I AM HIS NANNA (LAVERN JONES LEMONS) AND MY GRANDSON'S (LEELAN JR) BIGGEST SUPPORTER!

LEELAN JACKSON JR IS MY SON'S CHILD. BECAUSE OF LIFE'S CIRCUMSTANCES. I HAVE RAISED LEELAN SINCE HE WAS ONE MONTH OLD. HE'S TWENTY YEARS OLD. MUSIC PLAYS A HUGE PART IN HIS LIFE AND I'M THERE TO SUPPORT THE BEST I CAN. HE'S BEEN WRITING MUSIC SINCE HE WAS SIXTEEN. HE CAN COMPOSE MUSIC, ARRANGE, PRODUCE, SONGWRITER, PERCUSSIONIST AND SINGER. 

NOW HE'S IN THREE DIFFERENT LOCAL BANDS. LEELAN PLAYS BASS GUITAR AND DRUMS WHEN NEEDED. HE WANTS TO REMAIN AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST.

PLEASE CHECK OUT LEELAN AND ME ON THE VARIOUS WEBSITES SUCH AS: YOUTUBE, TIKTOK, INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK. I'M ON TWITTER AND NOW X. PLEASE SHARE OUR INFO AND LEAVE A COMMENT. WE THANK YA'LL KINDLY. AFTER ALL MUSIC IS A BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY!

THE BOBBY REED SHOW

LEELAN JACKSON JR HAS APPEARED ON THE BOBBY REED REUNION SHOW FOUR TIMES. MR REED IS A LOCAL ENTERTAINER AND HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR MANY YEARS. HE SHOWCASES LOCAL TALENTS FROM THE SURROUNDING AREAS. THE CROWD LOVES LEELAN'S DRUM VERSION OF A SONG TITLED "WIPEOUT" BY THE SURFARIS AND HE SINGS A SOULFUL "TENNESSEE WHISKEY". LEELAN AT TIMES GETS A STANDING OVATION!

LEELAN JACKSON JR ATTENDS THE GLOBAL JAZZ WORKSHOP JULY 2024 IN AUSTIN TEXAS!

 LEELAN SUMITTED DIFFERENT JAZZ TRACKS FOR THE UPCOMING GLOBAL JAZZ WORKSHOP IN SUMMER 2024 AND TO BE HELD IN AUSTIN TEXAS (AUSTIN IS KNOWN AS THE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD)! HE WAS BLOWN AWAY WHEN CHRISTIAN WIGGS SENT HIM A TEXT AND TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD BEEN SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. CHRISTIAN WIGGS IS FROM LAKE JACKSON TEXAS AND HE ATTENDED BRAZOSWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. ALSO, CHRISTIAN IS A GREAT VOCALIST, BANDLEADER, PRODUCER AND MUCH MORE. SOME GOOD NEWS FOR LEELAN BECAUSE OF THE JAZZ MUSIC THAT HE SUBMITTED. HE EARNED A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE PROGRAM AND HIS ROOM ALSO THE PROGRAM WAS PAID FOR. WHAT A GREAT PRIVILEGE FOR MY GRANDSON AND OUR FAMILY. 

LEELAN WAS TRULY EXCITED THAT HE WAS GOING TO MEET SOME OF THE GREATEST WORLD-KNOWN JAZZ ARTISTS AND JAZZ STUDENTS FROM PLACES WORLDWIDE. THE STUDENTS ATTENDED CLASS FOR FOUR DAYS TO LEARN HELPFUL ADVICE FROM SOME OF THE GUEST ARTISTS. THERE WAS TREMENDOUS INFORMATION ABOUT MUSIC FROM THESE WELL EDUCATED MUSICANS TO HELP YOU ALONG THIS MUSIC JOURNEY SAID MY GRANDSON. MOST OF ALL LEELAN WAS IN A LTTLE STATE OF SHOCK WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT SAXOPHONE PLAYER CHAD L B (CHAD LEFKOWITZ-BROWN) WAS GOING TO BE THERE. LEELAN LOOKS UP TO THIS POWERFUL AND TAENTED SAX PLAYER. WHAT A DREAM COME TRUE THAT MY GRANDSON WAS ON STAGE WITH THE PHENOMENAL CHAD L B! ON FRIDAY JULY 26TH, 2024 THE STUDENTS ALONG WITH THE GUEST JAZZ ARTISTS PERFORMED AT MONKS. MONKS IS A FAMOUS JAZZ CLUB IN AUSTIN. WHAT A SUMMER TO REMEMBER!

