Washboard Chaz, aka Chaz Leary, is one of New Orleans’ most beloved adopted musical sons, a consummate musician who delights crowds with his engaging voice and percussion prowess as part of the Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, the Tin Men, the Palmetto Bug Stompers, Washboard Rodeo, and with Glenn Hartmann and Earth Tone. Leary specializes in acoustic country blues, traditional jazz, and folk styles, although he can master just about any form. He hailed from New York, but spent many years in the burgeoning folk and bluegrass scene in and near Boulder, Colorado (including a stint as mayor of the tiny mining hamlet of Gold Hill), where he performed with Bleecker Street, the Ophelia Swing Band, Mollie O’Brien, BBQ Bob, and others.

Leary has recently been featured along with Keith Richards, Keb Mo, and Bill Kreutzmann as part of the Playing for Change project, connecting musicians around the world. In addition to albums made with his own bands, Leary has performed on over 100 recordings, including John Hammond’s Grammy-nominated “Long as I Have You.” He has performed around the world and is a festival favorite at home and abroad. He has appeared in several movies, including Werner Herzog’s “The Bad Lieutenant” with Nicholas Cage, and in all four seasons of the HBO hit series “Treme.” When he is not on stage or writing songs, he can be found in the recording studio, or teaching percussion at various workshops around the country.