Leon Brady

Founder / Musical Director

Leon A. Brady, Musical Director of Kansas City Youth Jazz, is an educator and professional percussionist. Mr. Brady earned his Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Music Education from Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN. He arrived in Kansas City in 1957 to teach at Northeast Junior High in Kansas City, KS. Later, he taught band, marching band, orchestra and jazz band at the old Sumner High School, earning many awards for excellence. From 1976 to 2000, he owned and operated Brady & Sons Music Company & Studio in Kansas City, KS. In 2000, Mr. Brady closed the retail store to spend more time teaching. He currently instructs 35 percussion students, both privately and in groups. He has developed a unique program for drum set students as young as four-years-old. Mr. Brady has also performed with many national and international musicians throughout his professional percussion career. While serving in the US Air Force, he performed regularly with John Williams and Frank Hitner, and later toured and recorded with Ray Charles. He has also performed with Max Roach, Clark Terry, George Salisbury, Marilyn Maye, Grover Washington, Carmel Jones, George Duke, John Park and many others. The Kansas City Youth Jazz program is Mr. Brady’s legacy – to preserve and pass on jazz in Kansas City and to teach life skills through music education with classes, rehearsals and performances.