Greg Leskiw began playing guitar at the age of 12. During "kitchen
jam sessions" his father taught him the popular songs of the
30's and 40's. His father was an excellent guitar player who performed
with small combos that toured in Western Manitoba in the 30's and
40's.
Throughout
his school years Greg continued to develop his chops and went on to
play with Winnipeg rock bands The Shags, Logan Avenue,
and Wild Rice. In 1969 Wild Rice broke up and - perhaps
more significantly - in 1970 Randy Bachman left The Guess Who.
Burton Cummings gave Leskiw a call and a new exciting chapter
in Leskiw's career began.
The
Guess Who toured the States and Canada extensively, performing
for the Royal Family and at the White House for the president. The
band also performed overseas in England, France, Belgium, Germany,
and Italy.
Leskiw
received gold albums and Juno awards for Share the Land, So
Long Bannatyne, and Rockin', and a platinum album for
Best of The Guess Who (Volume 1). It was during this period that
Leskiw began what was to become a very successful songwriting career,
penning songs such as Coming Down Off the Money Bag, One
Divided, and Grey Day.
(please click on the small photos to bring up the gallery)
In
1972 Leskiw left The Guess Who to form the critically acclaimed
Mood jga jga. The band signed with Warner Bros. (LA) and recorded
their debut album in New York with producer Phil Ramone (Paul Simon,
Billy Joel).
Mood
jga jga's successful career has spanned more than two decades
on and off. In 1997 the group released Boys Will Be Boys and
performed at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Winnipeg Jazz Festival
and on Gabereau Live! with Vicki Gabereau.
Throughout
the 70's, Greg continued to perform with Mood jga jga, Crowcuss,
and the Les Q Band which was renamed Kilowatt when signed
to Delacorte Records.
The
mid-80's saw Greg's focus change from performing live to recording
and music production when he opened Vox Pop Studios. Vox Pop soon
became a popular recording studio for local Winnipeg Groups such as
Crash Test Dummies, The Blue (now New) Meanies and Mood
jga jga. The studio operated from 1986 to 1997, during which time
Greg continued to write songs, record and produce local Winnipeg artists.
In the summer of 1997, Greg began preparations for his latest music
group, SwingSoniq, an exciting acoustic trio dedicated to the
feel and style of the 30's and 40's. As well as performing songs of
that era (Moonglow, After You've Gone and Beyond the Sea, to name
a few), SwingSoniq has developed innovative arrangements of
their original compositions.
(please click on the small photos to bring up the gallery)
With
the unique voice and guitar playing of Greg Leskiw at the helm, SwingSoniq
has created a new and exciting approach to a very popular style
of music.
SwingSoniq
PO Box 87,
Winnipeg Manitoba R3V 1L5
(204) 261-5283
Email
Greg: Click here
