS. While it's too easy to rate his songs starting with "Free Bird", this song performed at Knebworth for me is truly one of his outstanding live performances. In those last stnazas when the guitar arm;y is wailing away, Leon's distinctive bass riffs manage to usurp even those three. Fifths, thirds. . .he hammes away. Ironically, Ronnie wanted all four of his "mules" to go stand on that Rolling Stones tongue. Allen, Gary and Steve Gaines did. Poor Leon's cord was too short so he had to stand back about 20' on the top. To me, that only enhanced his place on bass. He was on fire that day. I can still hear those runs as clear as a bell.
It's sad now that they are all gone. The story of Lynyrd Skynrd is probably the most tragic story in rock history in which the final chapter was written after the passing of Gary Rossington. As a New Orleanian, I've seen them perform several times and they were like a 'home grown' group to me. All things must past and soon I will rejoin with them as one of their faithful fans.
Wow he was great 👍
Love me some Thumper. No matter what happened to Leon in his life 💔 he was the best. I have a radio on my porch that plays 24. No doubt when Lynyrd skynyrd comes on because I can hear Thumper right off. RIP MAD HATTER. YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN FREEBIRD ❤️ ♥️ 💖
Ed King was on the pronounced album and so was Leon Wilkerson
Good stuff man! I always appreciate your storytelling approach to your videos!
I appreciate that!
I had the opportunity to meet Leon when he and Artimus Pyle were exiting a 7-11 in Spartanburg S.C in1976. I knew Artimus from before playing with Lynerd Skynerd so he introduced us.
Amazing bass player, such a cool sound and style. But to be fair, Ed King was no slouch either in his time on bass!!
Great info😊 great narration as usual and Leon may have had the best hair of all of em
I respectfully disagree, Gary had the best hair.
Spot on sir, they had that BASE, if can tear yer ear away and hear that bass… ,like Give me back my bullets, man he was Good!!!
Along with Tiran Porter of the Doobie Brothers, the 2 most underrated bass players in rock history. RIP Leon. I'm a fan forever.
I thought we were finally gonna find out why the hat. I imagine Mr. Velvet Voice would say "As for the hats, well, that's one mystery we're gonna leave out in the bayou."
Leon was a real fun-loving guy, and one to please people. He genuinely cared for the well being of other people and did what he could to bring happiness to others. His vast array of hats worn onstage were an extension of his doing his part to bring joy to those in the audiences. 💖
Awesome RDLeons Thunderbird on one end & Allens Firebird on the other end was a perfect Gibson Recipe✌🏼🤠🌾