Michael Leonhart

At age 17, Michael was honored as the youngest Grammy recipient in history, cited as the most outstanding musician in a U.S. high school. That same year ABC World News with Peter Jennings named him “Person of the Week”.

As a solo artist Michael has released seven albums. He has composed and performed music and songs for movies, television, dance, fashion shows and theater, and has appeared on over 125 albums.

Michael has performed with Steely Dan since 1996, recording two albums with them, including 2000’s Grammy winning Album of the Year “Two Against Nature” on which he was a featured soloist, arranger and conductor. He has performed and/or recorded with music legends James Brown, Ringo Starr, Brain Eno, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Levon Helm, Yoko Ono, David Byrne, Dr. John, Steve Winwood, Bill Withers, Bette Midler, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon, Caetano Veloso, A Tribe Called Quest, Raekwon, Henry Mancini, John Barry, Steven Tyler, Bobby McFerrin, Wynton Marsalis, Todd Rundgren and Bonnie Raitt. Michael has also worked with artists such as Mark Ronson, Alicia Keys, Sharon Jones and the Dapkings, Bruno Mars, Antibalas, Sean Lennon, Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Charles Bradley and the Menahan Street Band, St. Vincent, Foster the People, Mos Def, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Phish, Cibo Matto, Lenny Kravitz, Scissor Sisters, Aloe Blacc, Natalie Merchant, Slash, They Might Be Giants and Jens Lekman.

Most recently, Michael can be heard playing trumpet on Mark Ronson’s #1 hit “Uptown Funk” featuring Bruno Mars.