‘Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man’ talks music, forestry, love
Jon Siembieda: During the pandemic, I’ve had the extra time to catch up on music documentaries and have combed through a lot. I have to say, your film is absolutely one of the very best I’ve seen.
Chuck Leavell: Well, thank you. We really had a good time doing it. It took three and a half years of work to get all of the footage together.
Jon: Out of all the documentaries with a star-studded cast of legit interviews, I’d say of recent times the three that blew me away with legend after legend going deep on the music would be yours, Jeff Beck’s, and Bobby Keys’. You guys got everybody to talk. That’s a testament to you.
Chuck: I was hoping maybe we’d get 50 percent to agree, and much to my surprise, it was a lot more than that.
Jon: The movie really has a cool concept, marrying three aspects of your life – obviously, the music, but also your marriage, and your life as an award-winning tree farmer. You really seem like you’ve made all of it work.
Chuck: I really appreciate that. When Allen (Farst, the filmmaker) and I initially got together, that was the theme. Three parts: My career in music, my environmental work and the love story. When we first discussed this project, he asked why I wanted to do this. My motivation was to have a document for future family members (such as) our grandchildren. I wanted something for the family to see, and to get a snapshot of the era of my work in music, from the Allmans (and before) to the present. There were a couple of folks I wish I could have gotten: Mac (Rebennack, aka Dr. John), but he was really, really ill when we were inquiring, and of course Gregg (Allman), but the same story – he was just too ill. But I’m very grateful for who we did get, and I really have to credit Allen. We had all this footage, and I said, “How the hell are you going to stitch this together?” But he did it over about six weeks, 8-10 hours a day. I have to give credit where credit is due. Allen did a fabulous job.
PARIS MOVE RATES THE TREE MAN “A MUST / INDISPENSABLE”
Like those of the late singers honored in Morgan Neville's documentary “Twenty Feet from Stardom”, the name of Chuck Leavell (born Charles Alfred Leavell in Birmingham, Alabama, April 28, 1952) does not evoke not necessarily much in the eyes of the general public. Nevertheless, this emeritus pianist can take pride in more than five decades of contribution to modern musical history, alongside names such as Dr. John, the Allman Brothers Band, Marshall Tucker and Charlie Daniels, not to mention his own blues-jazz-rock fusion band, Sea Level, nor of course its almost forty years of collaboration with the Stones. As this good Chuck states in the introduction, this film comes in three parts.
His career as a musician first of all, of course, but also two passions at least as important in his eyes: that of the preservation of nature (through his tree reserve Tree Farmer, on his Charlane Plantation, on the outskirts of Macon in Georgia ), and finally his wife of nearly half a century, Lady Rose Lane Leavell. Here, the great witnesses are called John Mayer, Keith Richards, David Gilmour, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood, Dickey Betts, Warren Haynes, Julian Lennon, Billy Bob Thornton, Paul Schaffer, Eric Clapton, Charlie Daniels, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, Chris Robinson, Mike Mills, Pat Monahan, Darryl Jones, Lisa Fischer, Karl Denson, Bernard Fowler, Don Was, John Popper as well as ex-president Jimmy Carter (who was a fan and friend of the Brothers when he was initially elected governor of Georgia), but Chuck himself and his companion in turn reveal delicious and touching storytellers, while the splendid forest landscapes of Georgia display impressions of classic western movies in Panavision.
Among the many highlights on the program, seeing Chuck Leavell join the Eric Church Band on stage for a superb version of “Ain't Wastin 'Time No More” which opened the Allmans “Eat A Peach” the “Midnight Rider” the late Gregg with Charlie Starr, during the Capricorn Revival concert, or the sequence where old Dickey Betts remembers how Chuck's luminous presence increased tenfold the lyricism of their 1973 instrumental hit, “Jessica”.
In the introduction, Chuck dedicates (in eternal modesty) this film to his four grandchildren, the last word goes to another veteran, Keef “the riff” Richards, who ends this exegesis with: “this guy is a gentleman and a genuine man. I couldn't describe it better, do you understand? ”, Before splitting his legendary saurian smile, and opening the credits.
No better, indeed: an absolute must for any fan of music from the Old South (and the Stones too)!
