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Greg Leisz
Leisz playing mandolin in Eric Clapton's band
Background information
Birth name	Gregory Brian Leisz
Born	(1949-09-18) September 18, 1949 (age 69) Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Genres	Rock, folk, country, pop, jazz, blues, acoustic
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, record producer
Instruments	Lap steel, pedal steel guitar, guitar, dobro, mandolin
Years active	Mid-1960s–present
Associated acts	The Crash Test Dummies k.d. lang, Matthew Sweet, Bill Frisell, Eric Clapton, Jackson Browne, Peter Case, Joe Cocker, Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, John Mayer, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen, Loudon Wainwright III

Gregory Brian Leisz (pronounced "Lease")^[1] (born September 18, 1949) is an American musician. He is a songwriter, recording artist, and producer. He plays guitar, dobro, mandolin, lap steel and pedal steel guitar.

Biography

Leisz playing lap steel in Eric Clapton's band, Charlotte, North Carolina, April 2, 2013

Leisz grew up in the garage band culture of mid-1960s Southern California. He spent time at the Ashgrove, the Troubador, and clubs on the Sunset Strip . He began playing guitar and soon added dobro and lap steel. He was inspired to pick up the pedal steel after hearing Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Buddy Emmons. In 1975, he toured with John Stewart (formerly of The Kingston Trio). He was a member of Funky Kings who released their eponymous debut album on Arista Records in 1976. After the band broke up, he became a popular musician both in the studio and on the road.

In 1987, Leisz began working with Dave Alvin (formerly of The Blasters). Their collaboration led to Leisz producing several of Alvin's albums, including King of California, Black Jack David, Ashgrove, and West of the West. In 1989, he played on k.d. lang's Grammy-winning Absolute Torch and Twang and joined her on the resulting tour. For the next eighteen years he toured with Lang and recorded with her, including her album Ingenue. Starting the early 1990s, he worked often with Matthew Sweet, played on Sweet's album Girlfriend and toured with him.^{[citation needed]}

In January 2008, Leisz joined the group Works Progress Administration, a band composed of Leisz, Sean Watkins (guitar), his sister Sara Watkins (fiddle), Glen Phillips (guitar, vocals), Benmont Tench (piano), Luke Bulla (fiddle), Pete Thomas (drums), and Davey Faragher (bass). The group released their debut album, WPA, on September 15, 2009.

In 2010 and 2011, Leisz toured with Ray LaMontagne as a member of his backing band, The Pariah Dogs. He toured in 2013 as a member of Eric Clapton's band, in 2015 as a member of Jackson Browne's band, and again in 2017. He appeared in the 2016 Cameron Crowe cable television series Roadies, accompanying Jackson Browne on three songs in the last episode of the series.^{[citation needed]}

Leisz's playing has appeared throughout the years on recordings by Aaron Neville, Alison Krauss, Amos Lee, Beck, Bill Frisell, Black Crowes, Bon Iver, Bruce Cockburn, Bruce Springsteen, Cass McCombs, Chuck Prophet, Daft Punk, Dave Alvin, Eagles, Emmylou Harris, Eric Clapton, Glenn Frey, Grant Lee Buffalo, Haim, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, John Fogerty, John Mayer, John Stewart, Joni Mitchell, k.d. lang, Lucinda Williams, Matthew Sweet, Meshell Ndegeocello, Paula Cole, Peter Case, Ray Lamontagne, Robert Plant, Sam Phillips, Sara Watkins, Shawn Colvin, Sheryl Crow, Susanna Hoffs, The Bangles, The Jayhawks, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tracy Chapman, Whiskeytown, Wilco,^[2] and Allen Toussaint.^[3]

Another close collaborator is Bill Frisell, with whom he tours regularly and is featured on the albums Good Dog, Happy Man, Blues Dream, The Intercontinentals, Disfarmer, All We Are Saying, and Guitar in the Space Age!.

Awards

Leisz playing guitar with Jackson Browne (left) in Greenville, South Carolina, 2015

In 2010, Leisz was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist by the Americana Music Association.

