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 76-100 of 373 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-048791 10-in. 4/16/1940 You're lovely and I'm lonely Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-048792 10-in. 4/16/1940 Fools fall in love Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-048909 10-in. 4/16/1940 Dark Avenue Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-048910 10-in. 4/16/1940 The breeze and I Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-048911 10-in. 4/16/1940 Afternoon of a moax Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-048912 10-in. 4/16/1940 The fable of the rose Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Mary Ann McCall Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, traps  
Victor BS-056124 10-in. 9/17/1940 The moon is cryin' for me Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Larry Taylor Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-056125 10-in. 9/17/1940 Wild Mab of the fishpond Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-056126 10-in. 9/17/1940 Wings over Manhattan Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-056127 10-in. 9/17/1940 Wings over Manhattan Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-056128 10-in. 9/17/1940 Night and day Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-056129 10-in. 9/17/1940 Southern fried Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-056483 10-in. 10/14/1940 I hear a rhapsody Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-056484 10-in. 10/14/1940 Whatcha know, Joe? Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Ford Leary ; Three Moaxes Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal trio instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-056485 10-in. 10/14/1940 Isola bella (that little Swiss isle) Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-056486 10-in. 10/14/1940 Redskin rhumba Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-056487 10-in. 10/14/1940 Buffy boy Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-056488 10-in. 10/14/1940 Lumby Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-058767 10-in. 1/7/1941 Blue juice Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-058768 10-in. 1/7/1941 Good-for-nothin' Joe Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Lena Horne Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-058769 10-in. 1/7/1941 Harmony haven Bob Carroll ; Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Glee Club Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-058770 10-in. 1/7/1941 The captain and his men Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Lena Horne Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-058771 10-in. 1/7/1941 You're my thrill Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Lena Horne Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-058772 10-in. 1/7/1941 Charleston Alley Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Victor BS-060361 10-in. 1/23/1941 Little John Ordinary Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
(Results 76-100 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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