Leon Ford Atkinson, 75

Leon Ford Atkinson was born on Sept. 15, 1946, of AEnid Atkinson and Albert Atkinson, at Columbia Presbyterian hospital in New York City.

Leon was the middle child, born after Lyle (deceased), and before Marilyn. Leon, always the outspoken one, started voicing his opinion at an early age, even if it wasn’t asked for. He took a stand defiantly against anyone for what he stood for and believed in. He would tell his mother and father what he was and wasn’t going to do and readily accepted his punishment for disobeying them. He was that way his entire life.

Born into a performing and musical family, Leon was destined to become the performer he turned out to be. His mother was a talented concert pianist, his father an accomplished jazz bass player, his older brother a world renowned bass player, and his sister a professional dancer with her own dancing school and company. The three Atkinson children were the first African-American siblings to perform together in an act named Two Virgos and a Libra at Town Hall, in the early '70s in New York City. Leon started playing the violin at the age of three, then the bass, and finally the guitar.

Leon went to the renowned Performing Arts high school, which was the school featured in the movie "Fame" and was in the same class as Liza Minnelli, and Glen Turner. During high school, knowing full well it was against the rules, he started gigging down in Greenwich Village at local nite clubs. After high school he was accepted as one of the legendary Andres Segovia’s students in Spain and traveled there to further learning his craft. He then went on to play for and with several well known celebrities such as Harry Belefonte and Nina Simone. Leon performed in the orchestra of multiple Broadway shows, such as "Promises Promises," and at private concerts around the world.

Leon started to feel the drain of city life and in 1973 he went on a cross country drive with a friend. They stumbled upon a small town called Sandpoint, Idaho, and he instantly fell in love. He bought land in Upper Gold Creek and never looked back.

Leon felt great peace and connection with nature and could often be found tinkering on various home repair or vehicle projects on his properties. His lifelong labor of love was undeniably his home that he built from the ground up with his own two hands. Many of his closest friends and family referred to this home as “The Big House” or the “Seven Sided Colossus”. Some of Leon’s most cherished memories were made in that space, nestled between the pine trees and two beautiful ponds. Along with his connection to nature, Leon was esteemed as an avid animal lover and found companionship with many horses and faithful dogs throughout his years.

In his time in the Pacific Northwest Leon taught at multiple colleges including Whitworth and Gonzaga, founded the Fall Fest music festival at Schweitzer, founded and co-hosted The Guitar Hour on KPBX. He founded Friends of the Guitar Hour, had multiple concerts throughout Sandpoint at the Panida Theater, the Jacklin Arts Center in Post Falls, and the various theaters and performance spaces in Spokane. Leon conducted master classes from here to Montana and beyond. His talents were undeniable. He was a firm, but nurturing instructor and loved by all of his students leaving behind a legacy that will be hard to replace. The name Leon Atkinson is well known in the guitar world and his musical impact will be ongoing.

Leon, a loving father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, left this realm and crossed over at 4:58 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2022; 14 days shy of his 76th birthday. Leon, leaves behind his sister Marilyn, his nephews David and Kalik, his daughters Kimberly, Jessica, Aimee, and Estrella, his grandchildren Justin, Maddison, Tiana, Dominic, Adonijah, Arya, Hezion, Neveah, and Kaleb; along with a multitude of cousins, extended family and friends around the world.

Funeral service for Leon will be held Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center in Post Falls, Idaho, at 11 a.m.