Lee Greenwood's career stands as a shining example of an American
success story. From his humble beginnings on a farm near Sacramento,
CA., Lee Greenwood has taken his natural talent and achieved world
wide recognition in the entertainment business. Throughout a lifetime
of perfecting his craft in all facets of show business, Greenwood's
rise to super-stardom is the result of a lifelong dedication to
his artistry.
At age 10, Lee Greenwood started honing his musical abilities
on the saxophone, as well as a number of other instruments.
With both parents being musicians for guidance, Greenwood was
quick to acquire the musical and business skills which would
prove necessary for life as an entertainer.
Lee Greenwood formed his first band, the Moonbeams, during
his school in Sacramento, CA. By the time he had graduated,
he was already a seasoned touring performer. In an effort to
respond to musical career opportunities that were beckoning,
Greenwood turned down a music scholarship at the College of
the Pacific, abandoned a promising professional baseball career,
and even skipped his own high school graduation ceremony to
play in Reno, NV., a job which Greenwood perceived as an upward
career move.
The "Greenfelt Jungle," as Greenwood refers to the Nevada
Lounge circuit, proved to be an invaluable experience for the
youthful entertainer. The casino lounge atmosphere, with all
of its distractions, provided a nightly challenge to get and
maintain the audiences' attention. With all of his success at
this level however, Greenwood's dream for national recognition
never left his mind.
For years, it seemed that world wide success was just toying
with him. Every time Greenwood would venture out of the Nevada
circuit "comfort zone" he was met with disappointment. A musician
friend of his, Felix Cavaliere, from New York City approached
Greenwood about forming a new group for a potential recording
contract. Greenwood declined, and Felix went on to form the
"Young Rascals," whose first recording "Good Lovin' "became
#1 across the nation. Then another group called the "Modsquad"
which Lee Greenwood had formed got lost in the shuffle of "legal-ese"
as the then popular TV show "borrowed" their name and did not
live up to their promises to compensate him for its rights in
return.
Instead of wallowing in disappointment, Lee Greenwood found
inspiration from coming so close to success. Upon returning
to Las Vegas, Greenwood worked the lounges at night and worked
full time as a blackjack dealer during the day, keeping up the
double duty for four years. Finally, in 1978, Greenwood found
the courage to escape the "musical graveyard" of the Vegas lounges.
In fact, he remembers the exact day and time he decided to revert
back to the more extroverted onstage personality he had been
when he first came to Las Vegas. With this new found determination,
Lee Greenwood enthusiastically welcomed an opportunity to fly
to Nashville to write and record a demo session. The results
of this long-shot opportunity led to his relationship with Jerry
Crutchfield, then head of MCA Music publishing company. Their
first session together yielded the single "It Turns Me Inside
Out" which introduced this dynamic new recording artist to country
music audiences. The song stayed on the charts for twenty-two
weeks.
Having always included a good dose of country music in his
wide repertoire, Lee Greenwood found easy acceptance with country
audiences. Greenwood's feel for country music, coupled with
his electrifying performances, quickly established him as a
major country artist. Only two years after Greenwood's debut
album he was voted the Country Music Association's Male Vocalist
of the Year. The next year, Greenwood won that award again and
also a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance. Lee Greenwood's
first three albums achieved gold sales status and his Greatest
Hits also went gold. In 1985, a less-publicized facet of his
talent was recognized when the CMA awarded him Song of the Year
honors for writing "God Bless The USA."
Lee Greenwood's fans now include two Presidents of the United
States. His patriotic album "God Bless The USA" was used extensively
throughout Ronald Reagan's successful campaign in 1984, and
again in George Bush's road to the Presidency in 1988. Then,
General Norman Schwarzkopf reignited the song's popularity by
proclaiming it as his favorite. "God Bless The USA" underscored
the Persian Gulf War and throughout the conflict was played
on all formats of radio stations. Lee Greenwood has performed
it as a musical tribute to his country all over the world. More
and more, it is sung along side "The Star Spangled Banner" at
festivities across the country, much like Irving Berlin's "God
Bless America" was used by past generations.
The song, which continues to live on long after its awards
and industry accolades, has firmly entrenched itself in the
hearts of the American public and the US military. Lee Greenwood's
identity with this song prompted his writing a book of the same
name in which Greenwood conveys events in his life that inspired
the song and the impact it continues to have on his fans.
The staying power of this dynamic performer throughout thirteen
successful touring years, remains evident in every Lee Greenwood
show. Eighteen albums, numerous TV appearances and hundreds
of radio interviews are all vehicles by which this tireless
performer maintains his visibility with the public. Greenwood's
celebrity tours with the United Services Organization (USO)
is one of the many high-profile charity organizations to which
this humanitarian donates his time.
Lee Greenwood currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee. When
not on tour, this multi-dimensional performer occupies his time
serving as President of Greenwood Music Publishing Company,
in recording projects, handling business investments, and being
husband to his wife, Kimberly.
Greenwood's career in country music is a textbook example
of the ingredients required to sustain longevity in show business.
Ever aware that an artist can be new to the public just once,
Greenwood continually finds ways of reinventing and re-packaging
his talent, much to the delight of the fans. His persistence
to achieve and maintain stardom has established Lee Greenwood
as a much sought after mainstay with country music lovers. Although,
they fondly remember those exciting early hits and ensuing awards,
today, they look forward with enthusiasm to what new surprises
this diverse, unpredictable, but always entertaining, performer
will bring to his show.
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