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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

 

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