Raised in Sacramento, California, Melvin Lee Greenwood started playing a saxophone at age ten.  The road to Nashville would one day lead him to number one hits, a 1984 Grammy Award, and CMA Honors as Male Vocalist of the Year in 1983 and 1984.  It would also lead to visits with U.S. Presidents largely due to his patriotic anthem, "God Bless the USA," in his early career.

At one point a band he was traveling with broke up in New York City, sending Greenwood back to Las Vegas, where he started.  His band mates reformed the group into the hit making "Young Rascals."  In 1978 he moved to Reno, where Larry McFaden, bass player for Mel Tillis, heard him sing.  Impressed, McFaden became Greenwood's manager and arranged for the singer to journey to Nashville and the rest is history.

His first number one hit was "Somebody's Gonna Love You," and "God Bless the USA" which earned the CMA'S 1985 Song of the Year Award.  "God Bless the USA" was used during the Presidential Campaign of both Ronald Reagan and George Bush.  Lee was born October 27, 1942.  Active since the 1980's, he has released more than twenty major albums and has charted more than 35 singles on the Billboard Country Music Charts.

Join me Sunday morning May 6th for the music of Lee Greenwood at 11:00 AM for the Country Classic Spotlight.  Its a segment of the 98 Country Classic Show.  We get started at 9 Am to 1 PM at 98.1 FM 98 Country.

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