In honor of the 50th anniversary of The Rolling Stones, I’m re-publishing an interview I did with the 5th member of the band in 2010, Chuck Leavell, who is the keyboardist and unofficial manager of the Stones. Fran

CHUCK JAMMING WITH MICK JAGGER

If you’re wondering how a legendary keyboardist evolved into an eco-entrepreneur, the answer is simple.

Dream big. 

Chuck Leavell’s curiosity, passion, and ability to listen to his heart, opens up endless possibilities for him. When you couple that with innate talent, hard work, and discipline, you’ve got yourself a winning combination.

One person or experience can alter the course of your life.

When Chuck was 13, he saw Ray Charles performing live and decided to become a professional musician. It was then that he began painting his life with large brush strokes. At the age of 20, Chuck became a member of the original Allman Brothers Band.

He has been the keyboardist and unofficial music director for the Rolling Stones for the last 28 years.

The Rolling Stones

He continues to create magic on his keyboard with the ‘whose who’ of Rock ‘n Roll and Country Music whenever the opportunity arises.

If you’re passionate about what you do, work at it and practice whenever you can.

Frank Liddell of Carnival Records spoke with me about Chuck’s insatiable desire to play music whenever and wherever he can. He mentioned a time when Chuck had just come off tour with the Rolling Stones. How he jumped into his car and drove 6 hours to get to a recording session.

“I’ll be sort of thanking him and he’ll be thanking me. And then he’ll remind me that he wants to play on anything that I have for him. To this day, even during breaks while in the studio, Chuck will sit and play the piano.

Inherently, it’s quite simple. Chuck just wants to play the piano.”

Follow your instincts. Take risks. Turn an obstacle into an opportunity.

Chuck had a life altering experience when he and his wife, Rose Lane, inherited a 2500 acre plantation from her grandmother. In spite of the financial burden they were about to take on, Chuck and Rose Lane felt a responsibility to keep it in the family and become stewards of the land.

Similar to when he became a professional musician, Chuck followed his instincts, having faith that he would come up with a solution for keeping the plantation financially solvent.

Have faith in your ability to find solutions when swimming in uncharted territory.

After checking out several options, Chuck began studying forestry through correspondence courses. Knowing next to nothing, he attended seminars and networked with other farmers. Experimented and worked endless hours on his land.

Chuck eventually becoming a highly respected tree farmer and won numerous awards. He now uses his clout to lobby for conservation issues on Capitol Hill.

Saying ‘yes’ to a calculated risk is the first step in creating or doing something extraordinary.

Chuck’s latest act is the creation of Mother Nature Network, an online venture, that he co-founded 3 years ago. His friend, Joel Babbit, a public relations and advertising whiz approached Chuck about developing an environmental site that would be a ‘one stop shopping source for consumers.’

Joel told Chuck that he would resign his job immediately if Chuck came on board with him. Chuck responded with a resounding ‘yes’.

Today MNN is a global brand, ranks as the world’s most visited, for-profit environmental site. It had 33 million page views in first quarter ‘12, and averages 3.2 million unique visitors a month. It’s the everyman’s guide and over 70% of the content is original.  MNN’s mission is to provide the most accurate, unbiased news and information available.

“My generation has known Chuck as a great musician, but future generations will know him for his role as a leading conservationist. Not only is Chuck a spokesman for stewardship, he’s practicing it every day.” Sonny Perdue, Governor of Georgia

Following your heart and stretching yourself are elements for living a life filled with joy and meaning.

Chuck’s new blues/jazz tribute CD, Back to the Woods, features special guests Keith Richards and John Mayer, and pays homage to the often forgotten pioneering blues piano artists that influenced Chuck growing up in Alabama.

No doubt that we’ll be hearing alot more about Chuck Leavell in the coming years. He’s a verb: constantly in motion, taking risks, filled with boundless energy and the desire to effect change in the world.

Chuck is always listening, not only to the music he creates and plays, but to the land, forest, to other human beings and to what is sorely lacking and needed on the universe.

CHUCK CREATING MAGIC AT THE ALLMAN BROTHER’S 40TH REUNION