The doc unveils the man (Chuck Leavell) who just might be the “Forest Gump” of classic Rock.
Chuck (piano/keyboards) has toured and recorded with The Rolling Stones, The Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, REM and numerous others (full list below).
The doc features interviews with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, John Mayer, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood, David Gilmore, Bruce Hornsby, Billy Bob Thornton, Dickey Betts, Warren Haynes, Julian Lennon, Charlie Daniels, Chris Robinson, Mike Mills, Pat Monahan, John Popper, and Lee Ann Womack.
Rose Lane, his wife, and their daughter, Amy, feature prominently.
But there’s a twist to this doc: Chuck is an expert tree farmer.
He’s a rocker who happens to be helping to save the planet.
Thanks to Gregg Greenberg (a favorite rocker of mine in Ocean beach) for the tip.
Trailer for Chuck Leavell: The Treeman
Chuck Leavell The Tree Man Trailer from Niche Productions on Vimeo.
Where to Watch Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man
You can watch the doc for free on YouTube here:
Here’s the full set of links to watch Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man:
- YouTube (for free) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSWUpGYNiWw
- Amazon’s Prime Video at https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/0P580ERXVXBW57A2VYZDRNWLDC/
- Apple TV for $.99 at https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/chuck-leavell-the-tree-man/umc.cmc.53v0lq4pzicq8u4eadces8q8d
- Tubi (for free with ads) at https://tubitv.com/movies/592403
- PlutoTV (for free with ads) at https://pluto.tv/en/on-demand/movies/612d3489cb47c00013f1068a
- Plex (for free with ads) at https://watch.plex.tv/movie/chuck-leavell-the-tree-man
- There are rumors (I think one was on Reddit) that Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man will be on Netflix but I can’t find evidence of that.
- Updated streaming options are at https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/chuck-leavell-the-tree-man
Vitals
- Genre: Music, Environmental Activism
- Released: 2020
- Director: Allen Farst
- Narrator: (Not applicable)
- Duration: 104 minutes
My Favorite Parts (Includes Spoiler Alerts!)
- Chuck’s breakout is the piano section of Jessica by the Allman Brothers.
- Bruce Hornsby says Chuck is a master of making each hand so different things on the piano.
- Blues Traveler hires Chuck to play keys on Run Around which goes on to be a huge hit. He does the same on Train’s Drops of Jupiter.
- Bill Graham (whose favorite band is the Allman Brothers) calls and says The Rolling Stones want to audition him. They hire him for their 1982 tour.
- Eric Clapton: “He [Chuck] swings like crazy…that’s not easy…that’s a gift”.
- Mike Mills of REM: “he can play with almost anyone and make them better…and that’s not easy”.
- Chuck’s dual life: Rockstar pianist and passionate conservationist.
- Rolling Stones’ tour… Leavell’s forest calls him home.
- “Music and trees, both need care.” – Chuck Leavell
- Celebrities’ testimonials: Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, President Carter.
- Soundtrack — Songs in this doc include ones from Eric Church (Ain’t Wastin Time cover), Blackberry Smoke (Midnight Rambler cover) and multiple songs from the Rolling Stones.
- Chuck was elected National Tree Farmer of the Year for his tree farm
Bands Chuck Leavell has toured/recorded with: The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, The Allman Brothers, George Harrison, John Mayer, Blues Traveler, REM, Eric Church, The Black Crowes, Train, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Aretha Franklin, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, Chuck Berry, Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels and more.
Thanks for reading!
-Rob Kelly