GRAMMY NOMINATED SOUL SINGER LEON BRIDGES TALKS ABOUT LOVING YOURSELF, HAVING PATIENCE AND HIS MOM’S YUMMY GUMBO -by Debra Lewis-Boothman

Want to know who inspires newest singing sensation Leon Bridges? CrownHeightsMom did so I sat down to listen to   Coming Home  the debut album from the newcomer who’s nominated for a 2016 Grammy in the Best R&B Album category  alongside  acts like  D’Angelo, Jazmine Sullivan, Andra Day and  legend Charlie Wilson.

Pumping through my beatsbydre pill was that  deep 50s and 60s’ soul  sound harkening back  to  the height of the civil rights era when R&B  music had a major significance on the movement and integration across the country. Bridges’  throwback singing style puts one in mind  of   Otis Redding and  Sam Cooke . I pumped the volume up on high and noted to myself that a chat  with this young  star was in order . I   wanted to meet  him to  find out more  about his Grammy nod  and his inspiration for this album.

A throwback in time. Bridges is this and more and what a year he had in 2015 — releasing  his debut album  Coming Home, to performing on Saturday Night Live,  touring across the UK and contributing music to  the  Concussion Movie sound track –these are just a few of the highlights that  kept him busy.

I met the 26-year old  when he  made a stop in New York   just before the Christmas holiday. The newcomer was in town  attending  the Concussion Movie  premiere along with  lead star, Will Smith.   Spotting Bridges  ahead of Smith as they  walked the red carpet  outside  AMC Lincoln Center movie theater I snagged  the opportunity  to get a few questions answered .

So whom does the humble Bridges look up to musically? “I like a lot of 1950’s and 1960’s gospel and country,” the 26-year old  tells CrownHeightsMom exclusively  as Will Smith, Liam Neeson, Kevin Lyles, Elew  and others  descend the red carpet to the screams and flashes of photographers begging them to “turn this way”. Adds the newcomer  who is quickly  becoming a household. “I love Bobby Womack, Townes Van Zandt, Jesse Belvin, and Johnnie Taylor. “All that different type of stuff.” 

 

 

 

I did not think that my album would be worthy enough to be nominated in the R&B category—-Leon Bridges

 

The singer counts  his mother Lisa Sawyer  as his biggest cheerleader. “Even when I was  playing at open mics with five people in the crowd, she was  supportive,” he tells me . The soul and gospel crooner even dedicates the  track  “Lisa Sawyer ” on the album to his dear mom.

I wonder what  mom thinks of his current success. “Says the former dishwasher from Fort Worth Texas, “She said to me, ‘ It is all God ‘ and she  is just  totally blown away by the Grammy nomination and  with everything that has been happening,” he adds.

Not just his music reminds one  of the 50s and 60’s. So does his fashion style. He’s a  sharp dresser who loves   1950’s  style suits and putting together a look that is smart and GQ-ed out to the max.

 

With the  new success  and the new gear  Bridges says he does not forget from  whence he came. As he says   to me  he knows a thing or two of living the “struggling artist” life.  Before success hit he  made ends meet being a dishwasher but he never gave up on his music and making it. “You have to be in love with yourself and in love with your art,” Bridges tells  tell   CrownHeightsMom is one of the messages he wants  to share with struggling artists out there.

If you always think about making it, then you are going to get disappointed…………—-Leon Bridges

 

 

 

The main thing, Bridges says artist should remember is,  “If you always think about making it, then you are going to get disappointed and you are going to get impatient .” He says, “It is all about patience,  being in love with yourself and using that time and the small platform for the better.”

 

With  the holidays now over the young artist is preparing for  a busy 2016. He was looking forward seeing  him mom over the Christmas holiday  exclaiming,  “I am going home! I am going to see my momma and to eat her gumbo for sure. My momma is from New Orleans.”

 

 

So how does the  future look  for Leon Bridges ? The blueprint so far looks great for this young recording artist and   Crownheightsmom  plans on following his progress . He hits the road in March, heading overseas  on a  tour that will last  through mid-June . This may seem quite a busy schedule so soon for a newcomer, but  Bridges says, he loves performing and this  is a “life long dream.”

 

Dreams do become reality  and Bridges says that he isn’t quite  finished yet on achieving his. One  dream  he has  his heart set on achieving  he says is a life  goal of helping others. “I want to provide ways for kids to go to college, ”  he shares,  adding “and  I  also want to provide ways to help out single mothers.”

Way to go Leon Bridges!……Way to go! We  here at Crownheightsmom.com have no doubts  that you will achieve these dreams and more.