Leon Bates was born in Philadelphia, where by the age of six he had excelled in the study of music, specifically at playing the piano and violin.
He also was a student of Natalie Hinderas at the Esther Boyer College of Music at Temple University in Philadelphia.
[1] While growing up, Leon Bates divided his time between two disparate passions: the pursuit of music and the physically demanding sport of body building.
In the United States, he has performed with both Philadelphia and Cleveland Orchestras, as well as New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics.
He has also composed prominent pieces of music with the accompaniment of Janet Vogt for a method book entitled Piano Discoveries.