In 2011 he received a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album for his contributions to Ray LaMontagne's album God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise (2010).^[4]

Discography

With Ryan Adams

• 
  Demolition (Lost Highway, 2002)


• 
  Love Is Hell (Lost Highway, 2004)

With Beck

• 
  Odelay (DGC, 1996)


• 
  Mutations (DGC, 1998)


• 
  Morning Phase (Capitol, 2014)

With Jackson Browne

• 
  The Naked Ride Home (Elektra, 2002)


• 
  Standing in the Breach (Inside, 2014)

With Peter Case

• 
  Torn Again (Vanguard, 1995)


• 
  Full Service No Waiting (Vanguard, 1998)


• 
  Flying Saucer Blues (Vanguard, 2000)


• 
  Who's Gonna Go Your Crooked Mile? (Vanguard, 2004)

With Eric Clapton

• 
  Old Sock (Surfdog, 2013)


• 
  The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale (Bushbranch/Surfdog, 2014)

With Joe Cocker

• 
  Organic (550 Music, 1996)


• 
  Hymn for My Soul (EMI, 2007)

With Holly Cole

• 
  This Fire (Imago, 1996)


• 
  Dark Dear Heart (Alert, 1997)


• 
  Courage (Decca, 2007)


• 
  Night (Universal Music, 2012)

With Shawn Colvin

• 
  Fat City (Columbia, 1992)


• 
  These Four Walls (Nonesuch, 2006)

With Sheryl Crow

• 
  The Globe Sessions (A&M, 1998)


• 
  Wildflower (A&M, 2005)

With Bill Frisell

• 
  Good Dog, Happy Man (Nonesuch, 1999)


• 
  Blues Dream (Nonesuch, 2001)


• 
  The Intercontinentals (Nonesuch, 2003)


• 
  Disfarmer (Nonesuch, 2009)


• 
  All We Are Saying (Savoy Jazz, 2011)


• 
  Guitar in the Space Age! (OKeh, 2014)

With Emmylou Harris

• 
  Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions (Asylum Nashville, 1999) with Linda Ronstadt
  


• 
  All I Intended to Be (Nonesuch, 2008)

With Missy Higgins

• 
  The Sound of White (Eleven, 2004)


• 
  On a Clear Night (Eleven, 2007)

With Miranda Lambert

• 
  Revolution (Columbia, 2009)


• 
  Four the Record (RCA, 2011)

With k.d. lang

• 
  Absolute Torch and Twang (Sire, 1989)


• 
  Ingenue (Warner Bros., 1992)


• 
  Drag (Warner Bros., 1997)


• 
  Invincible Summer (Warner Bros., 2000)


• 
  Live by Request (Warner Bros., 2001)


• 
  Watershed (Nonesuch, 2008)

With Amos Lee

• 
  Supply and Demand (Blue Note, 2006)


• 
  Last Days at the Lodge (Blue Note, 2008)


• 
  Mission Bell (Blue Note, 2011)

With Charles Lloyd

• 
  I Long to See You (Blue Note, 2016)

With John Mayer

• 
  Heavier Things (Aware, 2003)


• 
  Born and Raised (Columbia, 2012)


• 
  The Search for Everything (Columbia, 2017)

With Joni Mitchell

• 
  Turbulent Indigo (Reprise, 1994)


• 
  Taming the Tiger (Reprise, 1997)


• 
  Shine (Hear Music, 2007)

With The Murmurs

• 
  Pristine Smut (MCA, 1997)


• 
  Blender (MCA, 1998)

With Randy Newman

• 
  Bad Love (DreamWorks, 1999)


• 
  Harps and Angels (Nonesuch, 2008)

With Mark Olson

• 
  My Own Jo Ellen (HighTone, 2000)


• 
  The Salvation Blues (Hacktone, 2007)

With Sam Phillips

• 
  Omnipop (It's Only a Flesh Wound Lambchop) (Virgin, 1996)


• 
  Cameras in the Sky (2011)

With Bruce Springsteen

• 
  Bruce Springsteen with The Sessions Band: Live in Dublin (Columbia, 2007)


• 
  Wrecking Ball (Columbia, 2012)

With Matthew Sweet

• 
  Girlfriend (Zoo, 1991)


• 
  100% Fun (Zoo, 1999)


• 
  In Reverse (Volcano, 1999)


• 
  Kimi Ga Suki (RCAM, 2003)


• 
  Living Things (RCAM, 2004)


• 
  Under the Covers, Vol. 1 (Shout! Factory, 2006) with Suzanna Hoffs


• 
  Sunshine Lies (Shout! Factory, 2008)


• 
  Under the Covers, Vol. 2 (Shout! Factory, 2009) with Suzanna Hoffs

With various artists

• 
  A Testimonial Dinner: The Songs of XTC (Thirsty Ear, 1995)