LEELAN JACKSON JR'S FRESHMAN YEAR AT BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE AND A TEXAS ALL-STATER TWICE

AFTER GRADUATION IN MAY 2023. LEELAN DECIDED TO ATTEND BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE AND MAJOR IN MUSIC. DIRECTOR RICHARD BIRK WANTED LEELAN TO TRY OUT FOR ALL STATE AGAIN. LEELAN SUBMITTED WORK/MUSIC TO TMEA (TEXAS MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSCOCIATION) TO BE JUDGED. BAND STUDENTS IN TEXAS SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES COULD APPLY. LEELAN WAS SELECTED BY (TMEA) AS THE SECOND-BEST DRUMMER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WITH NUMEROUS OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN NOVEMBER 2023. HARD WORK AND DEDICATION WILL PAY OFF. 

IN THE BOTTOM PICTURE AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PHOTO IS THE AWESOME CONDUCTOR BRAD LEALI. BRAD IS NOTED AS A TOP JAZZ SAXOPHONIST. LEELAN ON THE DRUMS IN THE TOP PICTURE. BRAD ALLOWED LEELAN TO END THE SHOW. THIS EVENT WAS IN FEBRUARY 2024 AT THE HENRY B GONZALEZ CONVENTION CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS. AND LEELAN RECEIVED A STANDING OVATION FOR HIS PERFORMANCE!

LEELAN JACKSON JR WAS ON THE DRUMLINE TEAM ALL FOUR YEARS AT BRAZOSWOOD HIGH SCHOOL!

 LEELAN IS VERY PASSIONATE, SERIOUS AND DEDICATED WHEN IT COMES TO MUSIC.

LEELAN JACKSON JR'S LAST SOLO IN CONCERT AT BRAZOSWOOD HIGH SCHOOL/SENIOR 2023!

DRUMMER LEELAN WAS TOLD THAT HE LOOKED LIKE THE SINGER MAXWELL ON THIS PHOTO.

THREE-YEAR-OLD LEELAN JACKSON JR ON KANI RADIO STATION

 LEELAN IS AN EXCEPTIONAL CHILD. I TAUGHT HIM SO MUCH AS A YOUNG CHILD. HE HAD SUCH A GREAT MEMORY AND WAS WILLING TO LEARN. WHEN OFTEN READING VARIOUS BOOKS TO HIM. THEN HE COULD TELL ME WHAT THE BOOKS SAID. AT THIS AGE LEELAN WAS SPEAKING IN CHURCH. QUOTING BIBLE VERSES IN CHURCH OR DOING SMALL SPEECHES. HE STARTED SINGING IN CHURCH BY THE AGE OF FOUR. ON THIS PHOTO HE'S SPEAKING ON LIVE RADIO IN WHARTON TEXAS AND HIS HOMETOWN!

LEELAN MET T S MONK (THELONIOUS MONK JR) AND MAIYA SYKES

 LEELAN WAS IN THE CLOUDS WHEN HE MET THIS GIANT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. IT WAS LIKE A JAZZ DRUMMER MEETING A GREATER JAZZ DRUMMER. T S MONK TRULY ADMIRED LEELAN'S STYLE AND SHARED SOME WORDS OF INSPIRATION WITH HIM THAT HE WILL NOT FORGET!

THE GRACIOUS AND POWERHOUSE VOICE OF MAIYA SYKES. SHE TOLD LEELAN THAT SHE USE TO SING BACK-UP FOR THE QUEEN OF SOUL ARETHA FRANKLIN. THAT'S SOME HISTORY!

LEELAN'S GREAT OPPORTUNTIES CONTINUED!

 

CONCERT ON THE BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE CAMPUS IN LAKE JACKSON TEXAS. MY GRANDSON RESPECTS THE AMAZING AND MULTI-TALENTED MUSICIAN JOHN CALDERON. THE GREAT KEITH BIVENS ON BASS GUITAR PLAYER AND LEELAN ON DRUMS.

MORE PICTURES OF LEELAN JACKSON JR PERFORMING WITH WORLD KNOWN MUSICIANS.

 DURING JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEELAN MET SOME OUTSTANDING WORLD KNOWN MUSICIANS AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF PERFORMING WITH THEM ON STAGE. MY GRANDSON IS VERY HUMBLE AND GRATEFUL. ALSO, HE RESPECTS AND APPRECIATE EVERY MUSICIAN'S GIFTS. 

