Here’s what they’re saying about David Leaf

“David Leaf is a trusted friend, talented director, conceptualist and visionary. I find him extremely inspiring as a person of conscience and fair play.  I look forward to the day when we begin production on the dramatic series and documentaries we're developing.”

 Brian Hardgroove/Public Enemy / Audio Rhythm Theory

“It isn’t every day that you meet someone as talented nor as wonderful to have for a working partner as David. He is a gifted writer and a willing collaborator, with a unique voice and rapier wit. Always open to new challenges and a delight to have as a producing partner, David met his first foray in the world of animation with all the spirit and understanding you would expect from long time professionals in the industry. He is a joy to work with and I hope we will continue to collaborate for years to come.

Charlene Kelly, Producer “Next Gen,” Consulting Producer - Bidaya Media

David’s ability to bring a story to life has been an essential ingredient of the success of the NAMM TEC Awards. These stories are about the dedicated and talented industry professionals behind some of the greatest breakthroughs in music technology; which when put in an artist hands, have become the soundtrack of our lives.

 Joe Lamond, President & CEO, NAMM

“David Leaf knows story-telling and music like few others. He possesses the rarest kind of talent — he’ll shine a light on the great works of the past, while also creating new works of magic and soul himself. I first discovered him as a brilliant champion and archivist of The Beach Boys, and later as a filmmaker and teacher who stirred hearts with a cherished blend of emotional truth and pure love of culture. It’s always a pleasure to raise a flag high for the great David Leaf.”

Cameron Crowe, award-winning writer/director of “Almost Famous,” “Fast Times At Ridgemont High,” et al

"David Leaf has been at the forefront of some of the most important stories in popular music. In the over the 20 years I’ve known him I’ve found him to be a great chronicler of how culture shapes our world. His love and knowledge for the music come through his storytelling every time. I’m always excited to see what he’s making next." 

Academy Award winning director Morgan Neville

“For over thirty years, I’ve trusted David Leaf with my music and my story. The 2001 Radio City tribute to me was a highlight of my career. And ‘Beautiful Dreamer.’ his SMiLE film, was one of the reasons I was able to finally finish the record. And establishing a scholarship at UCLA in my honor? Wow. He’s a true friend and a brilliant writer and director and producer.”

Brian Wilson

David Leaf is like an explorer who takes us along on his voyage to new discoveries. He’s a master storyteller, whether he’s writing or doing a documentary on John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, Brian Wilson, or the Bee Gees, he’s going to show you something essential and much that you never knew. There’s a big difference between being entertained and a emotional experience. He will always give you something of substance while entertaining you all day long.

Dion, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist

“David Leaf is quite simply the best at what he does. No one is more knowledgeable about music and pop culture. His writing, producing skills are superb.”

Ted Harbert, former Chairman NBC, President and CEO of Comcast, Chairman ABC-TV Entertainment

I credit David Leaf with much of the resurgence of interest in Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, among other things. His book from 40 years ago, The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson and the California Myth as the first and best explanation and analysis of exactly what happened to Brian, the myth of "SMiLE" and all the other 'inside' information the fans take for granted today. They have David Leaf to thank for most of it.

David Leaf is also a professor at UCLA, whose class, The Reel Beatles" is an incredible course dealing with The Beatles on film, and having been a guest speaker at his class, I can attest to how fascinating it is to watch David and his audience of rapt students. He has has also made incredible documentaries about artists such as John Lennon, James Brown, The Beatles,  Bee Gees and so many more."  

Elliot Easton, The Cars, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee in 2018

“A lot of people we work with have a love of music that sets them apart, but fewer have a respect that truly makes them unique. David Is one of those people, and also one of the few music writers and producers who can go B Side with me and David Wild and often come out on top. Plus the fact, he's a delight to work with.” 

Ken Ehrlich, Producer, The Grammy Awards,1980-2020

“David is thoughtful and thorough and is incredibly smart with real authenticity.” 

Lenny Waronker, Producer/President of Warner Brothers Records

During the past 10 years I’ve developed a great friendship & partnership with David Leaf Productions. I appreciate David’s attention to detail & creative approach to all of his work. Whether he’s in the role of writer, director or producer, he always delivers a top shelf program.

