*Exploring Bassist Leon Wilkeson* Lynyrd Skynyrd's Bottom End

Watch videos of Leon playing and Skynards current bass player,Leon is playing so much more. He's amazing.

Fantastic Bass Player.

It's sad now that they are all gone. The story of Lynyrd Skynrd is probably the most tragic story in rock history in which the final chapter was written after the passing of Gary Rossington. As a New Orleanian, I've seen them perform several times and they were like a 'home grown' group to me. All things must past and soon I will rejoin with them as one of their faithful fans.

I met Leon and his wife, when they vacationed in Hawaii about a year or so before he died. My band was playing a gig in Waikiki, and Leon sat in with us. He was a super nice guy, very friendly. The next night we met up in another club where my friends were playing. He was a truly kind man and I'll never forget the night I got to jam with a legend who I listened to growing up. I have a photo of us playing together, that I treasure.

Alnt many songs with better bass playing than call me the breeze

Definitely one of my favorite bass players, loved his fast fingers

My favorite bass sound of all time is got to be the beginning of "Travellin Man"

Still aint nothing that touches them from then yo now best rock band ever bob said Ronnie loved Leon Ronnie loved all his boys im sure of that God bless them all hope they still doin their thing when i get there

Not underrated at all. Been highly, rightfully rated, for years. He may not be TALKED about so much, but he's always been known as "world-class." Poison Whiskey, 3 Steps, countless others.

Great player. Not good. Great.

I met Leon at a bar in Jacksonville while serving in the Navy. He looks much taller in photos. He was nice, welcoming and cordial. What I would expect from a fellow southerner. R.I.P. Leon.
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Along with Tiran Porter of the Doobie Brothers, the 2 most underrated bass players in rock history. RIP Leon. I'm a fan forever.

maybe so, but his stupid hats were dumb as hell

The freebird solo you have 3 guitars and Leon's Bass comes in and those rifts are unreal.

As many commenters have posted here, Leon Wilkeson was a true genius who fit in like a glove with LS. While it's too easy to rate his songs starting with "Free Bird", this song performed at Knebworth for me is truly one of his outstanding live performances. In those last stnazas when the guitar arm;y is wailing away, Leon's distinctive bass riffs manage to usurp even those three. Fifths, thirds. . .he hammes away. Ironically, Ronnie wanted all four of his "mules" to go stand on that Rolling Stones tongue. Allen, Gary and Steve Gaines did. Poor Leon's cord was too short so he had to stand back about 20' on the top. To me, that only enhanced his place on bass. He was on fire that day. I can still hear those runs as clear as a bell.

Leon has always been my favorite bassist and of course, from my most favorite band of all time. He was a special guy and once gave a ride to a hitchhiking friend of mine. Autographed a photo for my friend and continued on his way. Always felt his style of playing bass gave the band a solid bass line with rhythmic fretting. He was a very solid part of what made Lynyrd Skynyrd who they were. Leon like the rest of his band mates have left us now but, they cannot, and will not, ever be forgotten. Long live Lynyrd Skynyrd!

Leon's bass playing added to the Skynard sound, like the commentator said, he laid down the bottom end with tasteful, sweet baselines. Also like the commentator said his backing vocals were strong and right on point. Never saw Skynard with Ronnie, had tickets to see them on the last tour when the plane went down and was devastated. I had only been into them for about a year and was looking forward to seeing them live but fait came and took that away. Saw the new version until Leon Past and that was it for me. RIP Leon.

Wow he was great 👍

The bass line in Gimme Three Steps was always a favorite of mine. Good to know that Leon wrote it, even if Ed played it.

On freebird in England, the bass and drums .are unbelievably ❤😂🎉

That’s crazy! I’m 53 now, my family moved to Jacksonville Florida in 85.
Lynyrd Skynyrd was so big in Jacksonville and being a bassist myself I really enjoyed his bass lines still to this very day. I consider myself a rock bassist tho. But love how his lines really do fit in with LS music.
Interesting story.🤔

Yes he was.truely one of a kind

Putting the raw talent and natural southern boogie of this legendary group aside, their look and appearance is timeless. Can you get anymore “badass” than Leon’s look? I know, I know. It’s supposed to be about the music. But, damn! The hair! The curls! The beards! The shades! Fk!

