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 51-75 of 373 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-042611 10-in. 8/28/1939 Stop kicking my heart around Clambake Seven ; Tommy Dorsey ; Edythe Wright Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-042612 10-in. 8/28/1939 It's a hundred to one (I'm in love) Clambake Seven ; Tommy Dorsey ; Edythe Wright Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-042613 10-in. 8/28/1939 Vol vistu gaily star Clambake Seven ; Tommy Dorsey Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-042614 10-in. 8/28/1939 Shoot the sherbert to me Herbert Clambake Seven ; Tommy Dorsey ; Edythe Wright Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-042615 10-in. 8/28/1939 Alla en el rancho grande Clambake Seven ; Tommy Dorsey ; Hughie Prince Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-043989 10-in. 12/11/1939 Now you know Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-043990 10-in. 12/11/1939 I kinda like you Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-043991 10-in. 12/11/1939 Night after night after you Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-043992 10-in. 12/11/1939 Between 18th and 19th on Chestnut Street Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-043993 10-in. 12/11/1939 Somebody told me Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-043994 10-in. 12/11/1939 Clap hands, here comes Charlie Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-046056 10-in. 1/3/1940 Thank your stars Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-046057 10-in. 1/3/1940 Tappin' at the Tappa Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-046058 10-in. 1/3/1940 Comanche war dance Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-046059 10-in. 1/3/1940 Southland shuffle Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-047709 10-in. 2/27/1940 Ev'ry Sunday afternoon Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-047710 10-in. 2/27/1940 From another world Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-047711 10-in. 2/27/1940 You've got me out on a limb Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-047712 10-in. 2/27/1940 Castle of dreams Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-047985 10-in. 3/21/1940 A lover's lullaby Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-047986 10-in. 3/21/1940 Where was I? Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-047987 10-in. 3/21/1940 'Deed I do Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-047988 10-in. 3/21/1940 You've got me voo-doo'd Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-047989 10-in. 3/21/1940 Wanderin' blues Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-047990 10-in. 3/21/1940 Leapin' at the Lincoln Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
(Results 51-75 of 373 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Leeman, Cliff," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106790.

Leeman, Cliff. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106790.

"Leeman, Cliff." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106790

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