The Rolling Stones’ keyboardist Chuck Leavell is both a maestro of the keys and savior of the trees.

He appears tomorrow night at The Melting Point, courtesy of the University’s Music Business Program.

The show is somewhat nostalgic for Leavell.

“I have a deep history of playing Athens … with The Allman Brothers at the coliseum, Sea Level’s first gig at The Last Resort, several shows at the Georgia Theatre including a live CD with Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit, Widespread’s [Live in the Classic City] and other gigs,” he said.

Leavell traces his first key strokes as far back as age six or seven.

“My mother was my first inspiration . I used to tug on her skirt and ask her to play, and she would usually oblige if she wasn’t too busy,” he said.

At age 12 he learned to play guitar from his cousin, but his gravitation toward the keyboard was simply a matter of personal preference.

“At that point, I was listening to a lot of different things: British Invasion, R&B, soul, gospel, rock ‘n’ roll and other styles, so I was influenced by all of that,” he said.

Leavell preserves his musical talents through frequent touring while also helping to preserve something even larger: our planet.

Like his passion for music, his eco-friendly outlook began in his early childhood and developed further during the social revolution of the ’60s.

It wasn’t until Leavell met his wife, Rose Lane, that environmental concerns became a central focus of his life. The couple began tree farming after Rose Lane inherited about 1,000 acres from her late grandmother.

“It became our responsibility to carry on that heritage of stewardship of the land,” he said. “I took it very seriously and started self-educating on land issues.”

In 1999, the Leavells were recognized as the National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year by the American Forest Foundation and have received numerous other recognitions for their environmental efforts through the years.

Leavell and his wife also have a close relationship with and sponsor a scholarship for the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources here at the University.