ARTIST
DIRECTORY
Glen
Leonard
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.
Interviewed by Cynthia
Allen for Jamsource Magazine
C.
Allen - First let me say welcome to Jamsource
Magazine you and I have been friends for a
long time and I'm one of your biggest fans.
Its truly a pleasure and honor to have you
take time out of your busy schedule for this
interview.
C. Allen - Tell our readers about you
we know you had a long and lustrous career
with the famous Temptations but give us a
little background on who you are.
G.
Leonard - I'm a native of Washington D.C.,
second oldest of 8 children, and as a child
I was raised between Washington and North
Carolina. I established 3 groups by the time
I was in my early 20’s, The Chancellors,
The Instant Groove, and The True Reflections.
I was also a member of another popular and
successful recording group from DC called
The Unifics.
C.
Allen - I understand you were in ministry
some years ago tell us about that.
G.
Leonard - After leaving The Temptations
in 1983, I became a born again Christian was
ordained and received a doctorate degree in
the early1990s then I entered into full time
ministry, I founded and began pastoring a
church in Houston, TX. Also, I actively became
involved in community outreach activities
and did motivational speaking.
C.
Allen - You are now doing concerts again
I understand you have several groups tell
me about them.
G.
Leonard - Yes I have a group called Glenn
Leonard and the Temptations Experience, the
show is full of high energy and choreography
we perform all The Temptations hits; Glenn
Leonard presents Hitsville Live, is a authentic
Motown Revue we perform all the hits from
your favorite motown acts; then Leonard, Coleman
& Blunt is comprised of friends and fellow
lead vocalist Joe Coleman of The Platters
and Joe Blunt of The Drifters we perform a
combination of songs from The Temptations;
The Platters and The Drifters.
C.
Allen - Congratulations on being inducted
into the R & B Music Hall of Fame in 2013!!
G. Leonard - Thank you yes it was quite
an honor.
C.
Allen - How did you become a member of
The Temptations and how long were you with
them also which member did you replace?
G.
Leonard - During the tail-end of the True
Reflections’ in 1975, they were searching
for a new lead singer. “They asked me
to join after hearing my work I replaced Damon
Harris and after I left Ron Tyson replaced
me. I had a long and illustrious career as
the first tenor from 1975 to 1983, I performed
on 10 albums and sung lead on many songs including
"I'm on fire", "Go for it,"
"The best of both worlds," "Open
their Eyes," "Ever Ready Love",
and the classic Christmas song "Silent
Night".
C.
Allen - What would you say has been one
of the most memorable and highlights of your
career?
G.
Leonard- It would have to be when we did
the “Reunion Tour in 1982.”sharing
the stage and recording with the likes of
Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, Dennis Edwards,
Richard Street, Otis Williams and the greatest
bass singer to ever lived Melvin Franklin,
that was an unforgettable, extraordinary and
historic performance.
C.
Allen - We know about the beginning and
the success of The Temptations but we know
little about what came after the success.
What happened to The Temptations in the later
days?
G.
Leonard - You evolve first of all you
have five guys in a group so it’s kind
of confining, you can’t do a lot, you’re
confined to the group. And once you reach
a certain level of success, you want to grow
and do different things, so some of the guys
decided they wanted to write and produce,
some wanted solo careers others no longer
wanted to perform so they retired.
C.
Allen - How would you say the music industry
has changed in the recent years compared to
back in the days?
G.
Leonard - It has changed in the sense
that when I was coming up, you would audition
then record labels would sign you to a recording
deal. Today they aren't signing nor paying
big money you have to bring your product already
finished so all they have to do is market
and promote for you. Also the industry has
changed because it’s a lot more lucrative
for the younger guys cause now you have computers,
social networks and the internet. So it changes
the industry because and musicians are out
of work, record companies are not getting
artists to buy studio time anymore.
C.
Allen- What do you think about the music
that’s coming out today specifically
African American music?
G.
Leonard - That’s an interesting question
I have to be careful how I answer this because
I don’t want to discourage the young
artists today. A lot of them have great potential
but I think what has happened is their attitudes
and mind set has changed therefore influencing
the quality of music.
I
particularly don’t like the way they
talk about women in songs today, it’s
very degrading and that bothers me! Then you
have a lot of the smart and clever artists
who take short cuts in their music they need
to do good production and arrangements. Today
they look the same I particularly don’t
like the way they dress I come from an era
where attire and fashion means a lot. I don’t
like seeing the guys on stage with their pants
hanging off their behinds I hate that! If
I paid my money to see you, I don’t want
to see you looking like you just came out
of the minefields, I want you cleaned up and
sharp put on a flashy suit and look good,
look the part. My biggest issue with artists
today is that they’ve lost their flair
and sense of style!!
C.
Allen - I've had the pleasure of booking
you on several occasions and I was pleasantly
surprised at the large fan base you have here
in Houston, TX how does that make you feel
as an artist?
G.
Leonard - It makes me happy to know I
have so many loyal fans here I hope to continue
provide them with great music and shows.
C.
Allen - Thank you again for allowing Jamsource
Magazine this interview it has been a pleasure
talking with you and I wish you much continued
success, if someone is interested in booking
any of your shows who can they contact?
G. Leonard - They can contact Cord
Coslor at Celebrity Direct at 941.624.2254
PO
Box 494314
Port Charlotte, FL 33949 USA
celebritydirect@comcast.net
FOR
MORE INFORMATION
(713) 204-9554
callenproductions1@yahoo.com
cynthia@callenproductions.com