*Patrick Dallongeville Paris-Move, Blues Magazine, Illico & BluesBoarder
Chuck Leavell: A Life In Music and Conservation - YAMAHA
The Tree Man
By Mac Randall 01-01-2021
Intrigued? You can find out much more in the recent documentary film by director Allen Farst, Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man, which explores the piano virtuoso’s fascinating dual life. Interviews with colleagues and pals like Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Dickey Betts, Eric Clapton and David Gilmour are a big draw, but arguably more memorable — in part because they’re so unexpected — are the sequences that capture Leavell surveying and working the land on the 4,000-acre estate in Twiggs County, Georgia, that he manages with his wife of 47 years, Rose Lane.
'The Tree Man' dives into the life, career of music legend Chuck Leavell on Fox News
Dec. 29, 2020 - 1:57 - The documentary 'The Tree Man' takes a look into the career of famous musician Chuck Leavell including his award-winning environmental work.
A Check-in With Chuck Leavell
HANK GILMAN , EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Chuck Leavell has been the greatest at a lot of things. One of rock's greatest keyboard players ever ever. ( See "Jessica" with The Allman Brothers Band.) The musical director of arguably the greatest rock band ever, The Rolling Stones. And one of the greatest studio/touring musicians on the planet Earth. (Performing with folks like Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, John Mayer and Miranda Lambert.) But the greatest thing about Leavell may be his work on the environment. He is an award-winning, environmentally-friendly tree farmer in Georgia, for one thing. He also also written books on the topic including Growing a Better America: Smart, Strong and Sustainable. Just before Thanksgiving I talked briefly with Leavell, who is the subject of a new documentary, Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man, which can be seen on video-on-demand services like Amazon Prime and Apple iTunes. Our topic: what President-elect Biden could do in the short term to reverse the time lost on battling climate change. In other words, what's doable? "It's been one step forward and two steps back" when it comes to environmental policy, depending on who is in the White House, says Leavell. His recommendations: re-join the Paris Climate Agreement; revisit recycling programs, "which are dead right now"; push harder for hybrid and fully electric vehicles; create more community parks; plant more trees; and "develop with environmentally smart and sustainable techniques." He adds: "My hope is that the American public will (then) look at the successes and realize this is the path we need to be on." (For more Leavell, visit here.) Meanwhile, fingers crossed.
New Documentary Stars Rolling Stones Pianist and Environmentalist Chuck Leavell
'Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man' explores the life of Leavell and his passion for music, forests, and family.
There are rock stars. There are foresters. And then there’s Chuck Leavell – the Rolling Stones pianist who won a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award the same year he was named an Honorary Ranger by the US Forest Service.
Rock 'n' roll and trees may seem like strange bedfellows, which is why the new documentary about Leavell, “Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man,” is so intriguing.
Directed by Allen Farst and filmed over the course of three years, the documentary takes a deep dive into the life of Leavell. It opens with none other than Keith Richards singing the praises of the tree man. Also making appearances are the rest of the Stones, Jimmy Carter, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, John Mayer, Eric Church, Bonnie Raitt, and a long roster of other luminaries. CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE
Rolling Stones Keys Man Reveals 50 Years of Rock Glory in Biopic
Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man
Peter Newcomb
Bloomberg Quint
(Bloomberg) -- Padding around his 3,700 acres of pineland in Bullard, Georgia, Chuck Leavell -- kitted out in heavy-duty gardening gloves and a Bunyan-sized chain saw -- doesn’t strike you as a guy who’s spent half a century frolicking with some of the most drug-addled gods of rock. But Leavell has done just that -- and more. A new film, “The Tree Man,” chronicles the keyboard player’s rise from
Leavell’s off-stage life is similarly impressive, if a little less loud. The 68-year-old was a trailblazer in the sustainable tree farming business, and has shared his passion for private land conservation at Congressional hearings, in meetings with mayors and governors, and even U.S. presidents. Bloomberg News dialed into a Zoom call with Leavell and filmmaker Allen Farst to talk about “The Tree
Read more at: https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/rolling-stones-keys-man-reveals-50-years-of-rock-glory-in-biopic
Copyright © BloombergQuint
Keyboardist Chuck Leavell talks working with the Stones, the Allman Brothers and his 4,000 acre tree farm
Since 1982, Chuck Leavell has occupied the keyboard chair for the Rolling Stones, joining them around the world on their legendary tours. Before that, he tickled the keys for Southern rock pioneers The Allman Brothers. Now, he joins John Landecker to talk about his continuing adventures with the Stones, his enduring love for the forrest and the new documentary Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man that chronicles his 50 year career in music. LISTEN TO THE LIVE BROADCAST HERE
Chuck Leavell and his songs from the wood
ATLANTA MUSIC SCENE| Nov 20, 2020
By Melissa Ruggieri, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Georgia musician maintains a dual life as a rocker and tree farmer.
