He is a singer-songwriter born in Rustico, Prince Edward Island, Canada, to a musical family who were involved in charity concerts and local theatre.
He began playing guitar after he was given won for a 13th birthday present, was a member of several of his local bands while still a teenager and was the founder of the band Speed the Plow.
Although always singing he started out as a sailor which would lead him to visiting much of the world which included hitch-hiking in Europe. Trying his hand at many occupations over the years following being at sea he was a painter, a teacher, a bartender, a stevedore, a labourer, and truck driver, and actor, a movie location manager, a festival director and several more before making the decision to make music his full time career.
Working with symphony orchestras, rock bands and traditional groups, he has got at least seven albums under his belt, one in French, which have seen him winning no less than 13 East Coast Music Awards and two Juno Award nominations. Artists he has appeared with on stage and/or in the recording studio include Patti Griffin, Jimmy Buffett who recorded his “Mademoiselle Voulez-Vous Danser” for his Far Side of the World album, Roger Hodgson and Lucind Williams.
His songwriting, which often tells stories about people living with extreme difficulties, include “Island Clay”, “Man of Steel” and “The Hope for Next Year” and have been recorded by over 30 artists worldwide. The world of stage and screen has used his work, and his music can be heard in the series Joan of Arcadia and Dawson’s Creek. Writing a commissioned song for Halifax for its 250th anniversary, it was sung on two bridges over the harbour by 2000-member choir.
Albums he has appeared on include his own, Lifeline, Open Window, If We had a Fire and the Juno nominated When We Get There, with Jimmy Buffet , AtlanticDecade: 10 Years of East Coast Music and Acadie en Chanson .
Recognised for his contribution of music he is a board member of the Songwriters Association of Canada and was honoured with membership The Order of Canada.
Here he is singing his “Pieces of You”….
Sources:
- http://www.lenniegallant.com/media.html
- http://www.myspace.com/lenniegallant
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lennie_Gallant
- http://www.lenniegallant.com/buffett.html
- http://www.songwriters.ca/member/LennieGallant
- http://www.buffettnews.com/bandmember277.html