Lennie Gallant

Lennie Gallant
Gallant performing at Théâtre Louis Vermeersch at Samuel-de-Champlain, Saint John, New Brunswick
Background information
Born Rustico, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Origin Rustico, Prince Edward Island
Genres Folk, celtic, rock, country
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Labels Gallant Effort Production
Website www.lenniegallant.com

Lennie Gallant, CM is a Canadian singer-songwriter and instrumentalist[1] from Prince Edward Island. His music crosses into the folk, Celtic, rock and country music genres, while celebrating the musical heritage of his home province.[2] He has been presented with many awards for his performances and songwriting.[3]

Early life

Gallant was born in Rustico, Prince Edward Island.[4]

Career

Gallant began by playing guitar, mandolin and bodharan in local Celtic bands.[5] He began writing his own songs.

Gallant has recorded ten albums (eight in English and two in French). He wrote all of the songs on his ten CDs. His album, When We Get There was nominated for a 2007 Juno Award and went into space aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in July 2009. Canadian astronaut Julie Payette chose the album for the astronaut crew on their 16-day mission.[6]

He performed six shows at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, including a performance at BC Place during the medal ceremonies. He represented the East Coast of Canada at "Canada Day in London" in Trafalgar Square on 1 July 2011 in the largest Canada Day celebration outside Canada's borders.

Gallant has toured North America and in Europe with his band in acoustic settings and with symphony orchestras. He has performed his compositions at songwriter events in Nashville, London, and Texas. A number of musicians have recorded his songs internationally, including Jimmy Buffett, who recorded Lennie Gallant's song "Mademoiselle". Artists who have performed his songs include Tara MacLean, Matt Minglewood, Roy Bailey, Sabia, Priscilla Herdman, Delvina Bernard – Four The Moment, and The MacLean Sisters.

His songs have also appeared in feature films: Canvas included "Mademoiselle Voulez Vous Danser", recorded by Jimmy Buffett;, The theme song for Conquest, a feature in Sigh and a Wish: Helen Creighton's Maritimes and the sound track for The Bellinger are all Gallant's compositions. His songs have also been used in television series, including Dawson’s Creek ("Northern Lights") and Joan of Arcadia ("Something Unspoken"), and in various theatrical productions.

He also wrote the OXFAM Song, "Land of the Maya", and Halifax's 250th Birthday Theme Song "History is Happening Now". He co-wrote, directed and produced the Pier 21 National Theme Song and the theme song for Acadian World Conference/Congres Mondial Acadien (Acadie de nos coeur).

Gallant played an acting role in an episide of the feature film Emily of New Moon. He wrote the theme song and acted in The Trial of Minnie MacGee.

In 2014, the Charlottetown Festival hosted 57 performances of Gallant's show Searching for Abegweit: The Island Songs and Stories of Lennie Gallant. [7]

Awards and accomplishments

Order of Canada

He was inducted into the Order of Canada where it was said, "Gallant has garnered much respect for his hard hitting songs chronicling the lives of people dealing with tremendous adversity and serious issues. Songs like "Peter's Dream," "Island Clay," "Man of Steel" and "The Hope for Next Year," articulate the feelings of many caught up in desperate situations beyond their control, and at the same time celebrate the beauty of lifestyle and landscape with their strong poetry and stirring narratives." – From the induction ceremony in Ottawa, Canada.[8]

Other awards

Gallant has been presented with 18 East Coast Music Awards,[9] three Juno Nominations, a Canadian Folk Music Award, two Étoiles Awards and an Éloizes Award.

Television

Gallant's television appearances included East Coast Barenaked East Coast Music!, East Coast Music Awards National Broadcasts, The Vicki Gabereau Show, La Fête en Acadie, Brio, Good Morning Canada, Canada AM, @ The End, En Spectacle au Festival Acadien, Gala des prix Éloizes, Gala des prix Étoiles de l'ARCANB, Much More Music/Much Music/CMT.

Discography

Albums

Year Album CAN
1988 Breakwater[10] —
1991 Believing in Better —
1994 The Open Window 72
1997 Lifeline —
2000 Lennie Gallant Live —
2002 Le Vent Bohème —
2005 When We Get There —
2009 If We Had a Fire —
2009 Le coeur hanté —
2014 Live Acoustic at the Carleton[11] —

Singles

Year Single Chart Positions Album
CAN Country CAN AC CAN
1991 "Is It Love I Feel (Or Courage I Lack)" — — — Believing in Better
1992 "Man of Steel" 34 — —
"The Cry for Love" 44 — —
1994 "Believing in Better" 75 — —
"Which Way Does the River Run" 32 9 95 The Open Window
"Embers" — 26 58
1995 "Peter's Dream" 74 29 —
1998 "Meet Me at the Oasis" — — — Lifeline
2005 "I Want to Save the World for You" * * — When We Get There
"The Innkeeper" * * —
2007 "47 Angels on Her Front Lawn" * * —
2010 "You Don't Know How Beautiful You Are" * * — If We Had a Fire
2011 "If We Had a Fire" * * —

References

  1. ↑ "Trios reward full house of music lovers". Calagary Herald, Dan St.Yves. February 27, 2016
  2. ↑ "REVIEW: Lennie Gallant’s Abegweit a journey well worth taking". The Guardian, Lennie MacPherson July 2, 2014
  3. ↑ "Lennie Gallant, Còig among East Coast winners at folk music awards". THE CHRONICLE HERALD, November 30, 2014
  4. ↑ "Devonian Coast Wineries brings star-studded line-up to STOMP". Music Life Magazine, David Hodges | October 12, 2015
  5. ↑ Elaine Keillor (18 March 2008). Music in Canada: Capturing Landscape and Diversity. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. pp. 298–. ISBN 978-0-7735-3391-2.
  6. ↑ "Gallant shares acoustic roots". By Kennedy Gordon, Peterborough Examiner, November 25, 2014
  7. ↑ "Lennie Gallant embarks on N.S. tour after successful P.E.I. summer". Chronicle Herald, Stephen Cooke, October 15, 2014
  8. ↑ Gavin, John (5 August 2003). "Governor General Announces New Appointments to the Order of Canada P.E.I.'s LENNIE GALLANT is one of them".
  9. ↑ " Cousins Big Winner At 2013 ECMA's". CBC New Brunswick, March 10, 2013
  10. ↑ Pirkko Moisala; Beverley Diamond (2000). Music and Gender. University of Illinois Press. pp. 116–. ISBN 978-0-252-06865-2.
  11. ↑ "Music Review: Lennie Gallant - Live Acoustic at The Carleton". CBC New Brunswick, July 13, 2014.
  • Official website
  • "Lennie Gallant". Songwriters Association of Canada.
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