Dan Hamby, Managing Director, HDS

David's talents extend far beyond his obvious gifts as a documentary filmmaker ("The U.S. Vs. John Lennon", "The Night James Brown Saved Boston", and many more).  He's a wonderful writer whose career has spanned everything from tv comedy to numerous awards shows and specials to authorized and highly respected biographies of musical icons The Bee Gees and Brian Wilson. And his unmatched show-biz knowledge and experience - not to mention his terrific sense of humor and his skills as a storyteller - make him an ideal interviewer, guest speaker, or friend to join for lunch."

Jeff Reno, Emmy Award winning Writer/Producer, “Moonlighting,” “The West Wing,” “Duckman.”

When it comes to music and pop culture, David is one of the most intelligent, knowledgeable, and (quietly) passionate people I know. On the many television shows we have worked on together, I’ve seen that no task fazes him and he always comes through -- with better than you expected results. As well as a music/pop culture scholar, he’s a fan and that’s a combination that’s hard to beat. On top of everything, in this all too cynical world, he’s a nice guy!

Paul Flattery, Producer, “The Billboard Awards,” “The Kid’s Choice Awards” and “The Creative Arts Emmy Awards.”

“I’ve been in the music business for decades, and David Leaf is one of the good ones. His rock documentaries, tributes and retrospectives are classics. Artists and managers trust him because he always makes the film he says he’s going to…full of his passion for music. In important ways, the stories he tells changes the way we think about artists we already love or turns us into big fans of artists we didn’t know.”

Susan Markheim – Manager, Full Stop Management.

"As a creator, director, producer, writer and educator myself  and without reservation, it gives me great pleasure to tell you about my friend, David Leaf. No matter what genre he chooses to work in, David knows how to beautifully tell a story that resonates with audiences everywhere. Having had first-hand experience working with David over these many years and speaking several times in his classroom at UCLA, I can personaly attest to his many skills in the entertainment industry! As an interviewer, David’s incredible. He always gets his ‘subjects’ to tell important stories we have never heard before. To sum up in a few words, David is always prepared and knows what he’s talking about. If you ever get the opportunity to meet or work with David you are one of the lucky ones like me!”

Steve Binder, Emmy Award winning Writer/Director/Producer

David hits from both sides of the plate and is a utility player as well. Working with David is always a pleasure and you know whatever needs to needs to be done will be done with excellence and creativity. Writing, Directing, Producing, solving the insolvable. 

Robert Finkelstein, Co -Chairman of Frank Sinatra Enterprises.

“As a director, as a consultant, as a writer, as an event host, David Leaf is just great to work with. Everything we do together is a winner.”  

Richard Foos, Co-Founder of Shout! Factory and Co-Founder, Rhino Records

“I had the great pleasure of being introduced to David Leaf when I was the senior director of Paul McCartney’s MPL Communications. I collaborated with David a great deal over the years including securing the long-awaited McCartney, Brian Wilson duet on Brian’s 2004 release “Getting’ In Over My Head”. David has firmly established himself as an industry leader as a music historian, author, writer, producer and director”.

Bill Porricelli, Executive Vice President, Your Networks

I’ve worked with David Leaf for many years on a variety of high profile projects, and have found him to be one of the most inventive, thoughtful, reliable and creative people I’ve ever met. He’s a consummate storyteller, who has worked with numerous legendary artists. I can’t recommend him more highly.

Jeff Gold, Record Industry executive

David Leaf is a virtual encyclopedia of entertainment, past and present. His professional pedigree is only matched by his heartfelt humanity and ability to communicate a story, which is honest, factual and elicits emotion. He always puts together an A-List team to deliver the message on-time and on-budget.  For David, it’s not just a job…it’s his passion.

Kevin Gershan, Producer/Director, “Entertainment Tonight”

I worked with David Leaf on two terrific feature documentaries, THE U.S. VS JOHN LENNON and THE NIGHT JAMES BROWN SAVED BOSTON. He was a pleasure to work with – a true collaborator – and has a knack for making music history come alive with passion and relevance to our changing times. He understands more than many directors the cultural context of the stories he tells, and his documentaries showcase the power of music to shape our lives. I look back on those projects with fondness for the creative partnership we built together.

Brad Abramson, VP, Documentaries and Indie Films, A&E Network

Working with David Leaf is always a dream. He is one of the kindest, most knowledgeable and funny people I know, and he always makes you feel appreciated, respected and listened to. There is no one I know who is more versed in rock music history and musicians than David, and anyone would be lucky to have him as a director/producing partner/mentor on virtually any project.’ 

