Ah, those shades - Max Leake was another of those early starters, kicking off his musical journey on piano at the age of 6, graduating into the jazz world of the 1970s - a musical training that would open many doors later. By the age of 18, Max was travelling around the country with doo-wop and vocal jazz acts such as the "Ink Spots" and "The Marcels".
Fast forward to 1984 and his self-produced "Buns in the Sun" comes out on Visionary Records as a private press. It may not have been a stellar commercial success, but it gained some positive reviews. More importantly it was a debut full of catchy, hot-strutting jazz tinged tunes, not afraid to pitch bend when the moment called for it. Since then Max won "Best Jazz Keyboardist" in the "In Pittsburgh" music awards in 1989, 1991 and in 1995. These days Max is an adjunct professor at the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University. He's also the musical director for the actress, producer, and vocalist Tamara Tunie.