Sea Level

Biography

Sea Level was an American Southern rock, jazz fusion, and funk band formed in Macon, Georgia, in 1976 as an offshoot of the Allman Brothers Band. Originally known as the trio 'We Three'—consisting of pianist/keyboardist/vocalist Chuck Leavell, bassist Lamar Williams, and drummer Jaimoe (Jai Johanny Johanson)—the group began opening shows for the Allmans in 1975-1976 amid the parent band's internal tensions and eventual breakup. After Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts departed, the trio added guitarist Jimmy Nalls, adopting the name Sea Level as a phonetic pun on Leavell's surname ('C. Leavell'), and signed with Capricorn Records to release their self-titled debut album in 1977, blending jazz, blues, rock, and funk in extended jam-oriented tracks.[1][2][5][6]

The band expanded into a larger ensemble for subsequent releases, incorporating guitarist Davis Causey, saxophonist/keyboardist/vocalist Randall Bramblett, and others like drummer George Weaver, evolving their sound toward yacht rock influences with hits like 'That's Your Secret' reaching #50 on the Billboard Hot 100 from the 1978 album Cats on the Coast. Lineup changes continued, with Jaimoe and Weaver departing before On the Edge (1978), Joe English joining for Long Walk on a Short Pier (1979), and Matt Greeley for their final Arista album Ball Room (1980). Despite relentless touring and five albums, shifting tastes away from Southern rock led to commercial struggles, culminating in the band's dissolution by 1981.[1][2][3]

Sea Level's legacy endures through its members' later careers, particularly Leavell, who became a renowned session musician and touring keyboardist with Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones, occasionally revisiting Sea Level material in solo work like Forever Blue and Southscape. The band is remembered as a proficient 'jam band' precursor, emphasizing crisp musicianship and genre fusion, with a greatest hits compilation preserving their output alongside Southern rock compilations.[1][3]

Fun Facts

• The band's name 'Sea Level' originated as a phonetic pun on bandleader Chuck Leavell's name, pronounced by his family as 'C. Level'.[1][2]
• Their 1978 track 'That's Your Secret' from Cats on the Coast peaked at #50 on the Billboard Hot 100, their only notable chart entry amid shifting Southern rock popularity.[1]
• Sea Level's final album Ball Room (1980) was recorded outside Capricorn Studios for the first time, at Axis Sound and Web IV Studios, and drummer Joe English (ex-Wings) joined mid-run.[2]
• Guitarist Jimmy Nalls, a key original member, passed away from Parkinson’s disease on June 22, 2017.[1]

Members

• George Weaver - drums (drum set) (from 1977 until 1978)
• Davis Causey - guitar (from 1977 until 1980)
• Randall Bramblett
• Matt Greeley
• Chuck Leavell
• Jimmy Nalls
• Lamar Williams
• Joe English
• Jai Johanny Johanson - original

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Allman Brothers Band - Parent band from which core members originated, providing foundational experience and initial platform (Opened shows as 'We Three' in 1975-1976; recorded at Capricorn Sound Studios) [1975-1976]

Key Collaborators

• Chuck Leavell - Bandleader, pianist/keyboardist/vocalist, core founding member (All five albums (1977-1980)) [1976-1981]
• Lamar Williams - Bassist, core founding member from Allman Brothers (All five albums (1977-1980)) [1976-1981]
• Jaimoe (Jai Johanny Johanson) - Drummer, core founding member from Allman Brothers (Debut album and early tours (1977-1978)) [1976-1978]
• Jimmy Nalls - Guitarist, joined as fourth member (All five albums (1977-1980)) [1976-1981]
• Randall Bramblett - Saxophones/keyboardist/vocalist, expanded lineup (Cats on the Coast, On the Edge, Long Walk on a Short Pier, Ball Room (1978-1980)) [1978-1981]
• Davis Causey - Guitarist, expanded lineup (Cats on the Coast, On the Edge, Long Walk on a Short Pier, Ball Room (1978-1980)) [1978-1981]

Artists Influenced

• Chuck Leavell - Revived Sea Level songs in solo career as session/touring musician (Forever Blue (solo versions of 'Whole Lotta Colada' and 'Song for Amy'), Southscape) [1998 onward]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #jazz, #jazz-rock, #southern-rock