Leo Potts, saxophone artist, has built an international reputation for his creative and sensitive interpretations of music scores ranging from classical to commercial genres. In 1966, he entered the National Conservatory of Music in Paris to study under Marcel Mule and Daniel Deffayet. To further perfect his art, he returned to the United States to study intensively with Phil Sobel, a former NBC staff musician who is lauded for his creative concepts in saxophone teaching. Mr. Potts performed as a soloist with his gifted accompanist Jack Reidling and was a founding a member of the highly praised West Coast Saxophone Quartet.
In the classical vein, Mr. Potts has premiered compositions by Mauro Bruno, Dan Higgins, Bill Baker, Jack Reidling, Jack Hayes, John Ryther, Bruce Miller, Bertram McGarrity, Tom Kubis, S. Akiyama, Robert Tyndall, James Weisheit, and Brent Pierce. He can be heard as a solo artist on Cambria, Crystal, Crest, Delta, and CBS-Sony record labels. He was principle saxophonist with the American Winds, the California Wind Orchestra, and the Long Beach Municipal Band.
In the commercial music world, Mr. Potts has been active working with artists such as Natalie Cole, Diana Ross, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Julie Andrews, Red Skelton, Gladys Knight, Nancy Wilson, Johnny Mathis, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Lou Rawls, Smokey Robinson, Melissa Manchester, Linda Ronstadt, Helen Reddy, Henry Mancini, Mel Tormé, The Righteous Brothers, Al Green, Steve Lawrence, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Vinton, Tony Orlando, and The Manhattan Transfer, to name a few. As a pit musician, Mr. Potts' credits include Chicago, Les Misérable, La Cage aux Folles, The Producers, Miss Saigon, Annie, Anything Goes, and A Little Night Music.
In addition to his concertizing and recording, he is Professor Emeritus of Saxophone at California State University, Long Beach, a position he has held for over 30 years. He is involved in teaching privately and is also the foremost master teacher of the Lindeman, Sobel, Potts Approach. The LSP Approach will enable the instrumentalist to find their true musical voice!
Featured articles about Mr. Potts have been seen in the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, and Long Beach Press Telegram. He had also been the featured cover story in The Saxophone Journal.
