2019 Stump Entrepreneurship Lecture

Grammy winner and world-renowned rock keyboardist Chuck Leavell of the Rolling Stones has spent his life performing with famous artists. But in addition to playing keys, he’s also hugging trees.

Leavell—who will deliver the college’s 2019 Stump Entrepreneurship Lecture on “Natural Resource Stewardship and Partnerships” on Thursday, March 14—has been one of the most sought-after musicians in rock and roll. Along with traveling with the Rolling Stones for more than 25 years (he’ll join their “No Filter” tour in April), he has also recorded and performed with Eric Clapton, the Allman Brothers Band, John Mayer, and George Harrison, among others.

But his accomplishments as a conservationist and tree farmer are just as impressive.

Leavell studied forestry by correspondence—doing much of his homework while riding a tour bus with the Fabulous Thunderbirds in the 1980s—and turned his wife’s 2,500-acre farm near Macon, Ga., into a nature preserve and model tree farm enterprise. Charlane Plantation has been recognized by conservation organizations including the National Arbor Day Foundation, the Georgia’s Conservancy, the Future Farmers of America, and more.

He has written books about his botanical passion, including Forever Green: The History and Hope of the American Forest, and a children’s book, The Tree Farmer. His autobiography, Between Rock and a Home Place, was published in 2005 and has been praised as one of the best rock autobiographies ever published.

The Stump Entrepreneurship Lecture is part of the Birmingham-Southern Entrepreneurship Program, endowed by BSC graduates Jane and Kevin Stump of Birmingham. Students who have earned the title of Stump Scholars will also spend time meeting with Leavell prior to his public talk.