God Bless The USA – Lee Greenwood

Grammy Award winner and multi-platinum entertainer Lee Greenwood returned to the road in 2001 after five years at his own theater in Sevierville, TN. Greenwood toured extensively to packed houses around the country, and found himself back at the top of the sales charts, and back at radio. In January of 2002, Lee signed a long-term recording contract with Curb Records. He will begin recording in the spring, with a new album to be released in the summer. Greenwood’s career stands as a shining example of the American success story. From his humble beginnings on a farm near Sacramento, California, Lee has taken his natural talent and achieved worldwide recognition in the entertainment business with a career so far spanning three decades. Lee began honing his musical abilities in Jr. High School, learning to play most of the instruments in the orchestra by age 14. Both of his parents were musicians, and Lee followed in their footsteps from an early age. He was quick to acquire the musical and business skills that would prove necessary for his life as an entertainer. He formed his first band, the Moonbeams, while still in Jr. High School. By the time he had graduated high school, Lee was already a seasoned performer. His career became the focal point in his life, so much so, that he turned down a music scholarship to the College of the Pacific, abandoned a promising professional baseball career, and even skipped his own high school graduation because he was booked to perform a …

Rudy Vallée (July 28,1901 July 3,1986) was an American singer, actor, bandleader, and entertainer. Born Hubert Prior Vallée in Island Pond, Vermont. Rudy grew up in Westbrook, Maine. In high school, he took up the saxophone and acquired the nickname “Rudy” after then famous saxophonist Rudy Wiedoeft. Having played drums in his high school band, Vallée played clarinet and saxophone in various bands around New England in his youth. In 1917, he decided to enlist for World War I, but was discharged when the Navy authorities found out that he was only 15. He enlisted in Portland, Maine on March 29, 1917, under the false birthdate of July 28, 1899. He was discharged at the Naval Training Station, Newport, Rhode Island, on May 17, 1917 with 41 days of active service. From 1924 through 1925, he played with the “Savoy Havana Band” in London. He then returned to the States to obtain a degree in Philosophy from Yale and to form his own band, “Rudy Vallée and the Connecticut Yankees.” With this band, which featured two violins, two saxophones, a piano, a banjo and drums, he started taking vocals (supposedly reluctantly at first). He had a rather thin, wavering tenor voice and seemed more at home singing sweet ballads than attempting vocals on jazz numbers. However, his singing, together with his suave manner and handsome boyish looks, attracted great attention, especially from young women. Vallée was given a recording contract and in 1928, he started performing on the radio. Vallée …
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