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 101-125 of 373 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-060362 10-in. 1/23/1941 Haunted town Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Lena Horne Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-060363 10-in. 1/23/1941 Afraid to say hello (since you said goodbye) Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-060364 10-in. 1/23/1941 Merry-go-round Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-060365 10-in. 1/23/1941 Conga del Moaxo Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-060366 10-in. 1/23/1941 Birmingham Breakdown Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-061531 10-in. 8/14/1941 Harlem speaks Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-061532 10-in. 8/14/1941 Swingin' on nothin' Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Ford Leary Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-061533 10-in. 8/14/1941 The heart you stole from me Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-061534 10-in. 8/14/1941 Murder at Peyton Hall Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-061630 10-in. 9/11/1941 You were there Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-061631 10-in. 9/11/1941 Blues in the night Bobby Canvin ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Ford Leary Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-061632 10-in. 9/11/1941 I'm coming, Virginia Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Ford Leary Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-061633 10-in. 9/11/1941 Mother Fuzzy Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-061712 10-in. 10/5/1941 I'll remember April Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-061713 10-in. 10/5/1941 Isle of pines Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-061714 10-in. 10/5/1941 Macumba Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor PBS-061715 10-in. 10/5/1941 50,000,000 nickels Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Ford Leary Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-063831 10-in. 4/29/1941 Consider yourself kissed Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-063832 10-in. 4/29/1941 You talk too much Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Ford Leary Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-063833 10-in. 4/29/1941 Ponce de Leon Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-063834 10-in. 4/29/1941 Little dip Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-065699 10-in. 6/11/1941 When the sun comes out Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-066100 10-in. 6/11/1941 I'll never let a day pass by Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; The Quintones Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-066101 10-in. 6/11/1941 Lois Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-066102 10-in. 6/11/1941 Be fair Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
(Results 101-125 of 373 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Leeman, Cliff," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106790.

Leeman, Cliff. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106790.

"Leeman, Cliff." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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