Leo Nocentelli (born June 15, 1946)[1] is an American musician and songwriter best known as a founding member and lead guitarist of the funk band the Meters.

He wrote the original versions of several funk classics such as "Cissy Strut" and "Hey Pocky A-Way".

As a session musician he has recorded with a variety of notable artists such as Dr. John, Robert Palmer and Etta James.

At age seventeen he did session work for Motown acts including the Supremes, Temptations, and Spinners.

By 1968 the band consisted of four members: Nocentelli, Art Neville, George Porter, and Ziggy Modeliste.

[1][5] Nocentelli said his bandmates were his biggest influence and called his experience up to this point in time the learning phase of his career.

[8][9] The commercial success of "Cissy Strut" became an impetus for the band's subsequent recording career as the Meters.

[12]: 2  Though the band gained notoriety in the music community, the lack of commercial success along with managerial and artistic factors gave way to their disbandment in late 1970s.

[9] The same year Nocentelli, Neville, and Porter formed The Funky Meters with Russell Batiste on drums.

The Meter Men are Nocentelli, Porter, and Modeliste with Page McConnell on keyboards; variations included keyboardists Rich Vogel, John Gros, and drummer Russell Batiste.

[12][21] The Meters Experience is Nocentelli in various quartets with Bernie Worrell, Bill Dickens, Oteil Burbridge, Al Di Meola, Jason Crosby, George Laks, Albert Margolis, Jamal Batiste, Ricky Cortez, Felix Pollard, and others.

[11] In addition to live performance and session work, songwriting was a significant part of Nocentelli's contribution.