Today we’d like to introduce you to Leonard Wolf.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was fascinated by my sister’s grand piano at a very early age. I remember someone saying, “Well, it LOOKS like he’s playing …” but I was mainly just making noise with it! I also got a little drum set one birthday, but the noise I made on it caused it to quickly disappear. I took some lessons but would always get the teacher to play the song first so I could see what keys it used and hear it and then pretty much play it by ‘ear.’
Pop, rock, and soul began to get my attention next but I also checked records out from the library from most every genre imaginable. We also had a large record collection at the house of band music going back to the thirties and I liked it all. I would spend a lot of time figuring out all sorts of music and where different styles were on the piano and how the piano was organized. I loved to improvise and discover new things.
Around the end of high school and during my brief attempt at college I began playing in bands and being a keyboard player in Macon, GA made me somewhat rare and a bit in demand at that time.
About five years later I started writing and playing my own music and getting a little following living in Atlanta where gigs were more plentiful and original music became cool in a number of clubs. I also started doing some studio work and learning a bit more about engineering. I also worked live sound at the premier Alt music and Comedy Club the Great Southwest Music Hall where I engineered live sound and even some radio shows for major Acts from Billy Crystal, whom I also got to play piano with, to Tom Waits, Dr. Hook, Cheech and Chong, Steve Martin, and many other cool acts. At the same time I was giving at a late night club from 2AM to 5AM and also playing gigs with a truckload of gear including a Hammond Organ with Leslie, A Nice Yamaha Upright Piano, a Rhodes piano, a synthesizer, and a heavy Fender Amp!
Fast forward another 5 years and I ended up in Nashville, Music City USA. The first night I was here I ran into 60 people I knew at the Gold Rush, a major bar here then. They all said they were in Nashville now and loved it!
I had long been interested in synthesizers, going back to my earliest vinyl interests and when technology came along to link them together for a band type sound I jumped right in and started doing demos and soon masters for advertising.
This led to 4 Emmy’s, numerous advertising honors, film festival awards and more and building my own studio capable of recording live bands from 2000 to about 2010. I could afford a team and got interns, a few of which I am proud to say have become successful on their own. Then I sold the studio but still continue to produce both live and electronically made music as the budget and sonic needs require,
Finding that video editing was similar to digital audio creation, I have also started making award winning music videos and other projects too mostly for my own music or those I produce.
Website: wolfmusic.com
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@leonardwolf5336
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Each step has had its challenges.
Playing gigs is a lot of work surrounded by many temptations that can derail you.
Producing Advertising, TV. and Film Music when I did that a lot could be very stressful with lots of money riding on outcomes for my clients. Turnaround had to be fast and flawless. It could really drain me and caused more than a few all nighters.
Now in the scattered media scene with so many different players at all levels trying to get traction it is far different and more difficult than being in a small town with not many others doing what I did.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m still very eclectic which in,a business that wants to put u in one box, may be more of a curse than a blessing. I have an artist persona: FUNK CAT®, but even he slips between funk, pop, and blues and will make any sort of video! On the other hand being eclectic keeps me fresh and interested.
I was always ahead of the curve but now the curve is fairly wide and deep so I’d have to say if you want a producer or keyboard parts that represent a lot of experience and heart, I’d like to think I am pretty darn good.
What were you like growing up?
Kind of covered that a little but I suppose I have always had a scientific-like curiosity like a good nerd should …
Pricing:
- I do a lot of things so it is bid based on need & time
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wolfmusic.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeonardWolfMusic/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonardw/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leonardwolf5336
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/leonard-wolf-3
