Bernie Leadon
| Bernie Leadon | |
|---|---|
The Flying Burrito Brothers (Amsterdam, 1970). From left to right: Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Rick Roberts, Chris Hillman, Michael Clarke and Bernie Leadon
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bernard Mathew Leadon III |
| Born |
July 19, 1947 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, country rock, bluegrass |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro, pedal steel guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1961–present |
| Labels | Asylum, Really Small Entertainment |
| Associated acts | Eagles, Flying Burrito Brothers, Dillard & Clark, Hearts & Flowers, Scottsville Squirrel Barkers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Run C&W, Ever Call Ready, Maundy Quintet |
Bernard Mathew "Bernie" Leadon III (pronounced led-un; born July 19, 1947) is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of Eagles. Prior to Eagles, he was a member of three pioneering and highly influential country rock bands, Hearts & Flowers, Dillard & Clark and the Flying Burrito Brothers. He is a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, banjo, mandolin, steel guitar, dobro) coming from a bluegrass background. He introduced elements of this music to a mainstream audience during his tenure with the Eagles.
Leadon's music career since leaving the Eagles has been low-key, resulting in two solo albums with a gap of 27 years in between. Leadon has also appeared on many other artists' records as a session musician.
Bernard Mathew Leadon III was born in Minneapolis to Dr. Bernard Leadon, Jr. and Ann Teresa Sweetser Leadon, devout Roman Catholic parents of ten children. His father was an aerospace engineer and nuclear physicist whose career moved the family around the U.S. The family enjoyed music and, at an early age, Bernie developed an interest in folk and bluegrass music. He eventually mastered the 5-string banjo, mandolin and acoustic guitar.
As a young teen he moved with his family to San Diego, where he met fellow musicians Ed Douglas and Larry Murray of the local bluegrass outfit, The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers. The Barkers proved a breeding ground for future California country rock talent, including shy, 18-year-old mandolin player Chris Hillman (The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, The Desert Rose Band), with whom Leadon had a lifelong friendship. Augmented by banjo player (and future Flying Burrito Brother) Kenny Wertz, the Squirrel Barkers eventually asked Leadon to join the group, upon Wertz's joining the Air Force in 1963.
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