Baca, Judy - Norristown Times Herald (Sept. 17, 1993) - Bassist John Leitham Returns to Home Turf

He left King of Prussia for the tinseltown that is Los Angeles in 1983 and, since then, John Leitham has played bass with some of the biggest names in jazz while traveling the world. The 1971 graduate of Upper Merion Area High School is back in the area this weekend to perform at Jenny's in Hahaska tonight and at the Guest Quarters Hotel in Plymouth Meeting tomorrow night. Famous bassist Milt Hinton noted, “John has amazing dexterity and a big sound. He is all over the bass when he plays and the fact that he's a southpaw ” makes him even more unique…” Excited about the recent release of his second CD, The Southpaw Leitham declares, "It's unusual for someone to play bass with the left hand but that comes from being self-taught. The funny thing is, I'm right-handed for almost everything else. I bat left-handed in baseball and I can dribble and shoot a basketball left-handed, so I guess I'm ambidexterous." He explains that during high school he played with an area rock group, "mostly because I can sing well. I was professional for about five years then started to study. I picked up string bass at about the age of 22 and that became a kind of obsession. Then I spent about six years of serious study with Al Stauffer in South Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. During that time I played in the staff band at Palumbo's." In 1981, Leitham was selected for Woody Herman's Big Band and he began his world travels. His appearances have included performing as featured artist and with other groups at such events as The Playboy Jazz Festival; The JVC Festival at New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Saratoga; The Ottercrest and Santa Fe Jazz Weekends; and numerous other music events. He has played with the likes of greats such as George Shearing, Peggy Lee, Maureen McGovern, Gerry Mulligan, Sweets Edison and Bob Cooper. He returned to this area last year to play at the Valley Forge Music Fair with Cleo Laine. For the last several years Leitham has been traveling with the Mel Tormé, Orchestra and has recorded five albums with Torme. He has also played frequently with the "Tonight" show band and has had a number of recent engagements with the Doc Severinson Orchestra. "I've been fortunate enough to hook up with some pretty famous people and have gotten to play all over the world," Leitham says, "so I consider myself pretty lucky." Noting that his first CD on his own, "Leitham Up", was recorded when someone suggested he should make a recording and then immediately offered to back him, Leitham says, "It really turned out to be good, but I am proud of the second one because I produced it myself.