Recognized by his peers as one of Canada’s best performing songwriters, Lennie Gallant is a native of Prince Edward Island.
This prolific songwriter has recorded nine albums (seven in English and two in French), which have won him a host of awards and nominations from both the JUNOs and East Coast Music Awards. His album, “When We Get There” was nominated for a JUNO Award and went into space aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in July 2009. Canadian astronaut Julie Payette chose the album for the astronaut crew to enjoy. With the release of “If We Had A Fire” in 2009 he claims it is his best work yet. Recorded in Halifax, the album holds 14 new Gallant songs, performed by the artist and some of the best musicians the East Coast has to offer. “If We Had A Fire” Won the 2010 “Roots Recording of the Year” at the East Coast Music Awards.
While he says he is much appreciative of this kind of recognition for his work, Gallant feels the best part of being a songwriter is the moment of creation.
“When you really feel locked in with the ability to tell a story or convey an emotion in a unique yet, hopefully, a universal way.”
Other artists obviously believe in Gallant’s writing abilities as over 30 artists have recorded his songs internationally, including Jimmy Buffett.
“I have always wanted to bring Lennie Gallant’s music to the forefront,” says Buffett.
His songs have also appeared in feature films, some of which include Canvas, which starred Academy Award-winner Marcia Gay Harden (Mystic River) and Joe Pantoliano from The Sopranos (“Mademoiselle Voulez Vous Danser”, recorded by Jimmy Buffett), Conquest, which stared Lothaire Bluteau (theme song), Sigh and a Wish: Helen Creighton’s Maritimes (feature), and The Bellinger (wrote sound track). His songs have been used in television series - Dawson’s Creek (“Northern Lights”), Joan of Arcadia (“Something Unspoken”) and in numerous theatrical productions.
In addition to writing all the songs on his nine albums, he co-wrote the theme song for the first World Conference / Congres Mondial Acadien (“Acadie de nos couer”), and for Pier 21, Canada’s immigration gateway. He was also asked to write a song for Halifax’s 250th anniversary (“History is Happening Now”), which was then performed with a choir of 2000 voices on one of the two bridges spanning the harbour.
As a performer, Gallant’s intense delivery reaches down to the very soul of his audience, moving effortlessly through stirring narratives, comic observations, and hard driving rhythms. He has toured extensively internationally, playing festivals and concerts accompanied by roots rock bands, and in acoustic settings. He has shared the stage with such accomplished songwriters as Lucinda Williams, Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), Patti Griffin, and Ron Sexsmith and represented Canada at songwriter events in Nashville, London, and Texas.
“Our northern neighbor has given us some of the best songwriters living today. You can add Lennie Gallant to that list,” says the Performing Songwriter, Nashville.
Gallant will perform on March 31 at a Campbell River House Concert at 8 p.m. For ticket information, call 250-923-3378.