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Leah Kunkel, singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and attorney, grew up in the Washington D.C. In 1966 Leah moved to Los Angeles to study voice at California Institute of the Arts, but she soon left to work for Jay Ward, the creator and producer of Rocky and Bullwinkle and George of the Jungle, where she created Mother’s Records. As her interest in record production grew, Leah spent lots of time in recording studios, meeting other songwriters and immersing herself in the inspiring and fertile music world of 1960-1980’s in LA.
She was signed to write for Trousdale Publishing, including some songs that were recorded by her sister, Cass Elliot. Subsequently she founded her own publishing company which exists to this day, with songs recorded by Arlo Guthrie, James Lee Stanley, Stephen Bishop and others.
Leah signed her first recording contract in 1968 with Dunhill Records. She also had recording deals with Columbia Records, Arista Records, Geffen Records, and Motown. She released two solo albums on Columbia (1979, 1980) and a group album, The Coyote Sisters, (with collaborators Tony Berg, Renee Armand and Marty Gwinn) on Motown’s Morocco label in 1985.
Leah is maybe best known as a background vocalist: She has sung on numerous records, including lots of duets, with, among others, Arlo Guthrie, Jimmy Webb, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Livingston Taylor, Dan Hill, Graham Nash, Stephen Bishop, Jackson Browne, Carly Simon, John McCutcheon, Barry Mann, and Art Garfunkel (with whom she toured singing the “Paul Simon” parts on Garfunkel’s first solo tour), including her contribution as singer on James Taylor’s hit single, Handyman, where all of the background vocals were performed by Leah.
Leah reduced her touring schedule in the early 80’s to be more present as a single parent to her two children now in their 50’s! Her concert appearances are rare as they interfere with her day job practicing law. We are thrilled to have her join us at 1794 Meetinghouse once again.
Guy DeVito is a freelance Bassist and record producer who has called New England his home since his arrival in 1969 as a founding member of the premiere rock group, FAT. The group recorded for RCA, Atlantic and their own Dream Merchant Records, and toured internationally. Guy has since recorded and performed with a myriad of artists in various musical styles, including including to name a few, Felix Pappalardi, John Kay and Steppenwolf, Alan Hager, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Stevie Wonder, Danny Johnson, Steve Cropper and, closer to home, Jeff Pevar, Steven Schoenberg, Joel Zoss, The Shaboo Allstars, The Colbys, Charles Neville, Craig Eastman, Tom McClung, Jim Henry, Norman Blain, Leah Kunkel, and The Surly Temple. His eclectic record production credits include Salamander Crossing’s debut Bluegrass album and Robert Emmett Fitzgerald’s collection of Celtic songs called “The Minstrelsy”, as well as Joel Zoss’ Reggae feeling “Bob Marley International."
Joe, from Western Mass since age 12, records, performs & collaborates with varied artists in the US & Europe. He was guitarist for Peter Tork of The Monkees from 2008 until Peter’s passing in 2019. Joe is a member of the band that backs up Young at Heart Chorus.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
26 S Main St, New Salem, MA 01355-9712, United States
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