Born: June 4, 1946 Primary Instrument: Bass, acoustic
JAMES H LEARY 3RD
aka JIMMY LEARY ,JAMES LEARY
Bassist ” Composer
James was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. Studied piano and played in Rhythm & Blues bands featuring Teroy Betton,Ben Pruitt ,Thomas East,Robert Trezvant,David ii and Jimmy Mayers and York Wilbon around Arkansas.He later became a versatile Bassist performing with
Art Porter ,Sr ,Albert King ,Little Johnny Taylor, Major Lance graduated UAPB(U of Arkansas ,Pine Bluff)
BA ,Music ED. In San Francisco studied Bass w/Charles Siani,Ortiz Walton ,played with Oakland Symphony/San Francisco Ballet Orch at the same time began a long career as bassist w John Handy,George Duke,
Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Dizzy Gillespie, Bobby Hutcherson,Harold Land,Pharoah Sanders, Eddy Jefferson, Esther Phillips, Thelonius Monk, Max Roach, Joe Henderson, Eddy Harris, Randy Weston,
Eddy ”Cleanhead” Vinson, Toots Theilman,Anthony Braxton, Oliver Lake, Dewey Redmond., Jon Hendriks,Earl Hines, Count Basie(1982) .Played Broadway Shows in New York ,Los Angeles and San Francisco He ,moved to Los Angeles(1982),studied film scoring with Albert Harris scored 2 short films
joined Sammy Davis ,Jr (1984-89),Nancy Wilson(1991-1993).Recorded “DOUBLE BASS Choir cd (w/5 string basses) featuring Al McKibbon,John Clayton. James rejoined Count Basie Orchestra in 1995 and currently tours the world with Count Basie Orchestra winning 2 Grammy awards along the way
