Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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GREENWOOD, Lee

(b Malvin Lee Greenwood, 27 Oct. '42, Southgate CA) Country singer, sax player, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and showman. A child musical prodigy; played sax with Sacramento-based My Moondreams dance band '53-54; joined Chester Smith's band '59 on TV with Del Reeves; formed his own band Apollo '62 playing Las Vegas clubs and also worked as card dealer; renamed band the Lee Greenwood Affair '67, moved to L.A. and recorded for Paramount. Approached by Dino Danelli and Felix Cavaliere to join band called the Scotties, but declined; band became the Young Rascals. Worked as piano-bar performer, musical arranger, back-up singer, show tune composer, etc; joined trio in Vegas playing organ at the Palomino, providing music for strippers; next he was lead singer in revue Bare Touch Of Vegas and blackjack dealer at the Tropicana; then worked as lounge singer. Spotted by Larry McFadden, Mel Tillis's manager, moved to Nashville '79, landed contract with MCA and hit country charts with "It Turns Me Inside Out' '80. Further hits followed, incl. "I.O.U.' and "Somebody's Gonna Love You' '83 which crossed over to pop. Wrote songs for Brenda Lee, Kenny Rogers, Mel Tillis etc; had seven country no. ones of his own '83-6, named CMA Male Vocalist of the years '83-4; biggest selling pop-country act after Kenny Rogers of the '80s. Recorded duets with Barbara Mandrell, Suzy Bogguss; wrote hit "God Bless The USA' '84, later a flag-waving song in the Gulf War resulting in Greenwood being awarded the "Congressional Medal of High Honor Society's Patriot Award'. Album track "The Wind Beneath My Wings' became one- off breakthrough hit in Britain '84. Label change to Capitol/ Liberty '89 saw major hit "Holdin' A Good Hand' '90, then sudden decline in record sales, though still a major concert attraction. Albums incl. Inside Out '82, Somebody's Gonna Love You '83, Meant For Each Other (duet with Mandrell) '84, You've Got A Good Love Comin' '84, The Wind Beneath My Wings '84 (MCA/UK), Streamline '85, Love Will Find It's Way To You '86, If There's Any Justice '87, This Is My Country '88, If Only For One Night '89 all on MCA; Holdin' A Good Hand '90, When You're In Love '91, A Perfect 10 '91, American Patriot '92, Love's On the Way '92, all on Capitol/Liberty.