Lee Greenwood Interview - S1E6 - Sinatra, Elvis and America

Grammy Award Winner Lee Greenwood shares his unbelievably interesting stories about playing Vegas with Elvis, Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Barbara Mandrell, and everyone else in the 1970's in our up-close look at how this country music legend was discovered and transformed, not only the music business but America itself through his epic hit "God Bless the USA."

 

ABOUT THE GUEST Greenwood, an American country music singer-songwriter, father, and friend from Nashville, joins Rick for the sixth episode of Conversations at The Mansion. Lee talks about how his iconic song "God Bless the USA" came to be, and being at Ground Zero just after 9/11.

 

ABOUT THE SHOW Conversations at The Mansion with Rick Walker is a guest-driven video podcast that brings together the most interesting thought-leaders who provide viewers with unique perspectives at the intersection of media, business, politics, responsibility, and work, in a casual, fun, and free-flowing conversation at The Mansion.

 

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro 1:28 Who Lee Greenwood really is 5:26 Getting Started in the music industry 11:16 Big Bands in the 60s 13:03 On Stage with Elvis 15:58 Paying dues in Vegas 19:45 Rick gives Lee a gift 23:01 What it takes to be a good musician 24:08 Lee plays saxophone at 13 25:25 Being outspoken as an artist 26:29 Writing process for God Bless the USA 30:19 What Brought God Bless the USA to the forefront 34:12 At Ground Zero on 9/11 36:26 Performing at Yankee Stadium right after 9/11 39:00 Does God still bless the USA? 41:24 Losing Religion and Finding it Again 43:40 What Lee's faith means to him 46:29 The King of Crossover 47:45 Beyonce Covers Lee's Song 52:00 Lee's Best Cover Ever 53:48 What Really Happened to Whitney Houston 56:28 Awarded Points of Light 1:00:04 Respect for Wounded Warriors 1:04:09 What a hero really is 1:05:57 Using Music for Change 1:14:10 Lee's Bible Project 1:16:54 Salute to Lee Greenwood