Eddie Leonard, born Lemuel Gordon Toney on October 17, 1870, in Richmond, Virginia, was a prominent American vaudevillian and minstrel performer known as "the greatest American minstrel of his day." He began his stage career at the age of 12 and adopted the stage name Eddie Leonard. Leonard was celebrated for his performances in minstrel shows, a popular form of entertainment during his time, and was renowned for songs like "Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider" and "Roly Boly Eyes." His song "Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider" was particularly successful, selling 500,000 copies.

Leonard's career spanned 45 years in vaudeville before the medium declined in the 1920s. He performed in various musical comedies and minstrel shows, including Eddie Leonard's Minstrel Monarchs and the Cohan and Harris Show. In 1910, his salary reached $6,000 a week, a significant sum for the era. Leonard also ventured into film, starring in the 1929 movie "Melody Lane."

Despite his success, Leonard's later years saw him managing a bar and grill in Brooklyn, which eventually closed after six years. He married Mabel Russell, a fellow vaudeville performer, in 1908, and they performed together in vaudeville acts. Leonard passed away on July 28, 1941, in New York City, leaving behind a legacy as a significant figure in early 20th-century American entertainment.