Love his bass playing! Just wish he threw the pick away & played traditional finger playing instead.

Man, did Skynyrd & other southern rock bands self destruct back then. Sad. Like they had a curse on them. Same with many famous 70's musicians. 😢

RD,
Like always enjoy your work/channel. Boe 👍😊

The GREAT Leon Wilkinson.I’ve learned so much from him.Playing a lot of Skynyrd in my band.We just had a gig, took no prisoners.Thanks Leon,RIP, you would have been proud!

Leon will always be one of my favorite bass players

R.I.P. Thumper

The 1970s had many great bassists. The problem is producers and guitarists got lazy and wanted simplistic bass lines (stay on the root, four or eight to the bar).

The woman mentioned, who did slit his throat, also later cut his wrist. She used shard of glass and cut lengthwise, the serious way. Why she wasn’t locked up has always been a mystery to us. 😡

Thanks River Docs.
Lynyrd Skynyrd 💯

I couldnt agree more. Great bass player in a great band.

Spot on sir, they had that BASE, if can tear yer ear away and hear that bass… ,like Give me back my bullets, man he was Good!!!

The mad hatter will always be the best.

Leon actually wasn’t a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, however. Larry Junstrom was the original bass player for Lynyrd Skynyrd, when the group was still known as My Backyard, but obviously quit the band before they were discovered by Al Kooper and signed to MCA. Larry was also a member of 38 Special for several years.

My 2 favorite Bassists Leon Wilkeson and Bill Church.

Alcohol abuse and plain just not taking care of themselves usually lead to their early deaths .

I never knew Leon was only 49 years old when he passed I’m not sure why but I thought he was much older. I’m a drummer so I have always been aware of Leon’s contributions to the band and I knew he was a good vocalist because I was lucky enough to see Skynyrd live 4 times before the crash. The last time I saw them was oct 13th 1977 just 4 shows before the crash. It was in Statesboro Ga. Mothers Finest open for them. It is still one of the best shows I ever witnessed by Skynyrd and MF was one of my favorite bands in the late 70s and early 80s BB QUEEN BORDON was the drummer for MF. He was a huge influence on my playing. He went on to play with Molly Hatchet and then settled in with Marshall Tucker for many years. I have so many memories of these great times.

R.I.P. Leon.

RIP sweet Leon ❤

I am impressed with this Doc., you didn't put in useless info and you were tactful and respectful to Leon and Lyn-Skn Family, Well Done Sir.

Leon brought me here .. rip 🪦 Legend

I went and saw The Artimus Pyle Band a few months ago at a small venue. Afterwards, Artimus was signing autographs and was very chatty...great guy. I mentioned that one of my fav songs was "On the Hunt" and he said that he and Leon really worked on that grove and that they were "in the pocket" on that song. Cool stuff.

His harmonies with Ronnie blend as well as CSN.

One of my Best friend's a Great human being one of a kind 🤟

Before Ed King died, I was fortunate enough to have become FB friends with him, and we had several private message conversations. Ed told me Leon was his favorite of all the Skynyrd guys. He said Leon could run circles around most bass players.

Travelin' Man was written primarily by Leon. And here's a question so many Leon fans have. Is his last name Wilkeson or Wilkerson?

1st, I just found your channel, and I’m enjoying it very much- thank you.
2nd, when talking about Leon leaving the band, I had read that he split due to the lifestyle conflicting with his Christian values.
After listening to the whole video- I’m not 100% sure that it is true, but that was something I read.
AND Leon Russell !
LOL- I play Joe Cocker’s The Letter video over and over, and I have been trying to remember who was playing piano! Thank you!
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They were all so good looking and Leon especially had that " look " that was so bada@# of the 70s- there music was amazing and they all looked so good doing it ❤❤

Sad