Leeland and Brandon Heath Team Up Fall 2009
Follow You Tour Raises Funds for Food For The Hungry
Three years ago, the world knew very little about three up and coming artists. Leeland Mooring,Brandon Heath and Francesca Battistelli are quickly becoming household names. Follow their journeys as they seek to bring hope and inspiration to a lost world.
Love Is On The Move for Leeland Mooring and the Band
Leeland Mooring wrote his first song at the age of 11. His father was an evangelist. The family toured throughout the United States sharing their faith and music. Even at such a young age, Leeland felt a spiritual calling into music ministry.
In 2002, the Mooring family retured home to Baytown, Texas. Their father founded a church called Celebration of Life. Leeland was only 14. He entered the Embassy Music's Ultimate Talent Search.
He didn't win, but he was a finalist in the songwriting and artist division. He grabbed a bigger prize though, the attention of a judge and now his manager, Kent Coley. Kent saw something unique in young Leeland. A year later, Leeland grabbed the attention of Eddie DeGarmo, President of EMI CMG Publishing and signed his first songwriting contract.
It took a few years to get the ball rolling. In those early years, Leeland, his friends and his brother, Jack, teamed up to play Leeland's newly composed songs live at local events. The band Leeland is an all Texas band. Jake Holtz from Baytown, plays bass. Jeremiah Wood on guitar is from Dallas. Mike Smith, on drums, is from Texarkana. Jack Moorling plays keyboard.
Leeland debut it's first CD, Sounds of Melodies, in 2006. Their second CD, Opposite Way, followed in 2008. This newest one, just released in 2009 is Love is on the Move.
Brandon Heath Asked God to Give Me Your Eyes
Brandon Heath, a Nashville native, wasn't sure he wanted to be a performer. His passion is and was songwriting. He received a guitar as a Christmas present and began writing songs at the age of 13. One summer, at the age of 16, he attended a Young Life youth camp and made a decision to follow Christ. After that experience, he began hanging out at the legendary Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. He wanted to learn all he could about songwriting.
He was an aspiring teenager with a passion to share his message through song. At the age of 25, his guitar was stolen. To earn money for a new guitar, Brandon independently released his first CD, Soldier, which included many of his first songs. He signed on with Reunion Records in 2006 and released his first main studio album. Don't get Comfortable debuted with a hit single, Our God Reigns. Another single on that CD, I'm Not Who I Was, stayed on top of Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart for several weeks. It received two Dove nominations, including "Song of the Year, " in 2007.
Brandon's second project, What If We, was released in July 2008. The single from that CD, Give Me Your Eyes, was the Dove Awards, "song of the year," 2009. Brandon recalls those first years as being rough. He dreaded singing live night after night. He had a gift for songwriting. However, the more he sang, the more he realized his spiritual talents reached beyond the boundariesof songwriting into singing as well. Both brought joy.
Francesca Battistelli Letting Go With A Few Rips In Her Jeans
From the tender age of six, Francesca Battistelli, figured she'd follow in her parents' footsteps into the theatrical world. However, in her teen years, instead of drama, she was offered the opportunity to be part of a pop culture girls' rock band touring cities and playing in the Hard Rock Live and House of Blues. She loved it. It gave her a chance to sing and dance.
When the group broke up, Francesca, still a teenager, attended a youth ministry program. It was there God captured her heart with Christian music. She began playing guitar and writing songs. Francesca desired to write songs that would appeal to both Christians and non-Christians. She writes from the heart personal reflections on life and faith.
My Paper Heart, released this year is her debut CD. The inspiration comes from jazz greats, Christian artists and modern day contemporaries. She writes music to encourage others. Everyone is imperfect. She encourages people to let go of their worries and anxieties and let God lead.
The Collaboration of Helping Food For the Hungry.
The trio have teamed up to bring awareness of a group called Food For The Hungry. This organization doesn't bring in trucks of rice to starving countries. It brings hope and solution to rebuild devasted countries and help them become self-sufficient. Food For The Hungry takes money they receive and helps villages learn how to grow crops, raise livestock, build chicken coops and save money. It's not the usual hand-out organization. It's a hand-up organization.
Working Together To Bring Hope to the Hopeless.
Every concert is full of the message that society is not alone. God sees suffering. God feel compassion. God loves and God cares. Most of the world is facing obstacles. When it seems that no one cares to help, Leeland, Brandon and Francesca remind their audiences that God is always here. There is hope.No one is alone.
The Follow You Tour Leeland Brandon Heath
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