Remembering a Shreveport Jazz Legend Behind Iconic Hits

Leon "Ndugu" Chancler was a jazz drummer who was most popularly known for his work on Michael Jackson's Billie Jean as well as being the co-writer of Let it Whip by the Dazz Band. Ndugu was born on this day, July 1st, in 1952 here in Shreveport, Louisiana. Ndugu's family would move from Shreveport to Los Angeles when he was 8 and it was there in LA, he would find himself in music, with his drumming career starting at 12 years old.

Leon was given the name Ndugu by the prolific jazz musician Herbie Hancock while recording drums for Hancock's ninth album, Mwandishi. The name Ndugu is Swahili and best translates to brother, or comrade. Ndugu had worked with many notable artists through his careers, including being a recording drummer for artists like, Miles Davis, LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Rogers, Santana, Tina Turner, and George Duke.

Growing up Ndugu began playing the drums at age 12 and later in life retold stories of being asked to leave the classroom because of his repeated drumming on desks, only for the teacher to hear him drumming on the poles in the hallway. Ndugu's father left his family when he was only 13, and he credited his Church and older brother, Londell with being the mentors and influences on his life. In 2006 after many years of being a recording artist Ndugu took on a new job as an adjunct assistant professor of Jazz at University of Southern California, as well as spending every summer teaching at the Stanford Jazz Workshop. Leon died at the age of 65 in 2018, due to prostate cancer.

Today of course, would mark his 72nd birthday.