Recognized by his peers as one of Canada’s best performing
songwriters,
Lennie Gallant is a native of Prince Edward.
This prolific songwriter has recorded nine albums (seven in
English and
two in French), which have won him a host of awards and
nominations from
both the JUNOs and East Coast Music
Awards.
His album, "When We Get There" was
nominated
for a JUNO Award and went into space aboard Space Shuttle
Endeavour in July
2009. Canadian astronaut Julie Payette chose the
album
for the astronaut crew to enjoy.
With the release of "If We Had A Fire"
in 2009 he claims it is his best work yet. Recorded in beautiful
St Cecilia
Studios on the outskirts of Halifax, the album holds 14 new
Gallant songs,
performed by the artist and some of the best musicians the East
Coast has
to offer. "If We Had A Fire" Won the 2010 "Roots Recording
of the Year" at the East Coast Music Awards.
Gallant performed 6 shows at the Vancouver 2010 Winter
Olympic
Games, including a performance at BC Place during the
medal ceremonies.
He was inducted into the Order of Canada where
it was
said, “Gallant has garnered much respect for his hard hitting
songs chronicling
the lives of people deal …
Recognized by his peers as one of Canada’s best performing
songwriters,
Lennie Gallant is a native of Prince Edward.
This prolific songwriter has recorded nine albums (seven in
English and
two in French), which have won him a host of awards and
nominations from
both the JUNOs and East Coast Music
Awards.
His album, "When We Get There" was
nominated
for a JUNO Award and went into space aboard Space Shuttle
Endeavour in July
2009. Canadian astronaut Julie Payette chose the
album
for the astronaut crew to enjoy.
With the release of "If We Had A Fire"
in 2009 he claims it is his best work yet. Recorded in beautiful
St Cecilia
Studios on the outskirts of Halifax, the album holds 14 new
Gallant songs,
performed by the artist and some of the best musicians the East
Coast has
to offer. "If We Had A Fire" Won the 2010 "Roots Recording
of the Year" at the East Coast Music Awards.
Gallant performed 6 shows at the Vancouver 2010 Winter
Olympic
Games, including a performance at BC Place during the
medal ceremonies.
He was inducted into the Order of Canada where
it was
said, “Gallant has garnered much respect for his hard hitting
songs chronicling
the lives of people dealing with tremendous adversity and serious
issues.
Songs like “Peter’s Dream,” “Island Clay,” “Man of Steel” and “The
Hope
for Next Year,” articulate the feelings of many caught up in
desperate situations
beyond their control, and at the same time celebrate the beauty of
lifestyle
and landscape with their strong poetry and stirring narratives.”
While he says he is much appreciative of this kind of
recognition for
his work, Gallant feels the best part of being a songwriter is the
moment
of creation. “When you really feel locked in with the ability to
tell a
story or convey an emotion in a unique yet, hopefully, a universal
way.”
Other artists obviously believe in Gallant’s writing abilities as
over 30
artists have recorded his songs internationally, including Jimmy
Buffett.
"I have always wanted to bring Lennie Gallant’s music to the
forefront.”
says Jimmy Buffett. His songs have also appeared
in feature
films, some of which include Canvas, which stared Academy
Award-winner Marcia
Gay Harden (Mystic River) and Joe Pantoliano from The Sopranos
(“Mademoiselle
Voulez Vous Danser”, recorded by Jimmy Buffett), Conquest, which
stared
Lothaire Bluteau (theme song), Sigh and a Wish: Helen Creighton's
Maritimes
(feature), and The Bellinger (wrote sound track). His songs have
been used
in television series - Dawson’s Creek (“Northern Lights”), Joan of
Arcadia
(“Something Unspoken”) and in numerous theatrical productions.
In addition to writing all the songs on his nine albums, he
co-wrote the
theme song for the first World Conference / Congres Mondial
Acadien ("Acadie
de nos couer"), and for Pier 21, Canada’s immigration gateway. He
was
also asked to write a song for Halifax’s 250th anniversary
("History
is Happening Now"), which was then performed with a choir of 2000
voices
on one of the two bridges spanning the harbour.
Having previously recorded albums only in English, and despite
limited
knowledge of French, for his 6th release, Gallant fulfilled a long
held
dream of writing and recording an album in the language of his
Acadian roots.
Gallant said “I worked extremely hard on that album as I wasn’t
interested
in releasing something that was just a pretty good effort for a
guy who
grew up speaking English. I wanted it to be accepted as a bona
fide French
language recording that would stand up beside other albums out
there.” It
seems Gallant was successful in that quest as the album, “Le
vent bohème,” won "Francophone Album of the Year"
at the 2003 East Coast Music Awards, and "Acadian album of the
Year"
at the Gala des Étoiles. "It's an absolutely wonderful CD
(Le vent bohème), the lyrics are powerful and the music is
sensational.”
- Bernard St Laurent, Radio Canada. The album led to Gallant being
invited
to perform for a week with the Acadian theatrical phenomenon “Ode
L’Acadie,
a musical revue featuring exceptional young musicians and singers
performing
works from the cream of Acadian songwriters.”
Gallant released his second French recording "Le
coeur
hanté" in November 2009 through Fontana
North/Universal.
He has shared the stage with such accomplished songwriters as
Lucinda Williams,
Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), Patti Griffin, and Ron Sexsmith and
has represented
Canada at songwriter events in Nashville, London, and Texas. “Our
northern
neighbor has given us some of the best songwriters living today.
You can
add Lennie Gallant to that list.” The Performing Songwriter (Nashville)
