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 126-150 of 373 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-066103 10-in. 6/11/1941 Spanish kick Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-066104 10-in. 6/11/1941 Wasn't it you? Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; The Quintones Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 70700 10-in. 4/30/1942 That real romance Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 70701 10-in. 4/30/1942 I like to riff Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 70702 10-in. 4/30/1942 Smiles Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 70703 10-in. 4/30/1942 Shady lady Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71097 10-in. 7/17/1942 I don't want nobody at all Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71098 10-in. 7/17/1942 That old black magic Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71099 10-in. 7/17/1942 Oh! Miss Jaxson Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71100 10-in. 7/17/1942 Things ain't what they used to be Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71101 10-in. 7/17/1942 Washington whirlajig Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71102 10-in. 7/17/1942 The Victory walk Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71498 10-in. 11/8/1943 The music stopped Woody Herman Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71499 10-in. 11/8/1943 Do nothin' till you hear from me Woody Herman Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71500 10-in. 11/8/1943 I couldn't sleep a wink last night Woody Herman Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71501 10-in. 11/8/1943 By the river of the roses Woody Herman Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71502 10-in. 11/8/1943 Basie's basement Woody Herman Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71503 10-in. 11/8/1943 Who dat up there ? Woody Herman Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71626 10-in. 1/8/1944 Noah-1 Woody Herman Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71627 10-in. 1/8/1944 I've got you under my skin-1 Woody Herman Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71628 10-in. 1/8/1944 I get a kick out of you-1 Woody Herman Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71629 10-in. 1/8/1944 I'll get by Woody Herman Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71901 10-in. 3/23/1944 Cherry-2 Woody Herman Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71902 10-in. 3/23/1944 Milkman, keep those bottles quiet Woody Herman Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 71903 10-in. 3/23/1944 Irresistible you Woody Herman Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
(Results 126-150 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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