Leon Gardner

1960s-1970s soul artist active in Los Angeles, California.

A dancer and B-3 Hammond organ player, Leon Gardner moved from his home in Texas to Los Angeles sometime in the mid-1960s. It was soon after this that he set up his own Igloo Records (2) label, and a publishing company which he named Shelita after his eldest daughter. After little success, he became frustrated by his lack of recognition and became increasingly more reclusive, which in turn led to a rift between him and his family. After 1974 Gardner seemed to disappear under the radar. Not even his family knew of his whereabouts and it was suggested that he was living somewhere as a recluse. Leon was homeless when he died in 2010.