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Leon Bridges

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Leon Bridges
Background information
Birth nameTodd Michael Bridges
Born (1989-07-13) July 13, 1989 (age 35)
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
OriginFort Worth, Texas, United States
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • multi-instrumentalist
  • record producer
InstrumentsGuitar
LabelsColumbia
Websitewww.leonbridges.com

Leon Bridges (born Todd Michael Bridges;[1][2] July 13, 1989)[3] is an American gospel and soul singer and songwriter from Fort Worth, Texas.[4] He is best known for his song "Coming Home", which received regular airplay and was also a Top 10 Most Viral Track on Spotify.[5] Bridges's debut album, which is also titled Coming Home, was released on June 23, 2015 on Columbia Records.[6]

Career

Early Years

Bridges began his career by writing songs and learned guitar in order to play simple chords to accompany his lyrics.[7] He played at open-mic nights around Fort Worth, like the famous Forever Jamboree at The Grotto, while working as a dishwasher until he was signed by Columbia Records in 2014.[4] It was his song "Lisa Sawyer", about his mother's conversion, that first defined his style.[7]

2014–2015: Coming Home

Main article: Coming Home (Leon Bridges album)

Bridges began writing and performing 1950s and '60s-style soul music that was described by Austin 360 as "a transmission straight from the heart."[8] He began to attract followers and his break into the music industry has been attributed to meeting guitarist Austin Jenkins and Joshua Block of White Denim .[7] It was Bridges's performance of "Coming Home" that caught the attention of the two.[7] Bridges worked on his first few tracks with Jenkins and Block as producers.[3] They recorded an album with vintage equipment, using local musicians affiliated with White Denim.[9] Bridges released two demo songs on Soundcloud in late 2014. "Coming Home" received airplay from local radio stations including KKXT.[9] It attracted the attention from a number of record labels with Bridges eventually signing with Columbia Records in December 2014.[9]

Leon Bridges and his band at Webster Hall, 21 October 2015

Bridges began his first national tour in January 2015, playing shows in Texas as well as playing support for Sharon Van Etten in New York City.[10][11] His first official single, "Coming Home", was released on Columbia Records in February 2015.[12] The song continued the success of the demo version and became a Top 10 Most Viral Track on Spotify the same month as its release.[5] Bridges toured with Jenkins and Block until they resumed work with White Denim. He also played at the Sundance Film Festival[13] and played at the SXSW festival in 2015.[14]

His debut album was released in the summer of 2015 and has been referred to as a 2015 Album to Look Forward to From Texans by The New York Times.[15] Bridges made the cover of Fort Worth, Texas magazine in May 2015[16] for not only his vocal accomplishments but also his distinctive retro style. "Coming Home" is featured in an Apple iPhone 6 commercial.[17] Bridges made his first appearance in the UK as an artist in May when he sold out the London Village Underground.[18] He then went on to announce four July dates,[19] ending with a gig at Shepherd's Bush Empire on September 28.[20] The album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.

Aside from his own shows, Bridges also supported Pharrell Williams at the newly renamed Apple Music Festival on the 26th September. While opening at the intimate Roundhouse, he was able to perform hits such as "River", "Better Man" and "Lisa Sawyer" from his debut album Coming Home.

Bridges also participated in Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' song "Kevin", which was released on the duo's second full-length album together.[21]

2015–present

Bridges was the featured musical guest on Saturday Night Live December 5, 2015. He performed "Smooth Sailin'" with a full backup band, and sang "River" with only backup singers and organ, accompanying himself on guitar.[22]

Early 2016

Leon is featured on track 6 'Kevin' from 'This Unruly Mess I've Made'. This is the second album made by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

Robert Elms BBC London - Live Performance(s) April 2016

On Friday April 8,[23] Leon Bridges was the live artist featured on BBC Radio London Robert Elms show. Elms interviewed Bridges briefly, and played track 8, 'Pull Away', from the 'Coming Home' album. Leon set-up to play live with Colin O'Brien, together they performed a live version of 'River'. After the live track, Elms could be heard to be emotionally impacted by the performance. The live track was so well received it was played again as "live track of the week" on the Elms Saturday show on April 9,[24] and again on Monday 11 April [25] during a program segment on the best ever live performances on the Robert Elms show.

