Leon Mobley Bio (Wiki)

Who is Leon Mobley?

Leon Mobley is an American percussionist and drummer.

He is the founder and artist and musical director of Da Lion and Djimbe West African Drummers and Dancers.

He is also the Innocent Criminals, Ben Harper’s band member. As of 2019, he played the role of Elay in The Green Goddess.

Leon Mobley: Age, Parents, Ethnicity

Leon Mobley was born on 27th February 1961 in Massachusetts, US. He has All-American ethnicity.

Details about his father and mother are not disclosed.

Education

He studied for 10 years under the tutelage of Nigerian master drummer Babatunde Olatunji at the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.

Leon Mobley: Professional life, Career

Leon Mobley started his career as a child actor on PBS Television show Zoom and has toured the globe as drummer/percussionist with Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals.

In the year 1967, he began playing African drums. In 19991, he was invited to perform with returning exiles Letta Mbulu, Caiphus Semenya, and Hugh Masekela.

From 1979 to 1981, he performed in Surinam, South America, Trinidad & Tobago, and throughout the West Indies.

Similarly, he has performed and lectured throughout the US and toured Germany, Italy, and Israel producing, recording, conducting clinics, and performing with his group Da Lion.

He has been a signature series with Remo who has manufactured and marketed the Leon Mobley custom-designed African drums since 1983.

Artist

Leon has worked with many artists like Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson, Peter Wolf, Mick Jagger, Quincy Jones, Santana, Michael Jackson, Macy Gray, Trevor Hall, and others.

Teaching Career

When he was in Boston, he taught at community centers and conducted school tours with the Art of Black Dance and Music. Similarly, Leon conducted workshops at Berklee College of Music.

Also, he served as a musical director at Paige Academy. It is a private school in Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Likewise, he conducted weekly classes at UCLA, Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Theater, Parks and Recreation, and at the Los Angeles High School for the Arts on the campus of Cal State.