Lee Greenwood to tape Christmas show at Renaissance Center Nov. 7
Release Date: 10/5/2006. Expired: 11/7/2006
Grammy Award winner and multimillion-selling artist Lee Greenwood will make a Christmas DVD in a concert Nov. 7 at The Renaissance Center in Dickson.
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are $22 and $18 for seniors 55 and over.
Best known for his 1984 smash hit God Bless the USA, Greenwood was a constant presence on the country singles charts for 10 years before taking a break to spend time with his family and perform at his own theatre in Sevierville, Tenn. In 2002 he signed a new recording contract with Curb Records and returned to the studio and the road.
A California native, Greenwood spent years singing in Las Vegas and Reno casinos and clubs where the physical strain of performing six nights a week in smoky lounges gave him a permanent hoarseness, which became his trademark sound.
At the urging of Mel Tillis’ road manager, Greenwood came to Nashville in 1978 to write music and record a demo session with the help of Tillis’ band. That led to a recording contract with MCA and Greenwood’s first album, Inside Out, in 1982. His first single, It Turns Me Inside Out, cracked the top 20 on the country charts and he broke into the top 10 with his next release, Ring on Her Finger, Time On her Hands.
That launched a streak of 19 top 10 singles that ran virtually uninterrupted for the next six years. Hits followed with 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, Mornin’ Ride and others.
Along the way Greenwood picked up a Grammy for Best Male Country Performance for IOU in 1983, the CMA’s Male Vocalist of the Year and ACM Top Male Vocalist in 1983, Male Artist of the Year from the Music City News and a second CMA award in 1984. His first three albums reached gold status and his Greatest Hits quickly went platinum.
But it was 1984’s release of God Bless the USA, which Greenwood also wrote, that has endured for more than 20 years as Greenwood’s signature song. It earned CMA’s Song of the Year Award in 1985.
After the first Gulf War in 1991, Greenwood became one of the most in-demand performers, showing his support for the military and veterans with countless shows and USO tours.
The Lee Greenwood Theatre opened in the Smoky Mountains in 1996 so Greenwood could continue performing and still be at home with his growing family.
The tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001, brought God Bless the USA back to the forefront and back into the top 20 of the Billboard country airplay chart and sent Greenwood’s 1992 album American Patriot to the top of the sales charts, earning platinum status in December 2001. The start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 again stirred interest in God Bless the USA.
Greenwood has recorded two holiday albums, 1985’s Christmas to Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas in 2001, packed full of standards like Winter Wonderland, The Christmas Song and Oh Holy Night.
He has released two albums since joining Curb Records, Inspirational Songs in 2002 and Stronger Than Time in 2003. He continues to tour from coast to coast and abroad.
Greenwood’s performance at The Renaissance Center will be videotaped by its award-winning Multimedia Department for release on DVD and VHS. The center has done concert video projects with acts like Crystal Gayle, Pam Tillis, Lynn Anderson, BJ Thomas and others.
For more information on Lee Greenwood’s Christmas concert at The Renaissance Center, call (615)740-5600. To purchase tickets, call (615)740-5570.
The Renaissance Center is a fine arts education and performing arts center at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.
Visit the Events - Concerts and Recitals page for more about musical performances.