Lee Greenwood
Lee Greenwood |
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Lee Greenwood (born October 27 1942 in South Gate, California) is an American Country-Pop Singer and Songwriter.He is best known for a string of Countrypolitan hits throughout the 1980s, as well as also being known for his hit "God Bless the USA".
Early life
After the separation of his parents, Lee grew up in Sacramento on the poultry farm of his grandparents. At the age of seven, he began playing the saxophone, and at the age of nine became a member of a dance ensemble. 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.
He founded his first band, Apollo, in 1962. The band, which changed its name later to Lee Greenwood Affair, played mostly pop music and appeared mostly in casinos in Las Vegas. 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 days as a black jack dealer, and as a singer at night.
Career
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-based MCA label, and McFaden became his manager.
The first single, "It Turns Me Inside Out", made it to a spot in the top 20 of the country charts. Greenwood had written this song 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 and Time on her Hands" landed him in the country top 10.
He is best known for writing and recording the patriotic song "God Bless the USA" in the early 1980s. "God Bless the USA" gained renewed popularity following the launch of Operation: Desert Storm in 1991, and again, ten years later, following the September 11, 2001 attacks; in fact, the song even re-entered the Top 20 of the country charts in late 2001. Since then, Greenwood has played at many public events and commemorations of the attacks. He supports the United States Republican Party and campaigned for George W. Bush in the 2004 elections.
Discography
Singles
| Year | Single | U.S. Country Singles | U.S. Pop Singles | U.S. A.C. Singles | Album | |
| 1982 | "Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands" | #5 | - | - | Inside Out | |
| 1982 | "She's Lying" | #7 | - | - | Inside Out | |
| 1982 | "Inside Out" | #17 | - | - | Inside Out | |
| 1983 | "Going, Going, Gone" | #1 | - | - | Somebody's Gonna Love You | |
| 1983 | "I.O.U." | #6 | #53 | #4 | Somebody's Gonna Love You | |
| 1983 | "Somebody's Gonna Love You" | #1 | #96 | - | Somebody's Gonna Love You | |
| 1984 | "Fool's Gold" | #3 | - | - | You've Got A Good Love Comin | |
| 1984 | "God Bless the USA" | #7 | - | #26 | You've Got A Good Love Comin | |
| 1984 | "You've Got a Good Love Coming to Me" | #9 | - | - | You've Got A Good Love Comin | |
| 1985 | "Dixie Road" | #1 | - | - | You've Got A Good Love Comin | |
| 1985 | "Don't Underestimate My Love For You" | #1 | - | - | The Wind Beneath My Wings | |
| 1985 | "I Don't Mind the Throns (If You're the Rose)" | #1 | - | - | The Wind Beneath My Wings | |
| 1986 | "Hearts Aren't Made to Break (They're Made to Love)" | #1 | - | - | The Wind Beneath My Wings | |
| 1986 | "Mornin' Ride" | #1 | - | - | The Wind Beneath My Wings | |
| 1986 | "Didn't We" | #10 | - | - | The Wind Beneath My Wings | |
| 1987 | "Someone" | #5 | - | - | If There's Any Justice | |
| 1987 | "Touch and Go Crazy" | #5 | - | - | If There's Any Justice | |
| 1987 | "If There's Any Justice" | #9 | - | - | If There's Any Justice | |
| 1988 | "I Still Believe" | #12 | - | - | Greatest Hits Vol. 2 | |
| 1988 | "You Can't Fall In Love When You'e Cryin'" | #20 | - | - | Greatest Hits Vol. 2 | |
| 1989 | "I Love the Way He Left You" | #43 | - | - | If Only For One Night | |
| 1989 | "I Go Crazy" | #55 | - | - | If Only For One Night | |
| 1990 | "Holdin' a Good Hand" | #2 | - | - | Holdin' a Good Hand | |
| 1990 | "We've Got It Made" | #14 | - | - | Holdin' a Good Hand | |
| 1991 | "Hoplessly Yours (with Suzy Bogguss)" | #12 | - | - | The Best of Lee Greenwood | |
| 1991 | "Just Like Me" | #52 | - | - | The Best of Lee Greenwood | |
| 1992 | "If You'll Le This Fool Back In" | #58 | - | - | The Best of Lee Greenwood | |
| 1992 | "Before I'm Ever Over You" | #73 | - | - | Love's On the Way | |
| 2001 | "God Bless the USA" (re-release) | #16 | #16 | #12 | God Bless the USA |
Albums
- Inside Out - 1982
- If There's Any Justice- 1983
- Somebody's Gonna Love You- 1983
- Meant for Each Other - 1984
- You've Got a Good Love Comin- 1984
- Christmas to Christmas - 1985
- Streamline- 1986
- Love Will Find Its Way to You - 1986
- Greatest Hits Volume Two - September 19, 1988
- Holdin' a Good Hand - 1990
- American Patriot - 1992
- The Best of Lee Greenwood - 1993
- God Bless the USA - November 3, 1994
- Totally Devoted to You - 1995
- Back to Back - 1996
- Wounded Heart - 1998
- Same River... Different Bridge - 2000
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - 2000
- Stronger Than Time - 2003
- Gospel - 2003
- I.O.U. - 2006
- The Patriot - 2006
External links
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