Steve Sadd

For years, Leo was very active in the Southern California Country Western Music scene. He regularly performed with such artists as Doye O’Dell, Jack McElroy, The Sons of The Pioneers, Charlie Aldrich, The Broome Brothers, Tommy Boyce, and Foreman Phillips.  Leo was a regular performer on the 1950’s weekly television show COUNTY BARN DANCE, which was broadcast live from Baldwin Park - drumming and singing as part of the Foreman Phillips band.  For years Leo did a weekly radio show on KFOX featuring various artists hosted by the very popular Country Music DJ Carl “Squeakin Deacon” Moore. He performed at CORRIGANVILLE Movie Ranch.

His work in the movies started early in his life, with an association with western star William Hart.  He performed in some classic Laurel and Hardy comedies.  He was in the 1967 Jane Fonda / Robert Redford hit film “BAREFOOT IN THE PARK”, appearing as the drummer in the famous “Dinner at the Four Winds” scene.

My Father, Leo Sadd, was a well known drummer based in Los Angeles.  He was an orchestra leader, and performed in films, and on television and radio.  He was a very versatile musician who played all musical styles from jazz, dixieland, to society music and dance music, and even Country and Western.

LEO SADD 1907 – 1969

Leo’s orchestras regularly played many of the famous ballrooms across Southern California. For many years in the 1940’s Leo’s orchestra performed at the famous Rendezvous Ballroom, which was on Crystal Beach in Santa Monica, located on the ocean south of Pico Blvd.  The Rendezvous was HUGE - the “promotional discount ticket” for the Leo Sadd Orchestra offered “free parking for the first 1,000 cars”.   Talk about a “big” dancehall.

Over the years, Leo also recorded music with numerous bands and artists.  In 1961, he recorded with Perez Prado on Perez’s hit album, “ROCK-AMBO”,  which was released on Capital Records (Capital album “LSP-2308).