Life & Work with Leo Duke

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leo Duke.

Hi Leo, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been performing for almost twenty years at this point. I started out being adamant about being a guitar player exclusively, but as I got older, I became more comfortable in the position of being a lead singer.

After growing up and playing with countless bands in Boston, I decided that it was time for a change. As much as I love my hometown, I didn’t want to stay there forever. I felt that I would be able to achieve my musical goals more easily out here in Nashville.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been easy. I’ve struggled with Mental Health for most of my life. I was diagnosed with Autism at a young age, making it difficult to put myself out there to make new friends. Growing up, I felt isolated from other people who saw me as someone different from the rest.

It became harder throughout the years to figure out who my real friends were and who was just in it to use me to their advantage. But after everything I’ve been through, I’d say it made me stronger and helped forge the person I am today.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve been writing songs for just under ten years at this point. I love being able to share my music with other people, and often to see how happy it makes them! I may not have won many awards for my work yet, but when I’m playing live and see a sea of people losing their minds to my songs, that’s enough of a reward as it is!

I’m very proud of the people I have connected with through my music! I’m an endorsed artist for Carlino Guitars, a company out of Medford, MA that works with artists like Slash, KISS, Orianthi, and Nashville Natives “The Talismen”. A lot of these artists are people who I have received acclaim from and have been incredibly supportive of my career.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
When I was 13, I saw Paul McCartney at Fenway Park. I was lucky enough to be shown on the Jumbotron behind him during Hey Jude! That night essentially kickstarted my desire to go to shows more often. It may have been the coolest night of my life so far

Contact Info:

• Website: Leoduke.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leodukemusic/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/leodukemusic
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7vfJqGSZvhuWS1M5ETbWNM?si=-8OrUogsSx6dNBLXfvyaMw 

Image Credits
Robert Fraser Photography and Bennett Ducharme