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 26-50 of 373 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor MS-019829 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early Feb. 1938 Blue fantasy Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Nita Bradley ; Tony Pastor Jazz/dance band and vocal soloists instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-024079 10-in. 7/24/1938 Begin the beguine Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-024080 10-in. 7/24/1938 Indian love call Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-024081 10-in. 7/24/1938 Comin' on Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-024082 10-in. 7/24/1938 Back Bay shuffle Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-024083 10-in. 7/24/1938 Any old time Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-024084 10-in. 7/24/1938 I can't believe that you're in love with me Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-027229 10-in. 9/27/1938 Nightmare (Theme song) Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-027230 10-in. 9/27/1938 Non-stop flight Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-027231 10-in. 9/27/1938 Yesterdays Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-027232 10-in. 9/27/1938 What is this thing called love? Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-027233 10-in. 9/27/1938 You're a sweet little headache Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Helen Forrest Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-027234 10-in. 9/27/1938 I have eyes Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Helen Forrest Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-028973 10-in. 11/17/1938 Between a kiss and a sigh Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Helen Forrest Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-028974 10-in. 11/17/1938 Thanks for ev'rything Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Helen Forrest Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-028975 10-in. 11/17/1938 Deep in a dream Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Helen Forrest Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-028976 10-in. 11/17/1938 Day after day Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Helen Forrest Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-028977 10-in. 11/17/1938 Softly, as in a morning sunrise Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-028978 10-in. 11/17/1938 Copenhagen Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-038105 10-in. 7/20/1939 Running through my mind Jack Leonard ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-038106 10-in. 7/20/1939 Let's disappear! Jack Leonard ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-038107 10-in. 7/20/1939 Stop! It's wonderful Tommy Dorsey Orchestra ; Edythe Wright Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-038108 10-in. 7/20/1939 Hong Kong blues Skeets Herfurt ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-038109 10-in. 7/20/1939 Stomp it off Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-038110 10-in. 7/20/1939 The song is you Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
(Results 26-50 of 373 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Leeman, Cliff," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106790.

Leeman, Cliff. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106790.

"Leeman, Cliff." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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