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The Busiest Musician in Town
Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: 2017/05 - May
When I researched Lee Ladensack’s background for an entertainment feature, I unearthed as many astounding art credits as music.
Turns out he’s a true Renaissance man who, on top of managing two powerhouse jobs, is a devoted dad and one of the busiest musicians in town with over 160 music gigs booked this year and counting.
During the week he runs Exposed Images, a graphic design, web development, search engine optimization, copywriting, and photography business serving the area and well beyond. Check out exposedimages.com.
On the weekends he performs in a variety of ensembles lucky enough to call him a member, among them Hurricane Creek and High Five. He performs every Sunday morning in the Highlands United Methodist Church’s 9:09 Bluegrass Band and the Whiteside Cove Church Summer Chapel Band from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
How did he get started in art and music? At 11 he wanted to play the drums so his practice pad was his constant companion. But his teacher had enough perididdling in class, so she confiscated the pad.
His dad bought him a quieter instrument, a trumpet. Did I say quieter? During his stint in the Navy Band (he graduated from the Naval School of Music) he was the official bugler of morning reveille and picked up several other instruments as well.
He became skilled at guitar at 16 and says, “I learned the key to wooing the fairer sex was guitar-playing and song-writing.” As for drawing, his parents got him the obligatory pencil set as a kid. Drawing comic book characters and landscape illustration were his passion.
Clearly music and art were imbedded in his psyche early on. They remain the foundation on which he built a successful and enviable career, doing the things he loves.
