- Leon 'Ndugu' Chancler
Leon (Ndugu) Chancler (born
July 1 ,1952 ) is ajazz funk drummer ,percussionist ,studio musician ,composer and producer. He is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at theUniversity of Southern California as of 2006 .Chancler was born in
Shreveport, Louisiana and began playing drums when he was thirteen years old. While in high school, Chancler played withWillie Bobo and the Harold Johnson Sextet.Chancler graduated fromCalifornia State University, Dominguez Hills with a degree in music education. By then he had already performed with the Gerald Wilson Big Band,Herbie Hancock ,and recorded withMiles Davis ,Freddie Hubbard , andBobby Hutcherson , among many others.Chancler also teaches at the
Stanford Jazz Workshop in California for three weeks every summer.Chancler is one of the most sought after studio percussionists in the music industry. His playing can be heard on many hit records, ranging from
jazz toblues to pop, includingMichael Jackson 's superhit "Billie Jean ". Chancler has also worked withStanley Clarke ,Donna Summer ,George Duke ,Patrice Rushen ,Carlos Santana ,Hubert Laws ,The Crusaders ,Frank Sinatra ,Weather Report ,Lionel Richie ,Kenny Rogers ,Thelonious Monk andJohn Lee Hooker .Ndugu Chancler is a member of Percussive Arts Society. Ndugu Chancler has been named as one of the top 25 Drummers in the world. He has been going all around this country teaching master classes and young students the art of playing the drums. He also is a composer and a the sole proprietor of his own publishing company.
External links
* [http://www.usc.edu/schools/music/private/faculty/ndugu.php USC Thornton School of Music faculty profile]
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