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Willie |
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traditional country artist with new country flair, Len Doolin
favors the country talents of Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels and
Merle Haggard. This Kentucky artist follows their edgy styles,
concentrating on the country sound on which he was raised.
Doolin has a life long history of performing country music. A self-taught guitar player and singer-songwriter, he learned his technique from "living room" guitar pickers and listening to albums of his country music favorites. Harold Montgomery (Eddie and John Michael Montgomery's father) spotted an 11-year-old Doolin performing at a talent contest. Young Doolin played his guitar and sang "Folsom Prison Blues." Montgomery, the lead man of the popular band headlining the show that evening, approached Doolin, extending an offer to feature him as an opening act for his band's upcoming live shows. Doolin performed in front of crowds at any venue that would allow the young boy on their stage, and at the age of 12 he became a member of the Musician's Union.
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Song List
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to the professional and musical relationship between Harold Montgomery
and Len, the Doolin and Montgomery families have a friendship
that spans some thirty years. As a teenager, Doolin ran around
with Eddie and John Michael Montgomery doing what young boys do:
roughhousing, wrestling together and cruising around in 4x4's.
Doolin worked behind the country music scene selling t-shirts for Les Taylor (Exile), Ronna Reeves and John Michael Montgomery; setting the stage as a hand on John Michael Montgomery's crew; and later opening shows for John Michael and Montgomery Gentry. Making his living as a musician since 1991, he replaced Troy Gentry (Montgomery Gentry) as a regular performer at The Grapevine, a local club owned by Gentry's parents. Len has been performing there for the past two years, as well as other Tennessee and Kentucky venues. Securing himself as a singer-songwriter, Doolin's (BMI writer) song "Heaven Sent Me You" (written for his wife) was cut and featured on John Michael Montgomery's multi-platinum, self-titled album. On the flip-side, Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry cut Doolin's song titles "She's A Good Ole Girl" on their demo recording that contributed to their landing a major label record deal. Doolin has songs cataloged with Zomba Publishing and his own publishing company, Dream Chasers Publishing. |
Doolin
describes his life performance as not choreographed or dramatic,
but a live interaction between the band members, himself and the
crowd.
"When people see me perform, I hope they are able to say 'Hey, that song's all about me; I know where he's coming from.' Good or bad, life is a cycle of ups and downs and I'd like to be able to convey to listeners that at one time or another, I've been right there with them. When I play life I hope the crowd can clearly see I'm a regular guy who's just having fun; the more fun the crowd is having, the more fun I have." Doolin demonstrates his musical influences and enthusiasm for the traditional country sound on his latest album, Once In a Life Time (Sunbird Records). The album contains a series of up-tempo, catchy, even humorous tunes, and yet captures hearts with tender and emotional ballads. Doolin co-wrote the record's first released single, "Breakin' What's Left of My Heart," with Tim Curtis. Offering an edgy, yet traditional country sound, Doolin's personal brand of country music has been developing since those early performances when he was just eleven years old. With Once In a Lifetime, listeners will hear how this new artist refreshingly invokes the sounds of country's past. |
