Leon "Ndugu" Chancler facts for kids

Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (born July 1, 1952 – died February 3, 2018) was an amazing American drummer. He played pop, funk, and jazz music. Ndugu was also a talented composer, a music producer, and even taught at a university.

Life and Music of Ndugu Chancler

Early Life and Passion for Drums

Leon Chancler was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on July 1, 1952. He was the youngest of seven children. In 1960, his family moved to Los Angeles, California.

Ndugu started playing drums when he was thirteen years old. He loved drumming so much that he would tap on his desk in class. Sometimes, he even got sent out of the classroom for it! But he would just keep tapping on the poles in the hallway. This love for drums became his dream for life. He went to Locke High School and later studied music education at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Ndugu's Musical Journey

By the time Ndugu finished college, he had already played with famous jazz artists. He performed with the Gerald Wilson Big Band and Herbie Hancock. He also recorded music with legends like Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Bobby Hutcherson.

Ndugu was a very busy musician, playing drums for many different artists. He played in jazz, blues, and pop songs. One of his most famous drum parts is in Michael Jackson's hit song, "Billie Jean". You can instantly recognize his drumming in that song!

In 1982, Ndugu was nominated for a Grammy Award. This was for co-writing the song "Let It Whip," which was made famous by the Dazz Band. He worked with many other well-known musicians throughout his career. These included George Benson, Stanley Clarke, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Santana, Frank Sinatra, Donna Summer, and Tina Turner.

Later in his career, Ndugu also became a teacher. In 2006, he started teaching jazz studies at the University of Southern California. He also taught at the Stanford Jazz Workshop every summer. In 2020, he was honored by being inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.

Personal Life and Legacy

Ndugu received his special name "Ndugu" from the famous musician Herbie Hancock. "Ndugu" is a word from the Swahili language. It means "earth brother," or a close family member or friend.

Ndugu was very active in his church as he grew up. Many strong men helped guide him after his father passed away when Ndugu was 13. His older brother, Londell, was also a big support and inspiration. Ndugu took care of his mother until she passed away in 1994. He had one son, Rashon Chafic Chancler.

Ndugu Chancler passed away at his home in Los Angeles on February 3, 2018. He was 65 years old. A song called "Home Light" was written by Ernie Watts and Marc Seales and dedicated to him.