"Star Drums" Leslie Milton		"Lady Keys" Gael Kurath

NAME: LESLIE J. MILTON
BIRTHPLACE: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
AGE: STILL A KID
AWARDS: WASHINGTON BLUES SOCIETY: BEST DRUMMER (many encores), ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR, HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE (1994), LIVING BLUES LEGEND (1999)
FROM GOD: HAPPINESS & SUCCESS

Born into a loving family on July 20, 1938, the legend began. Leslie immediately started bringing his rhythms to life by tapping his hands and fingers on everything in sight. His crib, pots and pans, tables, garbage cans (the good ol' tin kind), you name it, since nothing in his fertile imagination was left out. His finely tuned ears became his adroit antennae as Leslie grooved to rhythms of the rain and beams of sunshine, gravel crunching beneath his fast-running feet, water running from the tap, the rustling of leaves, and cars driving down the street. Everything in nature became melodies to him. Leslie's driving passion in life has always been, and forever will be, his music.

At the tender age of ten, Leslie's parents encouraged his vision and destiny by giving him his first set of drums, and he's never stopped kickin' and stickin' it ever since! His Uncle Ernest "The Kid" Milton took Leslie under his wing and taught him the fine art of drumming and showmanship in all forms of music. By age twelve, he was playing drums professionally in the famed French Quarter of New Orleans, music capital of the world. At only fifteen, he was selected to attend the elite Gateway Conservatory of Music. Leslie has traveled far and wide in the realm of music...from street corner musician, burlesque halls and nightclubs in his native New Orleans and the Chitlun' circuit of the south, to the Apollo Theatre in New York and the great concert halls of America and Europe. From solo performances to big band orchestras, Leslie has done it all, enhancing and perfecting his craft along the way with his inimitable and dynamic style. To quote one of his favorite jokes... "How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice!"

In the early sixties, Leslie moved to Los Angeles. He enjoyed a very active career in both live performances and recording sessions with the best in the business, such as Johnny Otis, Etta James, Ray Charles, Little Richard, Roy Brown, Ike & Tina Turner, Bill Cosby, and the list goes on and on. He worked with Quincy Jones and Bumps Blackwell for Mercury Records and played on several national hit records. Leslie appeared on television shows such as American Bandstand, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Dinah Shore Show. He also performed in movies such as the classic "Hotel" with Rod Taylor.
In 1976, inspired by America's Bicentennial Celebration, Leslie created his spectacular "Star Drums" showcase. He used his "extra-terrestrial" imagination to invent a dazzling array of lighting, dramatic special effects, and sizzling show drumming. Leslie soon presented his magical "Star Drums" extravaganza to audiences all over the world. It's been a huge hit since it's debut and became an exciting tradition.

In 1977 Leslie moved to Seattle, Washington, to "semi-retire". It wasn't but a "milizon" before he picked up his sticks and started playing again with all the great local bands. In the early 80's, Leslie recorded and toured Europe with the Slamhound Hunters. Their album, of the same title, was named by Rocket Magazine as one of the best top ten recordings of all time produced in the Pacific Northwest. While working with a band called the Blue Lights, Leslie wrote and recorded a song with them called "Mount St. Helen's Blues" (shortly before she blew her top), which became a regional hit. He also penned many original tunes; such as the bayou style of "Swamp Crab", the humorous "Alligator Joe", the fast swing of "Tiny Little Thing", the reality check of "Make It Right", and the down in the alley slow blues of "What Would Muddy Say (If He Heard What's Happening To The Blues Today)", which is featured on Leslie's first CD.

Leslie currently enjoys an enduring musical partnership with the talented pianist/vocalist Gael Kurath, who hails from Chicago. For 7 years now, they have performed a duo act as "Star Drums & Lady Keys" at the Alligator Soul Restaurant in Everett, Washington, every Saturday night from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. They have recorded 2 CD's; "Star Drums & Lady Keys...Live at the Alligator Soul", and most recently, "From the Soul". They play other nightclubs occasionally, as well as private engagements and special benefits. Star Drums & Lady Keys have also performed at the Experience Music Project (EMP) in Seattle. In 1996, Leslie was honored with the invitation to perform for then President Bill Clinton and his entourage at the Paramount Theatre in our Emerald City.

In addition to his musical career, Leslie organizes and host's seminars for children on drumming directed to music as a career. He also conducts drum lessons for children and adults of all ages. After fifty-six years in the performing arts, Leslie is writing a book called, "First Rank", which he developed to guide young drummers in the art of becoming a professional in the music business.