- Jerry Leger
-
Jerry Leger 
Background information Born April 19, 1985
Toronto, Ontario, CanadaGenres Rock, folk, country Occupations Musician, Songwriter Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano Years active 2005–present Labels Golden Rocket Website jerryleger.com Jerry Leger(born April 19, 1985 Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Since 2005, he has released 4 acclaimed albums and toured Canada and the United States, playing shows with Ron Sexsmith, The Sadies, Jesse Winchester, Fred Eaglesmith, Danny Michel, Jill Barber, Justin Townes Earle, Deer Tick, Skydiggers, Jim Lauderdale and even original Beatle, Pete Best.
Leger writes songs that interrogate the trials, tribulations, stories and emotions that are part and parcel of everyday life.[1]
Contents
Biography
Born on April 19, 1985, Leger came of age in the Upper Beaches area of Toronto. It was his grandfather who turned him onto Hank Williams, constantly playing the youngster a plethora of the honky tonk master's great recordings. Although Williams' voice came from another world in terms of time, geography, and class, Leger was intrigued by the ways that Williams' songs told a story and often conjured up mysterious images in his head. Bob Dylan, likewise, animated Leger's imagination. By the time, the aspiring musician reached high school, his horizons had widened to include Lightnin' Hopkins, Elvis Costello, Leonard Cohen and Gordon Lightfoot.[2]
A quick study, Leger began writing songs in elementary school, largely encouraged by his sixth grade teacher. Leger cut his first album when he was 19 in 2005. His sophomore record, Farewell Ghost Town, followed the next year. Produced by Don Kerr and Tim Bovaconti and featuring constant Leger supporter, Ron Sexsmith on piano and Fergus Hambleton(of The Sattalites). Farewell Ghost Town was charming not only for its strong songwriting, but also in its unassuming approach.[3] Although it initially sold a modest 1000 copies, it is now a fan favourite.
In 2007, Leger struck up a friendship with Skydiggers co-founder, Josh Finlayson. This resulted in the 2008 album, You, Me and The Horse, co-produced by Tim Bovaconti. You, Me and The Horse garnered rave reviews and pushed Leger’s career forward with appearances on the popular CBC Radio show, Q with Jian Ghomeshi, in-sessions on the legendary WSM Radio in Nashville and The WDVX concert series, Blue Plate Special in Knoxville, TN.[4]
The end of 2010 saw the release of Leger’s 4th record, Traveling Grey. Ron Sexsmith reamarked,“Traveling Grey is probably Jerry’s best record so far and he hasn’t made any bad ones.[5]
Traveling Grey is Jerry Leger’s fourth album and finds him poised to indelibly add his name to the roll call that has built Toronto’s international reputation as a singer/songwriter Mecca.[6] Leger revealed in Exclaim! Magazine how the record came about “It's the most spontaneous record since my first one, which was done in two days. This one rather from when we were touring out east most of July [2010]. When I got back, I just had this bug: I need to make a record. One song was written at four a.m. the night before the sessions.”[7]
Discography
Albums
- 2005: Jerry Leger & The Situation
- 2006: Farewell Ghost Town
- 2008: You, Me and The Horse
- 2010: Traveling Grey
References
- ^ "Complete CMF Schedule". Eye Weekly. 2009-03-11. http://www.eyeweekly.com/cmf/article/54392. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- ^ "Event Not Found". Harbourliving.ca. http://www.harbourliving.ca/event/dancing-bean-cafe-presents-jerry-leger-with-dan-mock/2009-11-13/. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- ^ Rajagopalan, Pras (2007-02-06). "Jerry Leger & The Situation". CHARTattack. http://www.chartattack.com/reviews/59355/jerry-leger-the-situation. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- ^ "Jerry Leger Music - News". Jerryleger.com. http://www.jerryleger.com. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- ^ "CUrrent Faves". RonSexsmith.com. http://www.ronsexsmith.com/forums/thread/8999.aspx. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- ^ "Jerry Leger's Page - Americana and roots music". No Depression. http://www.nodepression.com/profile/JerryLeger. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- ^ Kerry Doole. "Reviews > FOLK & COUNTRY > Jerry Leger Traveling Grey". Exclaim!. exclaim.ca (Toronto: 1059434 Ontario Inc.): pp. 2. ISSN 1207-6600. http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/FolkAndCountry/jerry_leger-traveling_grey. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
Categories:- 1985 births
- Living people
- Canadian pop singers
- Canadian male singers
- Canadian singer-songwriters
- Writers from Ontario
- Musicians from Toronto
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