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 1-25 of 373 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor MS-07884 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Apr. 1937 Born to swing Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-07885 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Apr. 1937 Twilight in Turkey Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Tony Pastor Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-07886 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Apr. 1937 I'll never tell anyone I love you Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Dorothy Howe ; Tony Pastor Jazz/dance band, with vocal soloists instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-07887 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Apr. 1937 Johnny One Note Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Dorothy Howe Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-07888 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Apr. 1937 Someday sweetheart Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-07889 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Apr. 1937 Bus blues Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-011303 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early July 1937 Whispers in the dark Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Peg LaCentra Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-011304 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early July 1937 'Til the clock strikes three Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Peg LaCentra Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-011305 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early July 1937 The folks who live on the hill Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Peg LaCentra Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-011306 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early July 1937 If you should ever leave me Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Peg LaCentra Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-011307 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early July 1937 Because I love you Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-015507 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Sept. 1937 Strange loneliness Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Dolores O'Neill ; Tony Pastor Jazz/dance band and vocal soloists instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-015508 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Sept. 1937 Rosalie Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Tony Pastor Jazz/dance band and male vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-015509 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Sept. 1937 Sweet Varsity Sue Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Tony Pastor Jazz/dance band and male vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-015510 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Sept. 1937 S.O.S. Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Tony Pastor Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-015511 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Sept. 1937 I'm yours Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Tony Pastor Jazz/dance band and male vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-017807 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Dec. 1937 Good night angel Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Nita Bradley Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solos instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-017808 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Dec. 1937 You're out of this world Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Nita Bradley ; Tony Pastor Jazz/dance band, with vocal soloists instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-017809 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Dec. 1937 Love for sale Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Tony Pastor Jazz/dance band and male vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-017810 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Dec. 1937 Monsoon Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Tony Pastor Jazz/dance band and male vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-017811 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately late Dec. 1937 Nightmare Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Tony Pastor Jazz/dance band and male vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-019825 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early Feb. 1938 Toy trumpet Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Nita Bradley Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-019826 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early Feb. 1938 Power house Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-019827 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early Feb. 1938 Old apple tree Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Nita Bradley Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
Victor MS-019828 16-in. (33-1/3 rpm) approximately early Feb. 1938 More than ever Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Nita Bradley Jazz/dance band and female vocal soloist instrumentalist, drums  
(Results 1-25 of 373 records)

Citation

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

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

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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