BULLARD — He’s often the guy perched behind Mick Jagger on stage, a keyboard altar at his fingertips as he leads The Rolling Stones through their Bible of hits in his role as the band’s musical director.
Other times, he’s ensconced in a studio, maybe adding a dab of piano to an Allman Betts Band song, working on albums with John Mayer or just dropping by the newly revived Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon to offer good wishes to Blackberry Smoke.
But on most days, Chuck Leavell isn’t a rock star, even though his enviable silver mane and crinkled-eyed smile always present an aura of understated cool.
The Rolling Stones' Chuck Leavell new documentary 'The Tree Man' opens in theaters
Nov. 23, 2020 - 2:21 - The Rolling Stones' keyboardist Chuck Leavell discusses his new documentary 'The Tree Man’ on Fox Business News.
Rolling Stones Keyboardist Chuck Leavell on his new documentary ’The Tree Man’
Chuck on Yahoo! Finance TV last night. Promoting "The Tree Man" CLICK TO WATCH
Chuck Leavell, Rolling Stones Keyboardist, Musical Director, joined Yahoo Finance to discuss his new documentary ’The Tree Man’, and the outlook for the music industry amid covid-19.
Rock documentary "Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man" is a wonderfully poignant look at one of rock music's most celebrated keyboard players.
IVOR LEVENE GOLDMINE MAGAZINE
My first thought on viewing Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man is, “Why did it take so long for this movie to appear?” I’m not referring to the three and a half years that Chuck and director Allen Farst took to make the film, I’m wondering why a film this great took so long to show up. I’ve seen plenty of rock documentaries in my many years, and this one honestly is one of the best rockumentaries you’ll ever see. So apparently, all the best things in music cinema aren’t in the past. As to the three-plus-year gestation period, Chuck states, “We interviewed and explored three or four documentarians, but Allen Farst proved to us that he really wanted to do it, and would put his heart and soul into the project, which he certainly did. Allen filmed us in many different settings and places around the world for three and a half years to get a full and clear picture of things…and then of course had to edit it down to 1 hour and 43 minutes. It was a monumental task for him, and he did an amazing job both in the raw filming and the editing.” READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
Documentary on Rolling Stones Pianist Chuck Leavell Explores His Work With Keys and Trees
“Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man" opens in theaters and has virtual screenings this weekend.
Famed keyboard player Chuck Leavell is — as a native Georgian — all about living amid the moss, even if the group he’s most associated with, the Rolling Stones, are by definition averse to it. A new documentary opening this weekend, “Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man,” charts his double life, as one of the most renowned session musicians and touring sidemen in rock ‘n’ roll on one hand, and a celebrated environmentalist with a fixation on Southern forestry on the other.
The film, a three-year labor of love for director Allen Farst, nabbed dozens of the stars the keyboard player has worked with for interviews, including all four current Rolling Stones (Leavell has been their touring musical director since the 1980s), Dickey Betts (that’s Leavell’s work you hear on the Allman Brothers Band’s “Jessica”), Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, John Mayer, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Bonnie Raitt and others. Also costarring in the movie, as you might guess from the title: trees — lots and lots of them. READ FULL ARTICLE
Chuck Leavell documentary to be shown in Georgia theaters starting Nov. 6
By Melissa Ruggieri, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
‘The Tree Man’ will play in 50 theaters nationwide
The multi-faceted life of Chuck Leavell – former member of The Allman Brothers Band, longtime touring keyboardist and musical director for The Rolling Stones, dedicated conservationist – is explored in vivid depth in the new documentary, “Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man.”
The film, directed by Allen Farst, includes interviews with numerous musicians with whom Leavell has played with throughout the decades – Eric Clapton to John Mayer, Eric Church to David Gilmour – as well as details his quieter life with Rose Lane, his wife of 47 years, on the 4,000-plus acres of Charlane Plantation, outside of Macon. READ FULL ARTICLE
SCAD Savannah Q&A Tonight!
Chris Willman, Chuck Leavell, Allen Farst
Tonight Chuck Leavell and Director Allen Farst will be doing a SCAD Savannah Film Festival Q&A online at about 7:05 EST moderated by Chris Willman who is the features editor at Variety magazine. He was previously Entertainment Weekly’s chief music critic and enjoyed long tenures with the Los Angeles Times, Billboard and TV Guide.