Musical style

Bridges's style is soul resembling 1960s rhythm and blues.[12] The Wall Street Journal described him as a "throwback to '60s-soul a la Otis Redding and Sam Cooke."[26] Bridges performs in vintage clothing; Fort Worth Weekly described him as someone whose "music sounds like he looks."[9]

Discography

Albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
 AUS
[27] 		BEL (Vl)
[28] 		FRA
[29] 		GER
[30] 		NL
[31] 		NZ
[32] 		SWI
[33] 		UK
[34] 		SP
[35]
Coming Home
  • Released: June 23, 2015
  • Label: Columbia Records
  • Format: Digital download, CD 12 inch vinyl LP
 6 8 104 61 89 10 13 35 8 49

Guest Appearances

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
BEL
(Vl)
[28] 		US
AAA
[36] 		US
Adult
[37] 		US
R&B
[38] 		US
Rock
Air.
[39]
2015 "Coming Home" — 7 39 55[a] 38 Coming Home
"Smooth Sailin'" — 1 — — 36
2016 "Better Man" 73[b] 16 — — —

10 inch vinyl EP "Louisanna Sun" Columbia Records catalog number AL88875146291 songs: There She Goes, Daisy Mae, Mississippi Kisses, Here In My Arms, Outta Line

Music videos

Year Title Director(s)
2015 "Coming Home"[40] Chip Tompkins
"Better Man"[41]
"Smooth Sailin'"[42] Vern Moen[43]
"River'"[44] Miles Jay

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ "Coming Home" did not enter the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
  2. ^ "Better Man" did not enter the Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 23 on the Flemish Ultratip chart.

Sources

  1. ^ "10 New Artists You Need to Know: May 2015". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  2. ^ "Leon Bridges Is the Next Norah Jones". D Magazine. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  3. ^ a b Leonie Cooper (January 7, 2015). "Leon Bridges Interviewed: I Love the Realness and Simplicity of Soul". NME. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Cory (January 13, 2015). "White Noise - Leon Bridges Gets Some London Love, Gas Monkey Hits Fort Worth and D Magazine Hires A New Critic". Central Track. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Spotify's Top 10 Most Viral Tracks". Mercury News. February 17, 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  6. ^ Michelle Geslani (June 15, 2015). "Leon Bridges debut album Coming Home". Consequence Of. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d Sharp, Katie (January 21, 2015). "40 Record Labels Tried to Sign This One Texan Dishwasher - With Good Reason". Music Mic. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  8. ^ Stith, Deborah Sengupta (February 2, 2015). "SXSW artist Leon Bridges stuns with simple, silky soul". Austin 360. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d Griffey, Eric (December 30, 2014). "Retro Rocket". Fort Worth Weekly. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  10. ^ Marino, Amy (January 19, 2015). "Bridges shows '60s style". The Crimson White. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  11. ^ Stanley, Sean (January 14, 2015). "Leon Bridges adds dates to his first tour of US". DIY Magazine. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Leon Bridges, 'Coming Home'". NPR Music. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  13. ^ Wilonsky, Robert (January 28, 2015). "Bomb Factory to (re)open in Deep Ellum in March with shows from Erykah Badu, Toadies". Dallas News. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  14. ^ Gage, Jeff (January 13, 2015). "Leon Bridges and A.Dd + Join SXSW Official Showcase Lineup". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  15. ^ Langer, Andy (27 December 2014). "Albums to Look Forward to From Texans in 2015". The New York Times. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  16. ^ "Coming Home", Fort Worth, Texas magazine, April 22, 2015.
  17. ^ Shot on iPhone 6 by Araby P. 1 June 2015 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "Live Review - Leon Bridges | TLE". TLE. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
  19. ^ "Leon Bridges announces first UK tour | NME.COM". NME.COM. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
  20. ^ "Leon Bridges delivered a soulful performance at Shepherd's Bush Empire". The Independent. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
  21. ^ "Watch Macklemore, Leon Bridges Debut Emotional New Song 'Kevin'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  22. ^ "Watch Leon Bridges Bare His Soul for 'SNL'". Rolling Stone.
  23. ^ BBC London Robert Elms Show April 8th, Segment starts 2:09:23
  24. ^ BBC London Robert Elms Show April 9th, Segment starts 2:52:24
  25. ^ BBC London Robert Elms Show April 11th, Segment starts 2:05:00
  26. ^ Battaglia, Andy (February 17, 2015). "A Stax Singer and 1990s Headliners". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  27. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Leon Bridges". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  28. ^ a b Hung, Steffen. "Discografie Leon Bridges". Belgium (Flanders) Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  29. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Leon Bridges". French Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  30. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Leon Bridges". German Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  31. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discografie Leon Bridges". Dutch Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  32. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Leon Bridges". New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  33. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Leon Bridges". Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  34. ^ "Leon Bridges > UK Charts". Officialcharts.com/. Official Charts Company.
  35. ^ "Leon Bridges > SP Charts". promusicae.es/. Productores de Música de España.
  36. ^ "Leon Bridges – Chart History: Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  37. ^ "Leon Bridges – Chart History: "Adult Pop Songs"". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  38. ^ "Leon Bridges – Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  39. ^ "Leon Bridges – Chart History: Rock Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  40. ^ Leon Bridges - Coming Home. 3 March 2015 – via YouTube.
  41. ^ Leon Bridges - Better Man. 12 May 2015 – via YouTube.
  42. ^ Leon Bridges - Smooth Sailin'. 9 June 2015 – via YouTube.
  43. ^ Servantes, Ian (June 9, 2015). "Watch Leon Bridges' "Smooth Sailin'" Video | Complex". Complex. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  44. ^ Leon Bridges - River. 1 February 2016 – via YouTube.
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