ON THIS PHOTO IS THE GREAT KEYBOARDIST LAO TIZER AND ONE OF THE BADDEST SAXOPHONE PLAYER ERIC MARIENTHAL. LEELAN ON DRUMS. 

MOST OF THESE CONCERTS ARE FEATURED AT THE CLARION AND LOCATED ON THE BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE CAMPUS IN LAKE JACKSON TEXAS.

LEELAN'S SCHOOL/COLLEGE MEMORIES NEVER TO FORGET! PLAYINGTHE DRUMS ARE HIS FAVORITE.

 THE JOY AND LASTING MEMORIES OF WATCHING MY GRANDSON LEELAN PERFORM ON STAGE WITH SOME OF THE GREATEST JAZZ MUSICIANS STILL KNOWN TODAY. THE TEACHERS/INSTRUCTORS AT CLUTE INTERMEDIATE, BRAZOSWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AND THE BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE MADE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS LEARNED FROM SOME OF THE BEST MUSICIANS' WORLD KNOWN. LEELAN FELL IN LOVE WITH JAZZ MUSIC AND WAS HONORED TO HAVE MET EACH MUSICIAN. WE STILL TALK ABOUT THESE GREAT ARTISTS. PERHAPS ONE DAY LEELAN WILL DO AN INTERVIEW ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THE MUSICIANS HAD TO SAY ABOUT HIS GIFT OF MUSIC. SOME WORDS ARE MIND-BLOWING! WILL POST PICTURES OF LEELAN IN CONCERT WITH:  AMERICAN DRUMMER AND GRAMMY WINNER BRYAN CARTER.

BRAZOSPORT ISD

 THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT (BRAZOSPORT) HAS ALLOWED MANY STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN BAND TO BE INTRODUCED AND WORKED WITH MANY WORLD-KNOWN ARTISTS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. LEELAN HAVE GRACED THE STAGES (LOCAL SCHOOLS/COLLEGE) WITH SOME OF THE GREATEST MUSICIAN. ALSO, MOST OF THE MUSICIANS HAD SOME VERY POSITIVE, ENCOURAGING AND INSPIRING WORDS TO SAY ABOUT LEELAN'S GIFT OF MUSIC. IN THE EIGHTED GRADE LEELAN PICTURED HERE WITH THE OUTSTANDING JAZZ TROMBONIST DELFEAYO MARSALIS! I WILL BE POSTING OTHER MUSICIANS THAT LEELAN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF MEETING WHILE IN SCHOOL AND COLLEGE (BRAZOSPORT COMMUNITY COLLEGE).

LEELAN'S NEWEST DRUM SET

 ANOTHER BLUE DRUM SET FOR LEELAN'S 17TH BIRTHDAY. AS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. HE WANTED A PICTURE ON THE BEACH WHILE PLAYNG HIS DRUMS AND FOR HIS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PICTURE. IT WAS SO EXCITING WHEN A MAN STOPPED AND HE TOLD US THAT HE HAD BEEN LIVING IN THIS AREA OVER 40 YEARS AND HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS!

LEELAN JACKSON JR'S FIRST BASS GUITAR

 AT THE AGE OF SIXTEEN LEELAN WANTED A GUITAR. WE WENT TO GUITAR CENTER IN HOUSTON TEXAS. HE TAUGHT HIMSELF TO PLAY GUITAR.

LEELAN JACKSON JR SINGS AT A TALENT SHOW

 LEELAN WAS IN THE FIFTH GRADE AND SINGING "LAY ME DOWN" BY SAM SMITH AT THE T W OGG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN CLUTE TEXAS.

LEELAN JACKSON JR EARNS THE BILL WATROUS AWARD

 LEELAN FELL IN LOVE WITH JAZZ MUSIC. PLAYING THE DRUMS WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL WAS SOMETHING THAT HE LOOKED FORWARD TO DAILY. ALSO, HE'S BEEN PLAYING THE DRUMS FOR HIS GRANDFATHER'S CHURCH SINCE THE AGE OF SIX. HE'S NOW TWENTY YEARS OLD. IN HIGH SCHOOL HE DID A SOLO AT THE SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY IN HUNTSVILLE TEXAS. THE CROWD WENT CRAZY WHEN LEELAN CAME IN FIRST PLACE AND WON THE BILL WATROUS AWARD. BRAZOSWOOD HIGH SCHOOL BROUGHT BACK THE TROPHY!

