From his obituaries, November 2006
Veteran production manager-and occasional road manager for Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Santana, George Benson, Herbie Hancock, and Flora Purim and Airto-died on Nov. 6 at the age of 53.
Born in Newark, N.J. on Aug. 1, 1953, Gambacorta attended Wilkes College in PA and went to graduate school at Brooklyn College. He taught at John Jay College, where he met Gus Fleming, who introduced him to the world of stage production; Leo especially loved theater lighting design. He was the production manager at the Joyce Theater for two years before becoming a freelance production manager. Towards the end of his life, he became the Production Manager for Carnegie Hall.
Leo joined the Carnegie Hall staff in August 2001, but his association with Carnegie Hall predated his employment here by many years. A legend in the concert production field, he worked often at the Hall during the previous decades as production manager for the JVC Jazz Festival and for many leading artists and ensembles, particularly in jazz and pop music. As Production Manager for Carnegie Hall, Leo brought the knowledge and discipline of a seasoned professional. Moreover, he fostered and furthered a team spirit, engendering the respect for all. He also brought a special sense of humor to his job, which helped to manage challenges to ensure the best outcomes. Everyone who knew Leo valued his contribution as a human being as well as a great professional.
| Credit Type | Production | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting Designer | The Connection | 1980-81 Season |
| Lighting Designer | December 7th | 1985-86 Season |