Butch Leake
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Butch Leake, also known as Muhammad Abdul Aziz and Neheh Pedi Atun from Islamic and African Egyptian cultural background, is an American born singer who first came on the music scene professionally in 1970, as a member of the world renowned vocal group The Drifters. It was during this period as second tenor and baritone he helped record the memorial hits Down on the Beach Tonight, Kissing in the Back Row of the Movies, Love Games and There Goes My First Love, which topped the British and European charts in the early seventies.
It was early 1970, when The Drifters managed by Fay Treadwell widow to the legendary George Treadwell left Atlantic Record, which had been the recording home for the group during the earlier years and moved to the British recording company Bell Records.
Like during the periods of the 50s and 60s, The Drifters were going through a line up change and Butch was drafted to replace outgoing singer Rick Sheppard.
So the classic group for the seventies was shaped, headed by the late song stylist Johnny Moore and featured the late Bill Fredricks, Grant Kitchings and Butch Leake.
This line up went on to record three classic studio albums.
The Drifters Now
Love Games
There Goes My First Love
The Drifters live with the Les Reed Orchestra and a double album featuring both Bell and Atlantic cuts.
Also there was a recording of the old classic "Save the Last Dance For Me" which is featured on the "Drifters Now album".
In 1975, Butch to the surprise of the industry and American/European fans left the group to pursue a solo career.
In 1976, he teamed up with then K-Tel international DJ star Freddie Mack who went under the name Mr. Superbad. Together they formed Superbad Records and Productions which was a British based company.
Later that year Butch released his first single titled "Your Like Magic" and "Lets Take A Chance" on Superbad Records Cat.No.SB1A and SB1B Distributed then by President Records UK.
It was in the clubs and in concert Butch began notariety. With his combination of song, dance and humor he became a regular on the Playboy, Bailey and Batley club circuits in England and performed for audiences all over Europe and the far east. He later became the first singer to ever perform in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the reign of the late King Kalid.
The late 70s Butch wrote and recorded a song titled "Give To The Ones We Love" in aid of the British Heart Transplant Trust, set up to support the pioneering work of professor Christian Barnard.
In 1981, England was in the midts of a deep recession which enticed him to return to New York to audition for the then successful Broadway Musical "Duke Ellingtons Sophisticated Lady", but the show was soon to close that year. Butch continued to work in night clubs around the New York area and later decided to return to England in 1982. He joined The British based vocal group "The Realistics" headed by John Cheatdom, former lead singer of the 50s group "The Velores".
Shortly after that Butch contacted his dear friend, former Motown recording artiste, Edwin Starr who at that time was living in London. Edwin was having chart success during this period and expressed his interest in recording the group and also having the group work as his co-act and back up singers. That same year they did the their first television special for the new fourth channel in Great Britain on a show called "Switch", featuring "The New Edition, Edwin Starr and The Realistics. The group later went on to head a weekly musical variety show called "Unforgettables".
1983, was a tragic year, Butch lost his mother to illnes. He returned to New York and joined the management of Canning Recording Studio. He later returned to the New York Night Club scene and worked on Francis Ford Coppolas film "Cotton Club" 1983 and Harry Belafontes "Beat Street" 1984.
In 1985, he was nominated and awarded a Tor Statue at the annual Theatre Of Renewal Awards for Superior Artistry, hosted by the late writer, singer and drama film critic Norman Charles, founder and executive director of Theatre Of Renewal Inc. Past recipients of the award have been: Whoppi Goldberg, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Michael Moriarty, Liza Minnelli and Rex Harrison.
Aziz Art and Creative Productions, a visual art, music and entertainment co. will be the latest move in his career.