• 
  Songs of Anarchy: Music from Sons of Anarchy Seasons 1–4 (Columbia, 2011)


• 
  Sons of Anarchy: Songs of Anarchy Vol. 2 (Columbia, 2012)


• 
  We Walk the Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash (Legacy, 2012)

With Loudon Wainwright III

• 
  Here Come the Choppers (Sovereign, 2005)


• 
  Strange Weirdos (Concord, 2007)


• 
  Recovery (Yep Roc, 2008)

With Wilco

• 
  Being There (Reprise)


• 
  Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rare Tracks 1994–2014 (Nonesuch)

With Lucinda Williams

• 
  Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (Mercury, 1998)


• 
  Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone (Highway 20, 2014)


• 
  The Ghosts of Highway 20 (Highway 20, 2016)

With others

• 
  Amy Allison, Sad Girl (Diesel Only, 2001)


• 
  Dave Alvin, Out in California (HighTone, 2002)


• 
  Anjani, Blue Alert (Columbia, 2006)


• 
  Fiona Apple, Tidal (Clean Slate, 1996)


• 
  Steve Azar, Heartbreak Town (River North, 1996)


• 
  The Bangles, Doll Revolution (E1 Music, 2003)


• 
  Bash & Pop, Friday Night is Killing Me (Sire, 1993)


• 
  The Beach Boys, Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 (River North, 1996)


• 
  Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Beware (Drag City, 2009)


• 
  Mary Black, Shine (Dara, 1997)


• 
  Chris Botti, Slowing Down the World (GRP, 1999)


• 
  Michelle Branch, Everything Comes and Goes (Reprise, 2010)


• 
  Jon Brion, Meaningless (Straight to Cut Out, 2001)


• 
  Jonatha Brooke, The Works (Bad Dog, 2008)


• 
  T Bone Burnett, Tooth of Crime (Nonesuch, 2008)


• 
  Tracy Chapman, Let It Rain (Elektra, 2002)


• 
  Paula Cole, Courage ([Decca, 2007)


• 
  Court Yard Hounds, Court Yard Hounds (Columbia, 2010)


• 
  A.J. Croce, Adrian James Croce (Seedling, 2004)


• 
  Crowded House, Intriguer (Fantasy, 2010)


• 
  Rodney Crowell, Sex & Gasoline (Work Song, 2008)


• 
  Ben Harper, Diamonds On the Inside (Virgin, 2003)


• 
  Beth Hart, Leave the Light On (Warner Bros., 2003)


• 
  Joe Henry, Civilians (ANTI, 2007)


• 
  Highway 101, Paint the Town (Warner Bros., 1989)


• 
  Daft Punk, Random Access Memories (Daft Life, 2013)


• 
  Grey DeLisle, The Graceful Ghost (Sugar Hill, 2004)


• 
  Jakob Dylan, Women + Country (Columbia, 2010)


• 
  Eagles, Long Road Out of Eden (Lost Highway, 2007)


• 
  Ramblin' Jack Elliott, A Stranger Here (ANTI, 2009)


• 
  Melissa Etheridge, Breakdown (Island, 1999)


• 
  John Fogerty, The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again (Fortunate Son, 2009)


• 
  Glenn Frey, After Hours (Universal Music, 2012)


• Funky Kings, Funky Kings (Arista, 1976)


• 
  Lisa Germano, Magic Neighbor (Young God, 2009)


• 
  Haim, Days Are Gone (Polydor, 2013)


• 
  Ted Hawkins, The Next Hundred Years (Geffen, 1994)


• 
  Susanna Hoffs, Susanna Hoffs (London, 1996)


• 
  Jesca Hoop, Memories Are Now (Sub Pop, 2016)


• 
  James Iha, Let It Come Down (Virgin, 1998)


• 
  Indigo Girls, Despite Our Differences (Hollywood, 2006)


• 
  Bon Iver, Bon Iver, Bon Iver (Jagjauwar, 2011)


• 
  Jayhawks, Tomorrow the Green Grass (American, 1995)


• 
  Jorma Kaukonen, Stars in My Crown (Red House, 2007)


• 
  Dave Koz, Off the Beaten Path (Capitol, 1996)


• 
  Ray LaMontagne, God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise (RCA, 2010)


• 
  Jim Lauderdale, Every Second Counts (Atlantic, 1995)


