New England Legend and Forum member Leigh Howell has passed.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 18 Jul 2013 6:36 pm

Leigh who was living in Scotland I'm told has passed .Leigh was one of the first Artist on Little Darling records in Nashville along with paycheck. He is a member of the Rock a Billy Hall of fame. Leigh move to New England and became a true Country music legend. Living in the Western mass area leigh always had great bands and leaves many friends who loved him as well as his music. Even at 78 his baritone voice never left him as he posted many songs on his facebook account. RIP old friend. Leigh at his home in Scotland. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... ixIQfgogG8

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 18 Jul 2013 7:52 pm

This is sad news. I played steel for Leigh back in the 1980s, in a house band five nights a week for five years. We spent a lot of time together. He was a great guy, easygoing and an excellent singer. He posted a lot of videos on youtube in recent years, strumming his Martin and singing classic country songs, still sounded great. He knew thousands of songs! Rest in Peace, Leigh

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 18 Jul 2013 11:09 pm

I saw a post this morning on Facebook telling of Leigh passing.
Whilst I did not know Leigh personally We corresponded often.He was residing in Edinburgh.
Sincere condolences to His Wife, Family and friends.
Rest in peace Leigh.
Billy

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 19 Jul 2013 2:31 am

Sorry to hear that. I only met him through facebook and our drummer Andy Rizzo who knew and had worked with him.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 19 Jul 2013 7:27 am

Andy Knew him well and so did a guy named Andy "Reo". Ask andy if thoseare still the same old drums. Heres leigh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... GZD2sK8NVw

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 19 Jul 2013 9:14 am

Leigh's passing is very difficult to conceive as I remember traveling from Pittsfield, MA., to listen to his band setup in West Springfield, MA. I've been out of touch with him since he moved abroad. Leigh was a true country gentleman, who will never be forgotten.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 19 Jul 2013 9:20 am

I worked with Andy Rizzo back around 1976, with Freddie Cole. Paul Comet played bass. That was a good band... the great Buzz Evans sat in with the band a couple of times.

Here's a picture of Leigh Howell back in 1983 at Billy T's in West Springfield. The young guy playing the Emmons is me. We played about 1200 gigs there in a five year period, a house band. The place was packed every night. Great memories, and a great band.

I didn't know that Leigh is in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame! One of his rockabilly records is on Youtube. Cool stuff! ------> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj-E4_Xj4Tc

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 19 Jul 2013 12:46 pm

Doug I know it's not but the Drummer looks Like BAER.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 19 Jul 2013 1:10 pm

Joe, the drummer is Bill Letang.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 20 Jul 2013 9:54 am

I also played many gigs with Leigh, Pee Wee Goke, and the boys. He was a great singer and friend, and will be sorely missed.

Sam White R.I.P. · Post by **Sam White R.I.P.** » 20 Jul 2013 10:52 am

I knew Leigh and I also have a few of his CD's of back up the singer. He will be dearly missed.God be with him all the way.
Sam White

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 20 Jul 2013 1:35 pm

Joe, Andy Rizzo said he first played with him when he was 18. He said he worked with him for 10 years.

I don't know if Andy has the same drums or not. But the ones he has, "have been around for a while"...

Our Monday evening show/jam is temporarily at the Wildwood Community Center on Powell Road. Our regular location, the Oxford Community Center is closed until the doors can be changed (to open outward) to comply with a Fire Marshall inspection. The City of Wildwood also owns the Oxford facility.

Here is a picture that was taken last evening at the Inverness American Legion. Its not very good as it was taken with a "shaky" cell phone cam and was supposed to be a joke for my brother. Andy and his drums are prominent in the picture.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 20 Jul 2013 7:46 pm

Shorter hair now but at least he has it.

I have pictures somewhere of Andy and he has "Fro".

I use to think he never took the drums out of his trunk until the nights he played..

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 20 Jul 2013 9:01 pm

Jack, tell Andy I said Hi. I haven't seen him since the 1970s. He will probably remember me as a young inexperienced steel guitarist, just learning how to play with a band. There's been a lot of water over the dam since then... or is it under the bridge?

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 21 Jul 2013 5:38 am

I seen a picture a while back with Andy and leigh I'm looking for it.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 21 Jul 2013 11:15 am

Jim, I remember the super-band you guys had at the Ben-Lea (spelling?) in Granby MA. Joe Casey and Leigh Howell on vocals, Jim Smith on steel, Bob Suzor on bass. I think I heard you play at that line dance place on Boston Road in Spfld. too. That was at least 30 years ago.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 22 Jul 2013 5:07 am

"Line dance place"

I seem to remember the Patty Walker show.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 22 Jul 2013 7:34 am

Oh yeah.. I forgot about That place. Thanks for reminding me!

I was thinking of a big club farther up Boston Rd that was open for a while, a line dance place, a loud DJ...

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 22 Jul 2013 4:11 pm

I was thinking of the first time I had met leigh. I had just moved to Springfield after being hired as a ist Shift maintenance supervisor for the Milton Bradley Co. During a meeting on a Friday afternoon one of the plant production foreman made mention he was looking for a bass player for his Country gig for a Saturday night. I told him if he had a bass I would help him out so he worked it out and It was at a club called the Chimes on Wilbraham rd. His name was Ray Parker and he was the leader singer. He had hired Leigh Howell on acoustic, Mike Neylon on Drums and Jim Collins on Guitar. I hadn't been on a stage for at least 10 years and of course I wasn't a bass player either but I did OK I guess. Leigh didn't do much singing until maybe the third set and on the last set I was asked if I sang and I got to do a couple. I don't remember anyone ever asking me to play bass again tho.

Collins,Lee and Mike and I laughed about it in later years. It seemed we were all just hired for that night. But if it wasn't for that night I would have never got back into the music which I had not had an interest since I had left Sacramento and into the Army. I always marveled at leighs Voice after hearing him that night. I had asked him why he didn't have his own band. Seems that was his band and his bass player wasn't available that night. What a great run we were both about to have. One big regret I never got to hire a Steeler by the name of Doug Beaumier who was always working. But I did get to work with him a lot.