Here is the link and you can share it with anyone as it’s available to be viewed everywhere.
Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man
Audience link - https://ev14.perigonlive.com/jn/57NKTNG15
SCAD Savannah Film Festival: Legendary pianist, recent Savannah resident Chuck Leavell screens documentary about his life
One of the greatest pianists in rock n’ roll history is now a proud Savannah resident.
Chuck Leavell and his wife, Rose Lane, recently bought a home in Savannah where they have been dividing their time with their tree farm, Charlane Plantation, in Macon.
For Leavell, being a citizen of his adopted city makes it all the more special that a documentary about his life, “Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man,” has been accepted into the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, with a virtual screening, followed by a Q&A with Leavell and director Allen Farst, on Saturday.
Leavell has a prestigious 40 year career in music that includes being a former member of The Allman Brothers Band (where he notably played piano on the classic songs “Jessica” and “Ramblin’ Man”), playing with Eric Clapton on his incomparable “Unplugged” album, and, since 1982, being the “sixth member” of The Rolling Stones as their keyboardist and musical director. It would be impossible to list all his many other musical collaborations and accomplishments here. CLICK FOR MORE
TV Coverage on WSAV Savannah
Patty Turner, Host of The Bridge & other local content on WSAV On Your Side
The Tree Man shares his roots at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival
The Tree Man shares his roots at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival
The stars of "Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man" share their experiences on life, love, and conservation
By Taylor Clayton
The Tree Man shares his roots at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival
Pianist Chuck Leavell is most notably famous for his musical act, collaborating with some of the most star-studded names of our generation such as Eric Clapton, George Harrison, John Mayer, The Allman Brothers Band, and The Rolling Stones, to name a few.
The stars of "Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man" share their experiences on life, love, and conservation
For more on how to attend the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, event schedules, and ticket information, visit filmfest.scad.edu
Pianist Chuck Leavell is most notably famous for his musical act, collaborating with some of the most star-studded names of our generation such as Eric Clapton, George Harrison, John Mayer, The Allman Brothers Band, and The Rolling Stones, to name a few.
Tree Man Selected For 23rd SCAD Savannah Film Festival
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA — The Savannah College of Art and Design presents the 23rd annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival as an all-virtual experience Oct. 24–31. The largest university-run film festival in the U.S., the eight-day celebration of cinematic excellence honors both professional and student filmmakers and welcomes major industry luminaries, including award-winning directors, writers and actors across the big screen.
A key stop on the Academy Awards festival circuit, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival will screen 148 films, including 20 narrative films, 17 documentary films and 111 shorts, with 14 world premieres, four U.S. premieres and four North American premieres.
"As a Savanah resident, I am proud and thrilled to have our documentary entered into the SCAD Savannah film fest. Some of the footage in our film was shot in my adopted city, and the project as a whole is a result of over three years of work. Many of my music mates were gracious to participate, like Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, John Mayer and others. We also focus on my work in forestry and the environment and my 46-year marriage to my wife and life partner, Rose Lane. I hope the Film Fest participants will enjoy viewing our project!”said Chuck Leavell, keyboardist and musical director for The Rolling Stones.
SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace said, “SCAD screens the stories that matter to our students and to viewers around the globe. And this year, everybody’s got the best seat in the house!”
It’s an honor to be selected out of 1500 films and one of the 17 documentaries for this years festival. I loved filming with Chuck and Rose Lane in Savannah during production and I’m excited to share their epic story with viewers,” said director Allen Farst.
Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man will screen on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 5:00 p.m. EST followed immediately by Q+A with Chuck Leavell & director Allen Farst
“THE TREE MAN” SELECTED AS INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FOR CALGARY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
CHUCK LEAVELL: THE TREE MAN will be screening at the upcoming Calgary International Film Festival.
Friday 25 September 2020 | 9:00 PM
CHUCK LEAVELL: THE TREE MAN
Eau Claire 1
This year CIFF celebrates its 21st year September 24 - October 4, 2020. The 11-day showcase of 160+ multi-genre feature and short films from Canada and around the world also hosts a Behind the Screen series that emphasizes unique and exciting ways for filmmakers and fans to interact. For the first time, the virtual cinema program will be available for audiences across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Calgary International Film Festival is now the largest film festival in Alberta and was named one of "50 Best Film Festivals”