Cliff Leeman

Cliff Leeman (September 10, 1913 – April 26, 1986) was an American jazz drummer. His nickname was "Mr. Time".

Leeman, born in Portland, Maine, United States, played percussion with the Portland Symphony Orchestra at age 13, and toured as a xylophonist on the vaudeville circuit late in the 1920s. He first made his name in the jazz world working in the swing bands of Artie Shaw (1938–39), Glenn Miller (1939), Tommy Dorsey (1939), Charlie Barnet (1940–43), Johnny Long, and Woody Herman (1943–44). After a stint in the Army in 1944, he worked with Don Byas, John Kirby (1944–45), Raymond Scott, Jimmy Dorsey, and Ben Webster.

He left the music industry briefly before joining the Casa Loma Orchestra in 1947, later moving on to Charlie Barnet's orchestra (1949) and Bob Chester's big band ensemble (1949–50). He played on radio and television in the 1950s, in addition to playing live often with Eddie Condon and Bobby Hackett. Later associations include Pee Wee Erwin, Yank Lawson/Bob Haggart, Ralph Sutton, Billy Butterfield, Bob Crosby (1960), Wild Bill Davison (1962), Dukes of Dixieland (1963–64), Peanuts Hucko, Joe Venuti, The Kings of Jazz (1974), Bud Freeman, Don Ewell, the World's Greatest Jazz Band (1976–77), and Jimmy McPartland. He recorded several albums for Fat Cat Jazz in the 1970s.

His drumming can also be heard on some of the early recorded hits of Bill Haley & His Comets.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 10, 1913 (Portland), Died April 26, 1986

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1962

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums, traps

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 226-250 of 373 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 83806 1/14/1953 While we danced at the Mardi Gras-1 Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 83811 1/13/1953 Cataract rag Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 83812 1/13/1953 Down home rag Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 83816 1/14/1953 Johnson rag Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 83817 1/14/1953 Bugle call rag Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 83818 1/14/1953 Panama rag Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84644 6/3/1953 Jeepers creepers Ralph Sutton instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84645 6/3/1953 Eye opener Ralph Sutton instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84646 6/3/1953 Snowy morning blues Ralph Sutton instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84647 6/3/1953 T'ain't nobody's business if I do Ralph Sutton instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84648 6/3/1953 Sneakaway Ralph Sutton instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84649 6/3/1953 Fussin' Ralph Sutton instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84650 6/3/1953 I'll dance at your wedding Ralph Sutton instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84651 6/3/1953 I got rhythm Ralph Sutton instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84652 6/4/1953 Royal garden blues Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84653 6/4/1953 Tin roof blues Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84654 6/4/1953 Struttin' with some barbecue Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84683 6/10/1953 Fidgety feet Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84684 6/10/1953 Angry Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84685 6/10/1953 That's a plenty Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84713 6/15/1953 Someday sweetheart Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84714 6/15/1953 Sweet Lorraine Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84736 6/22/1953 Memphis blues Ray McKinley Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84737 6/22/1953 Ol' shanks mare Ray McKinley Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 84738 6/22/1953 Rhythm-a-tic Ray McKinley Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
(Results 226-250 of 373 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Leeman, Cliff," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106790.

Leeman, Cliff. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106790.

"Leeman, Cliff." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106790

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