Lee

Greenwood possesses many similar characteristics of other

successful artists.

His family

was very serious about music, he learned an instrument at

a very young age, and he has performed intensely for a

number of years. It is a combination of talent and

dedication to the art form that makes Greenwood and

artists like him so successful.

Lee

Greenwood, who will perform this weekend in Peachtree

City, was born in Los Angeles. He moved between Anaheim

and Sacramento during his formative years, with music as

a constant companion in his travels. At the age of 9,

Greenwood learned how to play the saxophone. In his

adolescence, Greenwood formed his first band, "My

Moonbeams," a band that would play high school

dances and small local shows.

At the age

of 16, Greenwood joined Chester Smith's band, which

introduced him to the idea of showmanship. He would learn

a great deal later, under the tutelage of Del Reeves.

Greenwood played saxophone for Reeves for a number of

years as well.

In 1962,

Greenwood formed his own band again, a pop music outfit

called "Apollo." The band moved to Las Vegas

and by 1967 were known as "The Lee Greenwood

Affair." They recorded several albums for Paramount

Records, but the label went under and the band moved back

to Los Angeles. Greenwood was offered an opportunity to

join the hit band, "The Rascals." Greenwood

declined and moved back to the glittering lights of Las

Vegas.

By 1973,

Greenwood was the arranger, lead singer and bassist for

The Bare Touch of Vegas revue. To supplement his income,

he also dealt blackjack by day at the Tropicana Casino.

The smoke-filled nightclubs gave Greenwood plenty of

opportunities to perform and continue his development as

a musician, but his voice became gravelly and hoarse. It

was in the late 1970s that Larry McFadden, Mel Tillis'

manager, heard his voice and saw a future in country

music as a balladeer.

Greenwood

flew off to Nashville and recorded some demos in 1980. By

1981, his country music career began to take off. His

first hit was "It Turns Me Inside Out." It

reached the country music top 20. In 1982, "Ring On

Her Finger And Time On Her Hands" broke into the

country music top 10. Greenwood was starting to prove

himself as a force in the country music scene.

Over the

next six years, Greenwood recorded 19 top 10 singles,

including seven number one hits. Some of his hits were

the songs: "Somebody's Going to Love You,"

"Going, Going Gone," "Dixie Road" and

"Mornin' Ride." His voice also secured a number

of high-profile hit duets.

His most

famous duet was a recording with Barbara Mandrell called

"To Me." The song rocketed to number three of

the country music top 10. Greenwood also won the Grammy

award for best country vocal performance.

Greenwood

started nearing the peak of his career in 1984 when he

recorded the song that defines his career, "God

Bless the U.S.A." The patriotic song reached number

seven in 1984 and became the backdrop to a number of

Republican political campaigns during both the Reagan and

Bush administrations.

In 1990,

Greenwood switched labels, but his audience was already

beginning to fade. Country music went through an enormous

change in the `90s and while people like Alan Jackson,

Garth Brooks and Clint Black became stars, Greenwood

began to slow down a bit. He continued his patriotic

work, performing at a number of USO events and doing work

during the Gulf War.

Greenwood

received both the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's

Patriot Award and the Point of Light Foundation Award.

Greenwood

now spends his time touring and recording at a less

intensive pace. The two-time Country Music Association

Male Vocalist of the Year will be performing Friday and

Saturday at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater at 8

p.m. Tickets are $21. For information, call 770-631-3230.

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