Leon "Ndugu" Chancler


Leon "Ndugu" Chancler was an American R&B, funk, and jazz drummer. He was also a composer, producer, and university professor.

Biography

Early life

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on July 1, 1952, Leon Chancler was the youngest of seven children from the union of Rosie Lee and Henry Nathaniel Chancler. In 1960, the family relocated to Los Angeles, California. Chancler began playing drums when he was thirteen years old. He would publicly reminisce about being asked to leave a classroom for continuously tapping on the desk, only to be later heard tapping on the poles in the hallway. His love for the drums took over while attending Gompers Junior High School and it became his lifelong ambition. He graduated from Locke High School, having been involved in playing there with latin musician Willie Bobo and the Harold Johnson Sextet, and he later graduated from Cal State Dominguez Hills with a degree in music education.

Musical career

By the time he finished college, Chancler had already performed with jazz artists such as the Gerald Wilson Big Band, Herbie Hancock, and recorded with Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Bobby Hutcherson. He played drums on Santana's "Europe", and Keni Burke's "Risin' to the Top". He formed his own group "Chocolate Jam Company" in 1979 and released second album include "Shadow Dancing" in 1980. Sticks Hooper left the Crusaders in 1983 and Ndugu supported the crusaders as drummer.
He recorded frequently as a sideman in R&B, jazz, and pop music, including the instantly recognizable drums on Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean". In 1982, he received a Grammy nomination for Best Rhythm & Blues song for co-writing "Let It Whip", made famous by the Dazz Band. Other musicians with whom Chancler worked during his career included George Benson, TC Carson, Stanley Clarke, the Crusaders, George Duke, John Lee Hooker, Hubert Laws, Thelonious Monk, Jean-Luc Ponty, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Patrice Rushen, Santana, Frank Sinatra, Donna Summer, the Temptations, Tina Turner, and Weather Report.
In 2006, he became an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California and taught at the Stanford Jazz Workshop in California for three weeks every summer. He was a member of the Percussive Arts Society and was inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame in 2020.

Personal life

Chancler was given the name "Ndugu" by Herbie Hancock during his time with Hancock's Mwandishi band. He was known as Leon Chancler, or sometimes Ndugu Chancler. Ndugu is Swahili for “earth brother,” a family member or comrade.
Ndugu grew up active in his church and was mentored and influenced by many strong men that helped shape his life after the absence of his father at age 13. His older brother Londell was a major support and motivation to him. When his mother was diagnosed with diabetes, Ndugu cared for her until her death in 1994. Chancler had one child, his son Rashon Chafic Chancler, with Vicki Guess.

Death

Chancler died at his home in Los Angeles on February 3, 2018, of prostate cancer, at the age of 65. A song, "Home Light," written by Ernie Watts and Marc Seales, was dedicated to Chancler. It was the title track of a 2018 album by the Ernie Watts Quartet.

Discography

Chocolate Jam Company

As sideman

With David AxelrodSeriously Deep
With George BensonLove Remembers
With BloodstoneWe Go a Long Way Back Party
With Dee Dee BridgewaterJust Family
With Oscar BrownBrother Where Are You
With Peabo BrysonAll My Love Missing You
With Keni BurkeYou're the Best Changes
With Tia CarrereDream
With Jean CarnTrust Me
With Miles DavisMiles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4
With DeBargeThe DeBarges In a Special Way
With George DukeFaces in Reflection Feel The Aura Will Prevail I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry Liberated Fantasies From Me to You Reach for It Don't Let Go
With Sheena EastonNo Strings
With The EmotionsCome into Our World
With Fuse OneFuse One Silk
With Herbie HancockMwandishi Sunlight
With Eddie HarrisExcursions
With Hampton HawesUniverse Blues for Walls
With Tramaine Hawkins
With Joe HendersonThe Elements
With Jennifer HollidayThe Song Is You
With John Lee HookerThe Healer
With Phyllis HymanCan't We Fall in Love Again?
With James IngramIt's Your Night
With Michael JacksonThriller Bad
With Gladys Knight & the PipsVisions
With Patti LaBelleTasty
With LabelleChameleon
With Harold LandDamisi Choma (Burn)
With Azar LawrenceBridge into the New Age
With Cheryl LynnStart Over
With Wendy MatthewsThe Witness Tree
With Letta MbuluIn the Music the Village Never Ends
With The O'JaysIdentify Yourself The Year 2000 My Favorite Person
With Greg PhillinganesSignificant Gains
With Jean-Luc PontyUpon the Wings of Music
With Julian PriesterLove, Love
With Lionel RichieLionel Richie
With LeAnn RimesWhat a Wonderful World
With Minnie RipertonMinnie
With Robbie RobertsonStoryville
With Kenny RogersChristmas Love Will Turn You Around We've Got Tonight The Heart of the Matter
With Patrice RushenPrelusion Before the Dawn Pizzazz Posh Signature
With SantanaBorboletta Amigos
With Lalo SchifrinNo One Home
With Frank SinatraL.A. Is My Lady
With The SpinnersGrand Slam
With Donna SummerDonna Summer
With The TemptationsReunion
With Tina TurnerPrivate Dancer
With Weather ReportTale Spinnin'
With The WhispersMore of the Night
With Stevie WoodsTake Me to Your Heaven The Woman in My Life
With Syreeta WrightSyreeta
  • ''The Spell''