Leonard "Doc" Gibbs

Doc Gibbs is Master Percussionist

Doc Gibbs is one of the most sought after percussionists in the music industry today. Whether he's recording, touring or kickin' it up a notch with Emeril Lagasse. Doc musically operates on an audience with funky rhythms and with his vast assortment of traditional and unusual percussion instruments.

Doc received his so-called "Doc"-torate from the late, legendary jazz saxophonist, Grover Washington, Jr. While recording Grover's Live at the Bijou album in 1976, Grover acknowledged Doc for prescribing an herbal remedy for a nasty cold that Grover was suffering from the night before taping. Over night, Leonard Gibbs became Doc when Grover announced to his audience, "There are two doctors in Philly Dr.J (of the 76ers) and Doctor Gibbs". A nickname that appropriately describes a musician who truly performs with the precision of a surgeon.

Doc's love of hand drums and percussion instruments began in the early seventies, when he left the Pennsylvania Academy of Fines Art to pursue his real dream - a career as a master percussionist. Early in his career, Doc immediately caught the attention of the music industry's top artists, to include George Benson, Nancy Wilson, Bob James, Al Jarreau and Anita Baker, to name a few. Most recently, Doc's percussive reputation has placed him in the studio with Wyclef Jean, Erykah Badu, Eric Benet and hot R&B producer, James Poyser, among others.

BAM!!! The icing on the cake for Doc came in 1997, when he became the musical director for Emeril Live! -- The hottest cooking show on the cable Food Network (TVFN). Doc has been beating it up to a Manhattan television studio to add his funky flavors of hand drums and signature percussion instruments for a little extra spice into the pots of cooking guru, Emeril Lagasse.

"Doc has brought a new dimension to solidifying an element to the show a relationship, a sound, a movement."
-Emeril Lagasse, "The Making of Emeril" TV Special (TVFN)

Doc is also an elected member of the Board of Governors of N.A.R.A.S. (National Association of Recording Artists and Sciences), Philadelphia chapter.

He performs drum workshops for children with Young Audiences of Eastern Pennsylvania and the Strings for Schools Organizations.

His new album, "Servin' It Up! Hot!", will be nationally released in June 2002.