Bassist Leo Goff is among the most versatile and respected bass players performing today. He has toured, played and recorded with an impressive array of international artists. Born in Memphis , Tennessee , Leo's mastery of his chosen instrument began at the age of 12.
Throughout his school years, he performed in many popular local groups, and often had the occasion to perform with some of the Blues and R&B legends as the opportunity presented itself.
Around 1967, Leo started road touring with various groups and artists, and gained valuable experience and exposure in the world of Rock, Blues, R&B, and studio work. Leo's studio work found him in the studios of Stax, Memphis , RCA Studio B, in Nashville,with producer Thomas Wayne, Lyn-Lou Studio, Memphis, Sam Phillips Studio, Memphis, Dan Penn's Beautiful Sounds Studio in Memphis, Jerry Williams and Steve Cropper's TMI Studio, Memphis, Chips Moman's American Studio, Muscle Shoals Sounds and Fame Studios, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Onyx Studio, Memphis, and Sonic Studio, Memphis.
After several years of working on the road in club, concert, festival, and studio venues, Leo made the decision around 1972 to limit his road work in favor of working in local venues, only going out with the occasional touring opportunity.
Leo has continued to perform and record with some of the well known Blues, R&B, and Rock artists. He has recorded and/or appeared on stage and performed in shows and festivals with The Late Blues composer, artist and Handy Award recipient John Weston, along with Paul Wood, (John Lee Hooker's Guitar player) Blues Great Don McMinn, composer and artist Keith Sykes, Jeff Beck, Blues Great Albert King, Blues Great "T Bone" Walker, Blues Great Pinetop Perkins, Little Milton, Jerry Lee Lewis, W.G."Snuffy" Walden, The Coasters, Buddy Miles, Joyce Cobb, Ronnie Milsap, Bobby Lawson, Bobby L. & Smokehouse, Maria Spence, the late legendary Memphis Guitarist Rick Harvey, Eric Hughes and the Eric Hughes Band, "Guy Jr." Venable, Guitarist/Actor Johnny Holiday, Pianist Victor Wainwright, Blind Mississippi Morris, Phillip Dale Durham, Lynn Jones, Nora Tucker, Guitarist Rick McConnell & the Skydogs, Brad Webb, Crash Kole & the Blue Souls, Louis Paul, Muddy Water's Guitarist for many years, Bob Margolin, Brandon Santini and Delta Highway, Vince Johnson, and renowned Accordionist Tommy V and the Rocket Dogs. He performed with the big band of Pappy Graves and the Don't Stop- Go! Revue, the popular country group of Webb Dalton and the Dalton Gang, The popular sixties R&B group, The Soul Syndicate, ( Which was the second band in the Memphis area to be "Biracial", the first being Booker T & the MG's ) The popular sixties & seventies rock groups of New World, The Jynx, with Memphis guitarist Chris Bell, ( who later formed the popular group "Big Star" ) , along with several other Memphis based groups.
Leo is a regular member in the groups of Bobby L. & Smokehouse, The Memphis Blues Society Band, The Victor Wainwright Blues Band, The Johnny Holiday Blues Band, and with Guy Jr. Venables' The Blues Healers. Leo also works with The Eric Hughes Band, and Keith Sykes & The Revolving Band. Leo is a mainstay on the esteemed Beale Street club circuit.
Leo is a dynamic bassist who is noted for his inventive, high-energy improvisations. He is adept in both soulful passages and percussive groove lines, and is fluent in all Blues and R&B idioms. Leo takes pride in his versatility and openness to different types of music. He has been featured on many recordings, including work with John Weston, Paul Wood, New World , Keith Sykes, Maria Spence, and others.
In addition to being a highly sought-after sideman, Leo is a proven voice in his own right. He is currently working on a soon to be released CD, featuring several original songs written and sung by Leo, with The Blues Healers.
Leo is endorsed by Barker Basses, and can usually be seen playing his Barker B1 Vertical Bass on most of his live appearances. Leo quite often can be seen in many venues around Memphis , especially on Beale St. , playing his Barker Bass. Stop by and say hello.... he would love to meet you!