[3] In his early twenties, Leon formed a power trio called Suite 19 as lead guitarist and vocalist, a band which included future Great White/Dokken drummer Gary Holland.
[5][3] Lee described Leon as "a little Eddie Van Halen" and said Suite 19's music sounded like "a heavier version of T. Rex and Slade".
[3] When Randy Rhoads left Quiet Riot to record with Ozzy Osbourne in 1979, Leon was hired as his replacement and Suite 19 were no more.
After being rejected by record labels who were more interested in new wave bands, Leon left Dokken and was replaced by George Lynch.
[5] During this period, Leon also moonlighted as a guitar teacher at Musonia music school in Burbank, owned and operated by the family of Randy Rhoads.
The pair attended the farewell gig of a popular local band called London, and Lee became obsessed with their bassist, Nikki Sixx.