An American

Entertainer, Owner

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When one hears the name Lee Greenwood, we may immediately associate the name with the award winning patriotic song “God Bless the U.S.A.” that he has both written and performed before millions of loving fans. Who could ever forget General Norman Schwarzkopf using it as the victorious anthem for America’s quick triumph in the Persian Gulf war.

Greenwood’s rise to stardom came from hard work and strong persistence. Lee came from humble beginnings. He was born and raised on a farm just outside of Sacramento, California. Since both of Lee’s parents were musicians, he took up playing a number of instruments at the early age of only ten years old.

While in high school, he formed his first band, the Moonbeams. Lee became a seasoned touring performer even before he graduated from high school. He was very focused. He even turned down a musical scholarship to the College of the Pacific, put on hold his potential professional baseball career and even chose to miss his own high school graduation ceremony so he could play a showroom in Reno, Nevada. Lee saw this as an upward career move.

Our talented artist refers to the Nevada lounge atmosphere as the “Greenfelt Jungle.” It became a great training ground for him. While performing in Nevada, Greenwood was approached by Felix Cavaliere, a New York City musician. He was forming a new group for a potential recording contract and wanted Lee to come onboard. Lee declined. That group later became the popular “Young Rascals,” whose first recording became #1 across the nation. Lee never became discouraged though. Each disappointment made him stronger. He continued to work the Las Vegas lounges at night, and worked as a blackjack dealer during the day for four long years. He never gave up on his dream to make it big.

In 1978, he broke free from the “musical graveyard” of Vegas and jumped on a plane headed to Nashville where he would write and record a demo session.

This long-shot opportunity put him face to face with Jerry Crutchfield, then head of MCA publishing. In their first session they cranked out the single “It Turns Me Inside Out,” which stayed on the charts for 22 weeks. The seed was planted.

Only two years after his debut album, Greenwood was voted the Country Music Association’s Male Vocalist of the Year. His first three albums soon went gold, along with his Greatest Hits album.

In nearly twenty years of touring the United States, Lee has never missed a show thanks to his faithful buses, “Thunder” and “Lightning.” Now-adays, Lee has taken roots in Tennessee with his wife Kimberly, a former Miss Tennessee and son Dalton, the newest edition to the Greenwood family.

On April 1, 1996 the $10 million, 1,800-seat Lee Greenwood Theater opened in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of Sevierville, Tennessee. It’s a wonderful place to bring the family to enjoy some outstanding country music that can truly make us feel proud to be an American.