Updated 7/02/08
Dear Friends,
I'm afraid the first part of this page looks more like an obituary column than a music website.
Due to the passing of my father I had to cancel some gigs including the Blind Boone Festival & Thredbo in Australia.
I thought I would miss Michael Pewny's festival in Vienna too but I was able to attend after all.
It felt good to be playing again after such a long break.
All the best!
Carl Sonny Leyland.
June 08
Sadly I have lost my father Walter Leyland.
He passed away on June 8th due to the effects of stomach cancer. His last days were spent in Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington, Hampshire.
I'd like to publicly thank all the staff there for the great work they do.
Dad was a wonderful guy as all who met him can attest. Originally from Lancashire he had been a sailor in WW2, travelled the world & lived in Australia, New Zealand & Tasmania in the late 40s/early 50s.
Always a music lover he saw many jazz greats including Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton & Louis Armstrong when they played at Manchester Free trade Hall. He was also a fan of country music & heard Hank Snow & Merle Haggard (the first concert I attended) & Carl Perkins when they played in Southampton & Bournmouth.
When I began to play music Dad was always willing to drive me to gigs & do whatever was necessary to help make things work. He was a drummer & we performed together on a number of occasions.
Dad was 84 when he passed away. The funeral at Fawley Parish Church was attended by family, neighbors & musicians including Bob Pearce, Big Joe Louis, John Wands & Ronnie Taylor.
It is a tough time for my mother & I right now as I'm sure you can imagine.
We have received many cards & messages expressing condolences & would like to thank everyone for their concern. 
Walter Leyland circa 1950 (from his British Seaman's card)
May 08
A dear friend Phil Kiely has passed away.
In the late 40s/early 50s Phil became friends with blues greats Jimmy & Mama Yancey. One one occasion he & his friend Richard Mushlitz carried a wire recorder up to the Yancey's apartment & recorded one of the sessions that were a regular occurrence there. This recording was issued on cd by the Document label a while back.
I first corresponded with Phil in 1987 before I came to the US. He was a great help to me in my quest to become a US resident.
He & his wife Kaye held an annual music party at their home in Evansville, IN. These were happy occasions where blues, boogie & ragtime players gathered to hang out & play in casual environment.
He will be missed by all who knew him.
Phil with 'Mr Freddy' Shayne (left) & Jimmy Yancey (right) circa early 50s
March/April 08
Played Dixieland Monterey with my trio, 2 nights for the Pasadena Jazz Institute, Viejas Casino with Nathan James & Ben Hernandez.
Then I headed to Chicago for 2 nights at the Green Mill with the Joel Paterson Trio to release our new cd "A Chicago Session". This was recorded on my last trip to Chicago in September. Joel plays fine old time jazz & blues guitar & is accompanied by Beau Sample on bass & Alex Hall on drums. We have had a great time playing together & I think this comes through on the rccording. Please check it out.
After Chicago I flew to Savannah Georgia where I perfomed on a bill with jazz great Hank Jones - wow! He's 92 & still fantastic! Also present were Eric Reed & Marcus Roberts. It was certainly a pleasure to work with these guys.
After that I was home for one day before driving down to San Diego for Joel Plys' Balboa Rendezvous where I played with Hal Smith's Blue Voo. Unexpectedly I was then called to play at the Balboa Pavillion (for the same event) with Jonothan Stout's Big Band. A Sunday afternoon house concert in Mission Viejo, CA fell in between these two shows. The next day I had a recording session for Daniel Glass (drummer, Royal Crown Revue) .
Then I had another day at home & headed out for Viva Las Vegas - the anuall rockabilly/1050s event that takes place at the Gold Coast Casino.
I have been in the backing band for this event for about 10 years now. We accompanied Charlie Thompson, The El Dorados, Alton Lott, Sonny West, George Hamilton IIII, Ray Campi & Laura Lee Perkins. Glen Barber who was originally to play on the stars of rockabilly set unfortunately passed away. However two of his songs were sung in tribute by Charlie Thompson & Big Sandy. I also played with Miss Mary Ann (formerly of 'The Ranch Girls' ) & her band The Ragtime Wranglers.
