Grammy-winning jazz drummer Lawrence 'Lo' Leathers dies in New York. Lansing native was 37

LANSING -- An accomplished jazz musician who grew up in Lansing and won two Grammy Awards has passed away.

Lawrence "Lo" Leathers was found dead by police late Sunday morning in the Bronx, New York, said Rose Cooper, his cousin. He was 37.

Cooper said police discovered Leathers' body in the hallway of an apartment building near a stairwell. It was unclear Monday if Leathers was familiar with the building, she said. 

"We don't have a lot of details," Cooper said. "There's an investigation regarding the circumstances behind that." 

Family members are hopeful officials will determine the cause of Leathers' death later this week, Cooper said. 

Leathers was born Nov. 23, 1981, in Lansing and took an interest in playing drums as a child. 

He was a graduate of Sexton High School and attended classes at Michigan State University's School of Music and the Julliard School in New York. 

Leathers won two Grammy Awards as a member of the Aaron Diehl Trio. 

He also performed as a featured artist at Small's Jazz Club in New York and served as a guest drummer on "Harry," Harry Connick Jr.'s talk show.

"He had such a meteoric rise ahead of him," Cooper said of her cousin. "That's what hurts the most to us. The world really doesn't know what it just lost."

Leathers grew up in Lansing with a "no quit personality" that helped him defy the odds of becoming a successful musician, said Brandon Leathers, his younger brother. 

Lawrence Leathers decided to leave Julliard after two years of classes so he could pursue a full-time music career. 

"We all felt he was out of his mind when he did that," Brandon Leathers said. "Who quits Julliard? If anything, Julliard cuts you.  

"But he said, 'I'm better than what's here,' and he didn't look back." 

While in New York, Leathers idolized several jazz musicians, including Dizzy Gillespie, Rodney Whitaker and Wynton Marsalis. 

Marsalis served as a mentor and credited Lawrence Leathers for revitalizing swing music in New York, Brandon Leathers said.  

Several musicians intend to participate in a memorial service for his brother, Brandon Leathers said. It's expected to be held later this month in New York. 

Memorials also are expected to held later this year in Lansing and Paris, France, Lawrence Leathers had a second residence in Paris. 

"He was always the type of person that, no matter how successful he became, he would do all he could to give back to his community," Brandon Leathers said. 

Joe Lane, 47, was introduced to Lawrence Leathers' musical aptitude at New Mount Calvary Baptist Church in south Lansing nearly 30 years ago. 

Leathers became fascinated with the drums once he saw Lane play them in a church band. Lane served as Leathers' teacher for several years. 

Leathers earned a spot at Julliard through hard work and a bit of luck. 

Julliard officials accepted Leathers to the school after they heard his drum playing in an audition tape for another musician, Lane said. 

"He was that legit!" Lane said of his former pupil's skills. "I’ve never seen a guy pick up any instrument he wants to play and play it (well) in a week.”

In addition to Cooper and Brandon Leathers, Lawrence Leathers is survived by his father, Moses, and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Leathers was preceded in death by his mother, Carolyn.

Eric Lacy is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at 517-377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLacy.

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