Gregory Brian Leisz (born September 18, 1949) is an American musician. He is a songwriter, recording artist, and producer. He plays guitar, dobro, mandolin, banjo, lap steel and pedal steel guitar.

Biography

Leisz grew up in the garage band culture of mid-1960s Southern California. He spent time at the Ashgrove, the Troubador, and clubs on the Sunset Strip. He began playing guitar and soon added dobro and lap steel, inspired to pick up the pedal steel after hearing Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Buddy Emmons. In 1975, he toured with John Stewart (formerly of The Kingston Trio). He was a member of Funky Kings who released their eponymous debut album on Arista Records in 1976. After the band broke up, he became a popular musician both in the studio and on the road. In 1987, Leisz began working with Dave Alvin (formerly of The Blasters). Their collaboration led to Leisz producing several of Alvin's albums, including King of California, Black Jack David, Ashgrove, and West of the West. In 1989, he played on k.d. lang's Grammy-winning Absolute Torch and Twang and joined her on the resulting tour. For the next eighteen years he toured with Lang and recorded with her, including her album Ingenue. Starting the early 1990s, he worked often with Matthew Sweet, played on Sweet's album Girlfriend and toured with him. In January 2008, Leisz joined the group Works Progress Administration, a band composed of Leisz, Sean Watkins (guitar), his sister Sara Watkins (fiddle), Glen Phillips (guitar, vocals), Benmont Tench (piano), Luke Bulla (fiddle), Pete Thomas (drums), and Davey Faragher (bass). The group released their debut album, WPA, on September 15, 2009. In 2010 and 2011, Leisz toured with Ray LaMontagne as a member of his backing band, The Pariah Dogs. He toured in 2013 as a member of Eric Clapton's band, in 2015 as a member of Jackson Browne's band, and again in 2017. He appeared in the 2016 Cameron Crowe cable television series Roadies, accompanying Jackson Browne on three songs in the last episode of the series. Leisz played mandolin on the mid-2021 Bob Dylan recordings of "Blowin' in the Wind," "Masters of War," "The Times They Are A-Changin' (song)," "Simple Twist of Fate," "Gotta Serve Somebody," and "Not Dark Yet" produced by T-Bone Burnett and recorded and mixed by Michael Piersante for a one-time sale as Ionic Originals. Greg married Estonian musician Mai Leisz in April 2018.

Awards

In 2010, Leisz was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist by the Americana Music Association. In 2011 he received a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album for his contributions to Ray LaMontagne's album God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise (2010).

Discography

As sideman

With Ryan Adams With Amy Allison With The Bangles With Beck With Jackson Browne With Peter Case With Eric Clapton With Joe Cocker With Holly Cole With Paula Cole With A. J. Croce With David Crosby With Marshall Crenshaw With Shawn Colvin With Sheryl Crow With Grey DeLisle With Don Felder With John Fogerty With Bill Frisell With Amy Grant With Haim With John Wesley Harding With Natalie Hemby With Joe Henry With Missy Higgins With Mark Knopfler With Miranda Lambert With k.d. lang With Amos Lee With Charles Lloyd With Jim Lauderdale With John Mayer With Joni Mitchell With Keb' Mo' With The Murmurs With Willie Nelson With Aaron Neville With Randy Newman With Mark Olson With Judith Owen With Sam Phillips With Chuck Prophet With Bonnie Raitt With Carrie Rodriguez With Vonda Shepard With Bruce Springsteen With Matthew Sweet With Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs With Shannon McNally With Teddy Thompson With Tiger Army With St. Vincent With Loudon Wainwright III With Rufus Wainwright With Gillian Welch With Jennifer Warnes With Lucinda Williams With Robbie Williams With Victoria Williams With Brian Wilson With Wolf Bros With others