Conversations S2-E60 Leland Sklar

11/27/19, Mike and Stephen K. Peeples welcomed legendary bass guitarist Leland Sklar to Ep.60! With more than 2000 albums to his credit, I can honestly say that somewhere in the world right now, there is a Leland Sklar bass line playing on one of the 25,000 songs he has lent his talents to. A native of Milwaukee, Leland and his family headed West to Southern California early on.  He began piano lessons when he was 4 years old and quickly became a prodigy. By junior high, he had all of the intentions of pursuing the piano further. However, his music teacher suggested that he have a go on the string bass because the school was overstocked with fine pianists. Leland grabbed the string instrument and held it close. It just felt right and at that moment Leland Sklar’s trajectory changed. 

He continued his studies at California State University Northridge and soon met James Taylor! Again, a life changing moment. Sklar often credits Taylor for keeping him interested and considers it his big break. Suddenly, Leland Sklar was in demand and found success as a session bassist. It’s much easier to ask who Leland Sklar has not played with. Leland just wrapped a U.S. tour with Phil Collins and can be heard on hit songs from Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Warren Zevon, TOTO, Linda Ronstadt, Helen Reddy, Hall & Oates and more. He has also been called on by tv and film music directors to bring his session skills to a number of productions.

This episode's cohost is journalist and Grammy-nominated producer Stephen K. Peeples. A forward-thinking media veteran whose reporting, writing, editing and production skills and experience extend from print to records, and from radio and TV to the web. An award-winning radio producer/writer, award-winning website editor, Stephen is a well-known news and entertainment journalist, photographer and TV host in the Santa Clarita Valley, in the northwest corner of Los Angeles County, Calif., half an hour from media centers in Hollywood, Burbank, Beverly Hills, West Los Angeles and Santa Monica.

Peeples worked as the Editorial Director for Capitol Records (1977-1980) then Elektra/Asylum Records (1980-1983) in Hollywood; programming Writer/Producer and Advertising/Editorial Director for the Westwood One Radio Network and National Public Relations Director then Co-Director of the Media Relations Department for Rhino Entertainment in West Los Angeles (1992-1997).

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