* I have just heard (2/25/08) that pianist Charlie Booty has passed away. Some of you may be familiar with Charlie through his Piano Joys cd releases.
He had been unreachable by phone for a couple of days when friends decided to called the police in Milan, TN where he was living. They broke down the door & found him in his armchair in his pajamas. Good at least to know it was a peaceful passing.
I can imagine that he might have been meditating seeing as he was extremely knowledgeable in metaphysical & spiritual matters.
I first met Charlie in 1988 in Evansville, IN. I was fortunate to have had a chance to play duets with him on a number of occasions over the years some of which can be heard on a cd entitled Fort Worth Stomp on Charlie's PIano Joys label. Of course Charlie put out a number of cds of his solo playing. His style was truly original, genuine & unpretentious. His friends will attest that as human being he was also genuine & a true original.
We will miss him.
* I have seven new clips on Youtube thanks to tdub1941. These were all shot on one of my sets at the recent West Coast Ragtime Festival in Sacramento, CA. Please check them out at the 'New Youtube' tab.
* I have been writing an article for BLUESINLONDON.COM called 'Postcards From the West Coast' & have just submitted a piece about my recent Chicago trip. This & the earlier piece can be viewed at -
http://www.bluesinlondon.com/features/feat_carl_1.html
http://www.bluesinlondon.com/features/feat_carl_2.html
* Played in Spain at Barcelona Blues Festival with Mitch Woods & Lluis Coloma
* Appeared on 'Real Orange' TV news show to promote Orange County Classic Jazz Festival 07
* Recorded 7 tracks with Deke Dickerson for his next cd.
* Played a great show at Filoli Gardens for their Jazz at Filoli series. New photos posted - see photos & trio tabs.
* Recorded Desert Island Discs radio program with DJ Alisa Clancy for KCSM-FM (College of San Mateo). Program aired Friday 27th July at 9am Pacific Time.
* June 14th played with Chicago blues harp legend Billy Boy Arnold at Del Mar Fairgrounds.
* June 28th played with another Chicago blues harp legend & ex Muddy Waters band member Mojo Buford.
* Just returned from Blind Boone Ragtime Festival in Columbia ,MO. See 'Youtube' tab for new clips from after hours session. Many thanks to Tom Warner for the footage.
* Played Chicago Blues Festival & also participated in a panel discussion with Edsel Ammons (son of Albert), Lila Ammons (Albert's granddaughter), Bob Hall & Renaud Patigny (European boogie players).
* New Solo CD out. 'Back in the Alley' on the Pianomania label. Details to follow soon.
* May 16-20 played Green Bay, WI Rockin' 50s Festival.
Backed up several acts including Sid & Billy King, Billy Lee Riley, Roy Head, the Bobbettes, the Cadillacs, the Five Keys, Dig Wayne, Dave Stuckey's Rhythm Gang, Big Joe Louis, Big Jay McNeeley, Roddy Jackson, Rusty York, Joe Clay, Alton Lott, Sleepy La Beef.....etc.
* Sadly, Big Joe Duskin has passed away.
Big Joe was a boogie woogie pianist & singer from Cincinnatti. I was lucky enough to meet & get to know him back in England in the mid 80s when he came there to tour. He was generous with his time & knowledge & I have fond memories of the time he stayed at my parents house for a few days. A passionately religious man, he would often break into hell fire sermons unexpectedly. In recent years Joe had been the victim of bad health due to diabetes.
I don't yet know the details of his passing but do know he was up in his 80s.
In addition to being a piano player Joe was a veteran of WW2 & the Police Department.
He will be missed by all who knew him & especially we boogie woogie men.
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Big Joe Duskin Photos
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Me with Big Joe at Goblets Wine Bar in Southampton circa 1986.
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Big Joe Duskin with my parents at a show in Salisbury circa 1987.
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