Lee Greenwood, was born in South Gate, California on October 7th, 1942. He spent much of his early career playing shows in Las Vegas, Nevada - where he witnessed Elvis Presley perform - before finally being "discovered" in Reno, Nevada, by Mel Tillis' bass player, Larry McFadden in 1979. But how exactly did he get that elusive "big break?"

Lee Greenwood: From Las Vegas to Nashville

"The steps to stardom were often small ones, usually based on a leap of faith and surrounded by doubt," recalls Lee. "I believe through hard work and taking chances, though, I succeeded to overcome all obstacles that stopped me for many years.

"As I lived and worked in Nevada for the first 20 years after high school, I tried the west coast and the east coast. It was through contacts I had made in Las Vegas and Reno, however, that I met people who encouraged me to try Nashville. That was the right choice."

Lee Greenwood: Musical Beginnings

Suite 101: "How old were you when you started playing music? What was your first instrument? At what point did you decide to try and follow it as a career?

"I began playing piano at about the age of 10 - it was my mother's instrument. At the age of 12, I was introduced to the saxophone. It is my favorite instrument and the one I express myself best with. I knew at that early age, music would be my choice for a career."

Suite 101: Who were your main musical influences growing up?

"I followed the music of many jazz artists such as Stan Kenton, The Dorsey Brothers, Stan Getz, Sam Buterra (who played with Louis Prima) and many others. The singers would be Sam Cooke, Bobby Darin, Kenny Rogers, Ray Charles and a host of females, which included Barbra Streisand."

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