Lee Greenwood

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For the Halifax rugby league player, see Lee Greenwood (rugby league).
Lee Greenwood
Man performing in a Stars and Stripes jacket
Greenwood in 2005
Member of the National Council on the Arts
In office
November 2008 – November 2014
Nominated byGeorge W. Bush
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Personal details
Born
Melvin Lee Greenwood

(1942-10-27) October 27, 1942 (age 78)
South Gate, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican[citation needed]
Spouse(s)
Kimberly Payne
​
(m. 1993)​
Children3
Musical career
GenresCountry, pop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, saxophone
Years active1962–present
LabelsMCA, Capitol, Liberty, Curb, Country Crossing
Websitewww.leegreenwood.com

Melvin Lee Greenwood[1] (born October 27, 1942)[2] is an American country music singer-songwriter. He also plays the saxophone.[3] Active since 1962, he has released more than 20 major-label albums and has charted more than 35 singles on the Billboard country music charts.

Greenwood is known for his patriotic signature song "God Bless the U.S.A.", which was originally released and successful in 1984, and became popular again during the Gulf War in 1991 and after the September 11, 2001, attacks (becoming his highest charting pop hit, reaching number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100), and again during the 2016 and 2020 American Presidential Elections as President Donald Trump's rally introduction track. He also has charted seven number-ones on the US Hot Country Songs list in his career: "Somebody's Gonna Love You", "Going, Going, Gone", "Dixie Road", "I Don't Mind the Thorns (If You're the Rose)", "Don't Underestimate My Love For You", "Hearts Aren't Made to Break (They're Made to Love)", and "Mornin' Ride". His 1983 single "I.O.U." was also a top-five hit on the adult contemporary charts, and a number 53 on the Hot 100.

Early life[]

Greenwood was born in South Gate, California, a few miles south of Los Angeles. After the separation of his parents, he grew up near Sacramento[4] on the poultry farm of his maternal grandparents. At the age of seven, he started singing in church. In 1969, he joined the Chester Smith Band and had his first television appearance. A short time later, he worked with the country musician Del Reeves.[2]

He founded his first band, The Apollos, in 1962.[2] The band, which changed its name later to Lee Greenwood Affair, played mostly pop music and appeared mostly in casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada.[2] A few records were recorded in Los Angeles with the Paramount label. After the band broke up in the 1970s, Greenwood moved back to Las Vegas, where he worked as a blackjack dealer during the day, and as a singer at night.[2] He is well known for his meet and greets at Hyvee grocery stores.

Career[]

Greenwood speaking at the 1988 Republican National Convention with President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan behind him
Greenwood greeting President George H. W. Bush in 1991
Greenwood performing "God Bless the USA" at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in March 2013.

In 1979, he was discovered in Reno, Nevada, by Larry McFaden, the bandleader and bassist of Mel Tillis. After making some demo tapes, Greenwood was signed in 1981 by the Nashville division of the MCA label (which had recently absorbed the Paramount label), and McFaden became his manager.

The first single, the Jan Crutchfield-penned "It Turns Me Inside Out", made it to a spot in the top 20 of the country chart in 1981.[2] The song had been written for Kenny Rogers, but Rogers turned it down due to the sheer volume of songs he had been offered at the time. "Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands" landed him in the country top 10. Each song was marketed heavily, particularly in the South Florida market by MCA Account Service Representative, Brad Fitzgerald, among others.

Greenwood is known for writing and recording "God Bless the U.S.A." in the early 1980s,[2] and later "God Bless You Canada". The song gained renewed popularity following the launch of Operation: Desert Storm in 1991,[5] and again, 10 years later, following the September 11, 2001 attacks. "God Bless the U.S.A." re-entered the top 20 of the country charts in late 2001. Since then, Greenwood has played across the US, at many public events and commemorations of the attacks.

The day before the inauguration of Donald Trump, Greenwood performed at the Make America Great! Welcome Celebration. "God Bless the U.S.A." was used by Donald Trump as one of his campaign songs during the 2016 presidential election and the 2018 midterm elections, and was used again during the 2020 presidential election.[6] Greenwood also adapted the lyrics to make "God Bless You Canada".[7][better source needed]

Greenwood performed for Marsha Blackburn after her victory in her Senate election.[8][better source needed]

On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Lee Greenwood among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.[9]

National Council on the Arts[]

In November 2008, President George W. Bush appointed Greenwood to a six-year term to the National Council on the Arts.[10]

Theater[]

In 1995, Greenwood took a break from his touring schedule to spend time with just his children and his wife. In his time off, he elected to build a theater in Sevierville, Tennessee, and in April 1996, the Lee Greenwood Theater opened its doors. This gave Greenwood the opportunity to perform daily shows, in addition to being with his family.[11] The theater operated for five seasons, and closed for Greenwood to continue touring. The former theater building is host to a church.

Family[]

Greenwood is married to former Miss Tennessee USA Kimberly Payne, his fourth marriage.[12] They have two sons together, Dalton and Parker Greenwood.[4]

Discography[]

Main article: Lee Greenwood discography

References[]

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 143.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Country Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 166/7. ISBN 0-85112-726-6.
  3. ^ "Interview: Lee Greenwood chats his 4th of July tour, family and his music". 2018-07-01. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Lee Greenwood bio on Greenwood's official site". Archived from the original on 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  5. ^ "Greenwood will entertain troops on Armed Forces TV". The Daily News-Journal. January 24, 1991.
  6. ^ "FULL TRUMP RALLY: President Trump holds campaign rally in Dallas, Texas". October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  7. ^ "God Bless You Canada - Lee Greenwood". YouTube. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  8. ^ "Blackburn speaks after Tennessee Senate win". YouTube. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  9. ^ Rosen, Jody (June 25, 2019). "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire". The New York Times]. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  10. ^ "Bush appoints Lee Greenwood to National Arts Council". Los Angeles Times. November 3, 2008.
  11. ^ James, Gary (22 April 1997). "The Lee Greenwood Interview". The Harbinger. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Lee Greenwood on Why Fourth Time's the Charm". The Boot. March 3, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-03.

Bibliography[]

  • Wood, Gerry (1998). "Lee Greenwood". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 212–3.

External links[]

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