Awarded two Male Vocalist of the Year awards from the Country Music Association
CMA Song of the Year honor in 1985 for “God Bless the USA”
Top Male Vocal Performance in 1983 for “I.O.U.”
His lengthy string of hits includes such classics as “Ring on Her Finger, “Time on Her Hands,” “It Turns Me Inside Out,” etc.
Married to Kim, two children, Dalton and Parker
GUEST
Lee Greenwood: A Blessed Christmas
CBN.com
– A PASSION FOR MUSIC
Lee Greenwood secured his place in music history with the powerful inspiring ballad, “God Bless the USA.” The song has been voted the most recognizable patriotic song in America, taking the top honor over “God Bless America” and the national anthem, but it is only one of the many hits that have propelled Lee’s successful career. Lee has been captivating audiences for decades with his distinctive voice, insightful songwriting and unparalleled showmanship.
He grew up on a farm near Sacramento, California, and in between doing the hard work required on a working farm, Lee developed his musical skills. His grandparents sent him to church as a child so he would have the experience and training of Christian principles. He recalls singing in the choir and learning about Christ as one of the happiest memories of his childhood.
Lee began playing the saxophone at seven, and by the time he was 14, he could play nearly all the instruments in the school orchestra. While still in junior high school, he launched his first band, the Moonbeams. Lee passed on a music/track scholarship to the College of the Pacific and chose to pursue his musical ambitions. He even skipped his high school graduation ceremony because he had a show to play at the Golden Hotel & Casino in Reno, Nevada. “I needed to put my next foot forward,” says Greenwood. “So I skipped graduation and headed for Nevada.”
He became one of the most popular entertainers on the competitive casino circuit. There he honed his live performance skills and developed his craft as a songwriter. Larry McFadden, bass player for Mel Tillis, discovered Greenwood in Nevada and brought him to the attention of MCA Records Nashville where he teamed with acclaimed producer Jerry Crutchfield to record his groundbreaking country debut album, It Turns Me Inside Out.
“I think my choice of material has been an asset to my career. People recognize that I choose songs that have quality and are not cheap shots,” says Greenwood. “I always record songs that have more depth in the lyric. I’m just not the kind of guy to sing something cute. I’m a songwriter, and I go for depth. Maybe that’s what has made me have a lasting career.”
A PASSION FOR FAMILY
Lee met a young Nashville girl who was in college at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. She was also Miss Tennessee USA 1989. On Lee’s USO/DOD tour that year, they fell in love and were married in Nashville in 1992. Since his marriage to Kim, Lee began going to church again after years of not attending. He refers to his wife of almost 17 years as the love of his life and his spiritual beacon. “I am richly blessed by my family, the love we share, and my faith in God. I’m a very lucky man,” shares Lee.
After years of his relentless touring schedule, Lee decided to scale back to spend more time with his family. Their first son Dalton was born in April 1995, and the following year Lee opened the Lee Greenwood Theater in Sevierville, Tennessee, a booming tourist town in the Smokey Mountains. The theater provided Lee an opportunity to perform yet remain in one place and spend time with his family.
“The show was a broadway production and we did 220 shows a year,” shares Lee. After five years, Lee opted to leave the Smokey Mountains and resume touring nationally. He continued to be in constant demand, particularly after the terrorist attacks of September 11 when the nation once
again embraced “God Bless the U.S.A.” as part of the healing process. Lee admits when he first wrote the song, he had no idea how much it would impact people. “One of the reasons I wrote the lyric ‘I’m proud to be an American’ is I really wanted to instill the pride back in America. The song represents my family, my community and all the Americans who are proud of who they are.”
NEW PROJECTS
Lee's new Christmas CD on Country Crossings Records is titled Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, a collection of classic Christmas songs. This is Lee’s first Christmas album in nearly 25 years. Some of the tracks include: "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", "Jingle Bells/Sleigh Ride", "What Child Is This", and "Joy To the World/Hark The Herald Angels Sing". Lee showcases his favorite instrument, the saxophone, on this album.
He has just finished an album of pop standards called "Proven," also on Country Crossings Records. It features cuts such as Ray Charles’s classic “I’m Busted” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” as well as a new country album. Lee says this will be an album for all generations.
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