Glenn Leonard


Glenn Carl Leonard (born June 11, 1947 in Washington, D.C.) is an American R&B and soul singer best remembered for serving as the first tenor/secondary lead singer of the Motown quintet The Temptations[1] from 1975 to 1983.

Biography

Leonard recorded with the groups the Chancellors, Instant Groove and True Reflection before he was asked to replace ousted Temptations member Damon Harris (who'd replaced Ricky Owens). Leonard joined the group in 1975, just before they recorded the hit Shaky Ground. Leonard's most notable Temptations leads were on the 1980 single Power, and on the Christmas classic Silent Night from their 1980 Christmas album. He was replaced by Ron Tyson in 1983.

Leonard is a native of Washington D.C., second oldest of 8 children born 1947 to Gennie and Pearlie Leonard, natives of North Carolina. As a child, he was raised between Washington and North Carolina. He started singing at the age of six, and by age 13 he began to earn a living performing on stage, at parties and concerts, and as a recording artist. Leonard successfully established three groups by the time he was in his early 20s: The Chancellors, The Instant Groove, and The True Reflections. He was also a member of another popular and successful recording group from Washington called The Unifics. He recorded his first record with his first group, The Chancellors, on Cap City Records, a subsidiary of Scepter Records, and later his third group, The True Reflection, on Atlantic Records. The Temptations appeared on American Bandstand, The Midnight Special, Soul Train and other popular national programs.

Leonard then came to the attention of the Temptations in 1975. He had a notable career as their first tenor and lead singer from 1975-1983 encompassing ten albums with the supergroup. His most noted songs include I’m on Fire, Go for It, The Best of Both Worlds, Eyes, Ever Ready Love, and Silent Night from their Christmas Album.

After parting ways with the group in 1983 and replaced by Ron Tyson, Leonard became a born-again Christian, entered into full-time ministry and was licensed in 1986. He became ordained and received a doctorate degree in the early 1990s. He would later return to be a part of The Temptations "Reunion" tour and album, featuring The Classic Five lineup (excluding Paul Williams who had committed suicide in 1973 by shooting himself).

Currently, Leonard joined with friends and fellow lead vocalist Joe Coleman of The Platters and Joe Blunt of The Drifters and created a new group called Leonard, Coleman & Blunt. "Leonard, Coleman & Blunt concert attendees are now treated to incredible showmanship, classic dance moves and some of the biggest hits of all time, including “My Girl," “The Way You Do The Things You Do," “Get Ready.”[2] Glenn was proudly inducted into the R&B Hall of Fame in 2013. Leonard, Coleman & Blunt, performed at the WPXI Holiday Parade (formerly the Macy's Parade) in Pittsburgh, PA November 29, 2014.[3] On occasion the band has toured with America's Got Talent season six winner Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. including performing with the Huntington Symphony Orchestra in the summer of 2013. Leonard recorded a duet of "Silent Night" with Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. for Landau's "Christmas Made For Two" album, reprising his role as lead vocalist on the Temptations classic version of the holiday favorite.

Leonard also performs world-wide with his Glenn Leonard's Temptations Revue, which also includes group members Kareem Ali, Joe Coleman, Andre Jackson and James Faison. Recent past members of this group over the last few years also include Doc Devone, Pete Marshall, Darnell Carter and Freddy Black. A group photo is here. He also tours with his Motown revue show titled "Glenn Leonard Presents Hitsville Live," which also feature female lead vocalists, performing all the hit songs from Motown. Leonard was married for many years to former "Solid Gold" dancer Darcel Wynne.

Leonard has also released a solo album titled "Glenn Leonard Then & Now" with guest vocalist Jean Carne.

Leonard was portrayed by Benjamin J. Cain Jr. in the 1998 biographical television mini-series The Temptations, though he was not heavily focused upon, as the mini-series gave more attention to the Ruffin/Kendricks-era Temptations line up.

External links

References

  1. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Biography: The Temptations". AMG. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  2. ↑ http://www.leonardcolemanandblunt.iconosites.com/
  3. ↑ http://www.wpxi.com/news/entertainment/leonard-coleman-blunt/nh5M5/
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