Photo: Wilson Bilkovich / CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Leslie West was credited as a singer, guitarist and songwriter. Born on October 22, 1945, Leslie West was from New York City, New York, United States. Death is recorded on December 23, 2020, at the age of 75. Education on record includes Forest Hills High School.
My Take
Leslie West was one of those guitarists who made you feel the weight of every note — a big man with an even bigger sound. His work with Mountain is the stuff of hard rock legend; "Mississippi Queen" is one of those riffs that's burned into the DNA of anyone who grew up on classic rock radio, and his tone on that song alone should earn him eternal respect. He came out of Queens, New York, went to Forest Hills High School — same school that produced the Ramones, which tells you something about the neighborhood — and carved out a style that sat somewhere between blues grit and hard rock swagger. Rolling Stone eventually ranked him among the greatest guitarists ever, and honestly, it felt overdue. He passed away in December 2020, but that raw, bluesy roar he conjured from a Les Paul doesn't get old.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Leslie West
- Name (Japanese)
- レスリー・ウェスト
- Reading
- れすりー・うぇすと
- Born
- October 22, 1945 – December 23, 2020
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Rooster
- Origin
- New York City, New York, United States
- Occupation
- singer / guitarist / songwriter / musician
2. Background
- High school
- Forest Hills High School
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Leslie West born?
Born October 22, 1945.
When did Leslie West die?
Died December 23, 2020, aged 75.
Where was Leslie West from?
Leslie West was from New York City, New York, United States.
What did Leslie West do?
Leslie West worked as singer, guitarist, songwriter, musician.
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