Amanda Raymond, Writer/Director/Exec Producuder, Netflix’s “You Are My Home.”

Beyond being a wonderful person to be with, to talk with, to work with, beyond the depth of his knowledge about the world of popular music, there
is in David’s work a joy, a love and passion for the music  of our time. In the James Brown piece, the Lennon film, his work on Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, Nilsson, and others, there is his drive to grapple with the complexities of life and come out with a kind of truth—not necessarily a simple one. 

While telling the tale, his ability to analyze the impact of a creator’s work on the world at large is what makes his work resonate. It’s a gift, it’s a wonder and it makes great entertainment.

Paul Justman, award-winning director of “Standing In The Shadows of Motown”

“In my world, trust is paramount. David Leaf is a writer/producer/director who has earned the trust of artists and producers. Leaf has enormous respect for authenticity and art, and knows how to fashion stories that resonate. I'm a fan of his work.”

Jeff Jampol, JAM Inc. & The Doors Music Co.

“SMILE.” in its most evolved form, would not have been an album reality were it not for the pivotal gifts of impresario David Leaf to ignite the multi-media campaign. It took diplomacy, tireless vision, and the ability to bring others together in reframing my constitution—with the success of sincerity and conviction. Hat’s off, David. Crows will always cry over cornfields…..and I now have nothing to cry about.” 

Van Dyke Parks, Recording Artist, Lyricist

David is one of the most knowledgeable, kind, creative and professional talents that I have ever worked with. I can’t imagine not knowing him or having such a great partner in my productions. In the words of Tina Turner… He is simply the best!

Pete Johnston, Producer, “The NAMM Tec Awards.”

David Leaf is one of the most well-respected and well-known film, television and music creatives in our industry over for the past several decades.  His presence on a project instills confidence on the set or in the studio driven by an invigorating freshness and creativity that he is known for.  

On the film side, David has been the force behind incredible films about James Brown, John Lennon, Brian Wilson, The Bee Gees…on the television side, David has produced terrific pieces on Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra, Norman Lear, Jonathan Winters, the Marx Brothers and so many more and on the music side David’s work on the Grammy nominated ‘The Pet Sounds Sessions’ box set created the template for how to contextualize great art. 

And on top of all of that, he’s a remarkable professor and mentor at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.  When does he sleep?

Joe D’Ambrosio, Music Manager

"So you think you want to be a rock ‘n’ roll documentarian? May I suggest the ground floor flash point of the filmic expedition should begin with essential viewings of David Leaf’s revealing celluloid portraits of Brian Wilson, James Brown, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, and his marvelous You Can’t Do That: The Making of a Hard Day’s Night. And, your book shelf should display his terrific tomes on the Bee Gees and the Beach Boys.”  

Harvey Kubernik, award-winning rock historian & author

“It is not an exaggeration to say that David Leaf's book, The Beach Boys and the California Myth, is one of the most influential popular culture books ever written. Deeply reported and composed with the power of a cultural document, Leaf's first book, published when he was in his mid-twenties, was more than riveting. It transformed Wilson's reputation from sunny surfer boy to an overlooked musical genius, and served as a call to action for a new generation of writers and musicians, some of whom would become a part of Wilson's personal and creative resurgence. Indeed, when I worked on my own book about Wilson, (Catch A Wave, 2006) I learned that the one thing I had in common with key band members Darian Sahanaja, Probyn Gregory and others, was that we had all read The Beach Boys and the California Myth as teenagers. Such is the power of David Leaf's writing. Clear-eyed, probing and compassionate, his words enrapture and inspire. I can't think of many other writers who have even come close.” 

Peter Ames Carlin - author of Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall and Redemption of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson, Bruce, the biography of Bruce Springsteen and Sonic Boom: The Impossible Rise of Warner Bros Records, published in January, 2021.

David Leaf is one of the industry's 'beautiful dreamers'. David and I had a big dream that took us seven years to realize, but when we did, it was stunning. It was David's deep relationship with Brian Wilson that drove the conception and production of "An All Star Tribute to Brian Wilson at Radio City". With David's producing and writing skills, along with Phil Ramone's world of music, we were able to enlist ELTON JOHN, BILLY JOEL, PAUL SIMON and an amazing cast to honor the genius that is Brian Wilson. 

 Chip Rachlin, Music Industry Veteran and Producer of "An All Star Tribute to Brian Wilson” at Radio City Music Hall.