On the Town: Steel guitarist Jay Leach kicks off Sounds of Summer series
The Burbank Public Library kicked off the first of its 2017 Sounds of Summer free outdoor concerts with a performance by steel guitarist Jay Leach and his backup band Los Steel this past Thursday evening.
This annual event, which is part of the library’s Summer Reading Club for Grown-Ups, was established and is coordinated by library assistant Joan Cappocchi. It gives Burbankers the opportunity to gather on the grounds of the city’s public libraries for three evening concerts.
This year’s series began in Lincoln Park, on the grounds of the Buena Vista Branch Library, where more than 250 locals scoped out spots for their blankets and lawn chairs as the setting sun cast a golden glow on the music makers.
Leach, whose musical styles include gospel, rock, blues, boogie-woogie, jazz and country, is a Christian musician. Along with his ministry, he also works as a back-up and studio musician.
Throughout his career, he has accompanied some of the biggest names in pop music both in concert and in the studio. Among them have been Barry Manilow, John Denver, Roy Orbison, Gladys Knight, the Fifth Dimension, Bette Midler, Joel Gray and the Pointer Sisters.
Having most recently played on ABC’s “American Idol” and NBC’s “The Voice,” Leach, who has recorded an impressive string of his own albums, has also done extensive recording work for classic episodic television programs including “Touched by An Angel,” “Murder She Wrote,” “Jake and the Fat Man,” and “Walker, Texas Ranger.”
He has recorded more commercial jingles than he can remember for such clients as Budweiser, Denny’s, McDonald’s, Nike, Black Angus Steak House and Mercedes.
He has also played on the soundtracks of many feature films such as “Mars Attacks,” “Trip to Bountiful,” “Down and Out in Beverly Hills,” “Smokey and the Bandit III” and “Urban Cowboy.”
As a special treat for those attending last week’s concert, Leach welcomed special guest vocalist Chelsea Diblasi, who has provided her talents to the soundtracks of numerous films including those of “The Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Harry Potter” franchises.
The library’s Sounds of Summer concert series will continue on July 13 as the Mariachi Divas perform at the Burbank Central Library, located at 110 N. Glenoaks Blvd., and then conclude on July 27 as the Innisfree Irish Band plays at the Northwest Branch Library, located at 3323 W. Victory Blvd.
Both of those performances will begin at 8 p.m.
For more information, visit burbanklibrary.com.
DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
