Jeff Leonard was born and raised in rural Franklin County, North Carolina. Like many artists, Jeff began singing at an early age within his church and for his school choir. Growing up, he was influenced by many genres of music from rock, gospel, country, R&B, southern rock, blues and soul. It was not until he volunteered as a disc jockey in the US Navy that Jeff found his true love for country music. Country music was about life and just like Jeff...it had a story to tell. So naturally, he began to write his own songs knowing that someday he would pursue his passion to perform on stage. As an award winning disc jockey for AFRTS, Jeff continued to work as a DJ to help pay his way through college following his US Navy commitment. While at East Carolina University, he was a disc jockey for the Texas Two Step in Greenville, NC and then eventually moved to Raleigh, NC to work for The Longbranch Saloon. Over the years, Jeff noticed that bands were missing the mark when it came to engaging the crowd and their song selection. So in order to fill that niche and to give clubs, festivals and others the quality entertainment they were looking for, he decided to form a band of his own. The result was Southbound 85. After a few years of performing live on stage, Jeff decided it was time to revisit the songs he had written along the way and finally make them available to everyone. He narrowed down his over 70 originals to 10 he would be interested in putting on an original album. Still, life had given him more things to write about...such as the birth of his little girl. Jeff began to write once more and soon rekindled his love for writing. He composed 3-4 more songs specifically for his first album and began to perform them during his live shows. Audience feedback was tremendously positive and Jeff knew that it was time to make his first album a reality. Jeff tells us about the songs: Summertime : I wrote this song based on a childhood memory of playing hide and seek in a corn field near my home. It's basically a song about young love and it's journey. We Really Fit Together : Written while in the US Navy, it was a song idea that was based on a letter I received from a young woman from NC State via a care package (as we were away from home over the holidays). I never personally met her, but the song describes my vision of what our meeting would have possibly been like. It's a really fun song! I Need A Love : Another song written while in the US Navy, it was based on a girl I liked named Jerri Lynn. The contrast between the cold, cold mornings out at sea and the warmth of home are the underlying focus of this ballad. Be sure to listen as I tip my hat to classic country through spoken word! Promise of Love : Based on a relationship I had as a teenager with a girl named Belinda, this song centers on a promise we made when our parents told us we were not to see each other again. We took a little tape recorder and created personal messages for each other, promising to always love one another. Of course, through the next few years we grew apart (but this song revisits the light hearted promise we made to each other as teenagers). Country Girls (Grip & Ride) : This song rocks! I wrote this song specifically for the album. The song idea came from a sign I saw that said something like "city girls slip and slide but country girls can grip and ride". I saw that and was like "I have to make a song about that". The result is a song that will have you turning up the radio and putting you foot on the gas! Purest Gold : The second song on the album where I tip my hat to classic country, this song was written while in the US Navy as well. A friend of mine came to me and indicated that he was getting divorced. In the conversation, he said something like "but what's really going to kill me is that she took our kids". I thought long and hard about how difficult that must be...how much pain that he must feel. So I imagined an instance where someone would walk in a see their wedding ring on the bed, but realize that their only son was also gone. In a nod to classic country, listen as I "moan the blues". No Cover Charge : I've been honored to have this track already played on large market radio here in North Carolina! Written while I was a disc jockey at The Longbranch Saloon in Raleigh, NC. One evening, they were having a pretty big event and I asked "what's the cover"? I was surprised when management replied "No Cover Charge" and I began to think about the experience someone new would have coming to such a large venue. The song takes you on a fun journey as you are greeted at the door and walk in to find folks just having a great time! One For The Road : Written specifically for the album, it's an upbeat song about putting in a long week at work, gathering all of your friends and just cutting loose! Make sure to listen for the catch at the end of the song! Country Boy From The Start : This light hearted sing along will be stuck in your head! Make sure you turn it up and sing along wherever you are! Mackenzie's Song : My personal favorite song on the album (of course)! The story behind the song goes back to a health scare I had right after she was born. I was experiencing sharp pains in my chest, arms and sometimes back. It scared the heck out of me! What could I do to make sure she knew how much I loved her? I turned to music, as it was the only way to truly show the love I felt for her. Luckily, after a series of tests, it turned out to be a skeletal muscle issue (my heart was great). Now, I look forward to dancing with my little girl to this song one day when she gets married.