• 
  Hugh Laurie, Didn't It Rain (Warner Bros., 2013)


• 
  Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam, I Had a Dream That You Were Mine (Glassnote, 2016)


• 
  Brian McKnight, Back at One (Motown, 1999)


• 
  Shannon McNally, Jukebox Sparrows (Capitol, 2002)


• 
  Christy McWilson, The Lucky One (HighTone, 2000)


• 
  Natalie Merchant, Motherland (Elektra, 2001)


• 
  Ramsay Midwood, Popular Delusions & The Madness of Cows (Farmwire, 2006)


• 
  Keb' Mo', The Door (Epic, 2000)


• 
  Meshell Ndegeocello, Bitter (Maverick, 1999)


• 
  Willie Nelson, The Great Divide (Lost Highway, 2002)


• 
  Nick 13, Nick 13 (Sugar Hill, 2011)


• 
  Stevie Nicks, In Your Dreams (Reprise, 2011)


• 
  Peter Ostroushko, Coming Down from Red Lodge (Red House, 2003)


• 
  Madeleine Peyroux, Half the Perfect World (Rounder, 2006)


• 
  Grant Lee Phillips, Virginia Creeper (Zoë, 2004)


• 
  Rebecca Pidgeon, Behind the Velvet Curtain: Songs from the Motion Picture Redbelt (Great American Music, 2008)


• 
  Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand (Rounder, 2007)


• 
  Lisa Marie Presley, Storm & Grace (Universal Republic, 2012)


• 
  Bonnie Raitt, Slipstream (Redwing, 2012)


• 
  Carrie Rodriguez, Love and Circumstance (Ninth Street Opus, 2010)


• 
  Roxette, Tourism (EMI, 1992)


• 
  Adam Sandler, What's Your Name? (Warner Bros., 1997)


• 
  Timothy B. Schmit, Expando (Lost Highway, 2009)


• 
  Kevin Sharp, Measure of a Man (Asylum, 1996)


• 
  Chris Shiflett, Chris Shiflett & the Dead Peasants (RCA, 2010)


• 
  The Smashing Pumpkins, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (Virgin, 1995)


• 
  Rod Stewart, Still the Same... Great Rock Classics of Our Time (J, 2007)


• 
  Randy Stonehill, Return to Paradise (Myrrh, 1989)


• 
  Peter Stuart, Propeller (Vanguard, 2002)


• 
  Syd Straw, Surprise (Virgin, 1989)


• 
  Jack Tempchin and Richard Stekol, Live on Highway 101 (Night River, 2002)


• 
  Teddy Thompson, Upfront & Down Low (Verve Forecast, 2007)


• 
  Tiger Army, Tiger Army (Hellcat, 1999),


• Tiger Army, V •••– (Rise, 2016)


• 
  Pam Tillis, Sweetheart's Dance (Arista, 1994)


• 
  Toad the Wet Sprocket, New Constellation (Abe's Records, 2013)


• 
  Suzie Vinnick, Happy Here (self-released, 2008)


• 
  Joe Walsh, Analog Man (Fantasy, 2012)


• 
  Was (Not Was), Boo! (Rykodisc, 2008)


• 
  Sara Watkins, Sara Watkins (Nonesuch, 2009)


• 
  Gillian Welch, Soul Journey (Acony, 2003)


• 
  Paul Westerberg, Suicaine Gratifaction (Capitol, 1999)


• 
  Whiskeytown, Stranger's Almanac (Geffen/Outpost, 1997)


• 
  The Williams Brothers, Harmony Hotel (Warner Bros., 1993)


• 
  Victoria Williams, Loose (Atlantic, Mammoth 1994)


• 
  Brian Wilson, Gettin' In Over My Head (Brimel, 2004)


• 
  Lee Ann Womack, Something Worth Leaving Behind (MCA Nashville, 2002)


• 
  Lizz Wright, Dreaming Wide Awake (Verve, 2005)


• 
  Dwight Yoakam, Hillbilly Deluxe (Reprise, 1987)


• 
  Daft Punk, Random Access Memories (Columbia, 2013)


• 
  Allen Toussaint, American Tunes (Nonesuch, 2016)


• 
  St. Vincent, Masseduction (Loma Vista, 2017)

Personal life

Greg married Estonian musician Mai Leisz in April, 2018.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greg Leisz.

• 
  Greg Leisz at AllMusic
  


• 
  Greg Leisz discography at Discogs