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 176-200 of 373 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 80107 10/31/1950 If there is someone lovelier than you Tommy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 80108 10/31/1950 Louisiana hayride Tommy Dorsey Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 80301 12/21/1950 The dirty dozens Tommy Dorsey and his Clambake Seven instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 80302 12/21/1950 Mr. Freddie blues Tommy Dorsey and his Clambake Seven instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 80303 12/21/1950 The honeydripper Tommy Dorsey and his Clambake Seven instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 80304 12/21/1950 Trouble in mind Tommy Dorsey and his Clambake Seven instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81138 6/6/1951 Wolverine blues Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81139 6/6/1951 Dead man blues Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81157 6/13/1951 Milenberg joys Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81158 6/13/1951 Cannonball blues Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81193 6/20/1951 Kansas City stomp Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81194 6/20/1951 King Porter stomp Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81225 6/27/1951 Jelly Roll blues Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81226 6/27/1951 Sidewalk blues Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81799 11/1/1951 Snag it Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81800 11/1/1951 Willie the weeper Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81866 11/14/1951 High society Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 81867 11/14/1951 Dippermouth blues Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 82316 2/21/1952 Krooked blues Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 82317 2/21/1952 Canal Street blues Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 82318 2/21/1952 Snake rag Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 82415 3/5/1952 Snake rag Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 82416 3/5/1952 Frog-I-More rag Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 82417 3/5/1952 South Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 82418 3/5/1952 The Sheik of Araby Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band instrumentalist, drums  
(Results 176-200 of 373 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Leeman, Cliff," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106790.

Leeman, Cliff. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106790.

"Leeman, Cliff." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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