September 2004

Follow the Leader: Alan Leeds

by Rhonda Jackson and Reggie Prim

Follow the Leader:
Alan Leeds Manages the History of Rock and Soul

Alan Leeds is cool. He inspires confidence, like the Godfather’s right-hand man. He’s a go-to guy, the one who can get the job done. “Alan, who?” you ask. “Leeds, Alan Leeds.” Leeds has been a key figure in the music industry for three decades. He was on the road with James Brown in the 70’s, touring and road managing Prince in the 80’s and Paisley Park studios in the 90’s. Now, after more than three decades in the business, Leeds manages some of today’s hottest R&B and neo-soul acts. We’re not talking about the B or C list artists here! Leeds has worked with and counts among his close friends neo soul stars such as D’Angelo, Maxwell, Raphael Saadiq and Meshell Ndegeocello. Perhaps, he should be nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll hall of fame, having also worked with such superstar acts as Parliament/Funkadelic and KISS.

You might expect a guy who has spent the better part of the last three decades hanging around rock royalty to be egotistical and unapproachable. But, Leeds is generous, warm hearted, and real. He is so incognito, so chill, he is like your best friend from college. He has no need to boast or get puffed up, he’s seen it all…the fans, the groupies, the superstar ego tantrums, the paparazzi, the bright lights, the cities, the drama, and on an on. It’s a fascinating life he’s led. In August 2004, Rhonda Jackson sat down with Leeds to give theskini.com readers a behind-the scene look at the life of a quiet music business legend.

Alan Leeds was born in New York, and spent his early childhood years in Richmond, Virginia. His parents were Jewish, politically conscious liberals with interests in culture and the arts. When he was in grade school, his mother initiated Leeds into the world of concert going by taking him to see Duke Ellington and Nat King Cole.

In the early 60’s, as a young college kid hanging in Richmond Virginia, Alan spun platters for local record-hops - informal rock and roll DJ parties at school and churches. He made himself a fixture at the Virginia University radio station and became so annoyingly familiar that they gave him his first job as an on-air DJ. The radio station played 60’s soul, such as Sam Cooke, and Curtis Mayfield. When James Brown and his band came to town, Leeds was always there. “Hanging out with Maceo Parker and other members of the band was like a dream come true, we all became more like brothers,” says Leeds. Having become more than just a familiar face, Brown asked Leeds if he would do advance promotions for the group while they were on the road touring the States. Alan gladly accepted and finally ended up becoming James Brown’s tour manager. “Learning what it takes to create an environment that is comfortable for an artist while they are on the road is what I did while touring with the Godfather of Soul (for over 4 years), and I will never forget it.” Leeds toured with the JB’s until 1974 and then began working as an independent Tour Manager based out of New York.

Leeds had a knack of getting close to new artists who were up and coming in the early 80’s pop culture and music scene, finding himself in social circles with the likes of Jean Michel Basquiat and Kid Creole. Alan proved to have a connection with all musicians regardless of genre and flexed by touring with the Newport Jazz festival and George Clinton in the 80’s. In 1983, he answered an ad in a trade paper and got a chance to work one of the biggest acts in Rock. The ad read “Established group looking for road manager” He answered the ad and it turned out to be the rock group KISS. “The group actually hired someone else for the job”, says Leeds, “but they wound up calling me back after a few months because it didn’t work out with the girl they had hired”. Leeds accepted and went on the road with KISS and worked with the group for the remainder of the ‘Lick It Up’ tour. At the end of the rock band’s tour, Kiss’s production manager told Leeds about a new up and coming artist, who was looking for a production manager, but had already gone through three mangers on just the first leg of his tour. This artist was rumored to be a hot-tempered musical prodigy who stayed up all night and who needed multiple teams of recording engineers to keep up with him. Unruffled by the rumors, Leeds decided to meet the artist known as Prince. The meeting between the two proved to be the perfect match, Leeds would manage Prince’s 1999 tour (1983), Purple Rain (1984) Under the Cherry Moon (1986), and Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987). Moving from production manger to assistant in 1990, Leeds came off the road to run Prince’s multi-million dollar studio complex Paisley Park. Leeds took a break from his almost ten year stint with Prince in 1992.

When I asked Alan what is the most important aspect of the relationship with an artist, he points to that invisible link between people by replying that, “Chemistry… chemistry is everything.”

Today, Leed’s reputation as a trustworthy manager and superstar networker in the music industry precedes him. He is helping to guide the careers of R&B artists such as Maxwell, D’Angelo, Rapheal Saadiq, and The Roots who have emerged on the tour scene in the last decade. They look to Leeds for his experience, knowledge and wisdom, hoping to be led down the same path as James Brown and Prince. Leeds has become a legendary music figure in his own right and is still leading the way.

Highlights of Alan Leed’s career in the music business:

  • 1969-1974: touring manager for James Brown

  • 1983: touring manager for KISS

  • 1983-1992: touring/production manager and assistant to Prince

  • 1995-2000: touring manager for Maxwell (Urban Hang Suite)

  • 1995-2000: touring manager for D’Angelo (Brown Sugar)

Maxwell and D’Angelo are both currently in the studio working on their next album. Keep an eye out for these up and coming artists working with Leeds!

...Now That's Theskini!::permalink


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