BILL WATROUS IS AN JAZZ AMERICAN TROMBONIST AND CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATS. LEELAN ADMIRED HIS TALENT.

LEELAN JACKSON JR WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE THE FRESHMAN DRUMLINE TEAM.

 DURING HIS YEARS AT BRAZOSWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. LEELAN PUT IN THE WORK. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF AUNDRAY EDWARDS. HE IS ONE OF THE BEST MARCHING BAND INSTRUCTORS. LEELAN WAS SELECTED AS A FRESHMAN DRUMLINE TEAM MEMBER AND WAS NOTED IT TO BE HISTORY MAKING FOR A HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN TO MAKE THE TEAM. HE PLAYED BASS DRUMS. LEELAN WAS CHALLENGED BY SOME OF THE GREATEST BAND INSTRUCTORS. MUCH RESPECT TO EACH TEACHER BECAUSE THEY SAW SOMETHING IN LEELAN. THEY KNEW LEELAN HAD POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH. IT'S AMAZING TO SEE MY GRANDSON PLAY ALL THESE INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS:  MARIMBA. VIBRAPHONE AND TENORS. WE ARE SO PROUD OF HIM!

LEELAN JACKSON JR SELF-TAUGHT SINGER AND CAN PLAY SEVERAL INSTUMENTS

 I AM LAVERN JONES LEMONS AND I AM MY GRANDSON LEELAN'S BIGGEST SUPPORTER AND FAN. I WILL POST INFORMATION ABOUT HIS JOURNEY AND LOVE FOR MUSIC. PLEASE COMMENT AND SHARE MY POST. WHILE IN CLUTE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL HE STARTED PLAYING THE CHELLO. TAKING AFTER HIS OLDER COUSIN.

 HE SUNG IN THE CHOIR. BUT WHEN HE STARTED PLAYING THE DRUMS. THAT WAS A GAME CHANGER FOR SURE. IN THE EIGHTED GRADE LEELAN EARNED THE PRESTIGOUS BRIAN CASEY AWARD. MR CASEY WAS A HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL LONG TIME BAND DIRECTOR FOR BRAZOSWOOD HIGH SCHOOL OVER 60 YEARS

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LEELAN JACKSON JR'S FIRST BOBBY REED SHOW

 LEELAN HAS BEEN SINGING AT HIS GRANDFATHER'S CHURCH SINCE AGE FOUR. AT AGE THREE HE'S BEEN ON LIVE RADIO QUOTING BIBLE SCRIPTURES, PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL PLAYS (AGE SIX) AND A CHURCH PLAY (AGE THREE). ONE DAY AT THE POST OFFICE IN LAKE JACKSON TEXAS. A MAN BY THE NAME OF BOBBY REED WAS THERE. THE POST OFFICE CLERK TOLD ME THAT MR REED WAS A LOCAL ENTERTAINER AND THAT HE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR FRESH TALENTS TO BE ON HIS SHOW. WE SPOKE WITH MR REED AND I TOLD HIM THAT MY GRANDSON LOVES TO SING. MR REED ASKED LEELAN TO SING FOR HIM AND HE DID. MR REED TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE LEELAN ON HIS SHOW TO DO TWO OR THREE SONGS OF HIS CHOICE. WE SUBMITTED A FEW SONGS. ON OCTOBER 3RD, 2015. A NERVOUS TEN-YEAR-OLD LEELAN JACKSON SONG "ROCK AND ROLL BELLS" BY HIS LATE GREAT GRANDFATHER LOUIS BLUES BOY JONES, "I CAN ONLY IMAGINE" BY MERCY ME AND "NEVER SAY NEVER" BY JUSTIN BIEBER AND JADEN SMITH.

AT THE AGE OF THREE

 BORN LEELAN RASHAD PRINCE JACKSON JR ON A FRIDAY MAY 13TH, 2005. I RECALL BUYING HIM A LITTLE TIKES TOY DRUM WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS OLD. APPROACHING HIS THIRD BIRTHDAY. WHEN I ASKED LEELAN WHAT DID HE WANT FOR HIS BIRTHDAY. HE REPLIED, "DRUMS". SO, WE WENT TO COLLINS MUSIC CENTER IN LAKE JACKSON TEXAS AND THIS IS LEELAN AT HIS FIRST DRUM SET ON MAY 13TH, 2008.