Chip Crawford
I was a childhood friend of Leon's, before he took up drumming & got the nickname of "Thumpy." We lived near each other on Park St. in St. Pete & attended the same schools. We hung out together & I visited his family's home & met his brothers & sisters. I first learned how to play drums at Tyrone Jr. High in 2 years of Band class led by the music teacher, Mr. Drum (seriously, that was his name). After high school, I too, acquired a drum set & began to play drums in a local Blues band. My music "career" was interrupted by the local military draft board & nearly a year of service in the Army in Vietnam. Somewhere along the way from high school onward, my contacts with Leon drifted apart. I knew he had become a drummer & played in local bands, and garnered the "Thumpy" nickname; but our lives, as lives will, went in different directions. But back in the day, we had a real friendship and I miss that and him. Rest in Peace, Leon. Your old friend, Chip Crawford