Leon Bridges American gospel and soul singer, songwriter Date of Birth: 13.07.1989 Country: USA

Biography of Leon Bridges

Leon Bridges is an American gospel and soul singer-songwriter who gained fame for his song "Coming Home", which has been played extensively on the radio. Born Todd Michael Bridges on June 13, 1989, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, Bridges began his musical career by writing songs and learning to play the guitar. He performed at local venues in Fort Worth, Texas while working as a dishwasher to make ends meet.

In 2014, Bridges signed a contract with Columbia Records. His song "Lisa Sawyer", which tells the story of his mother's conversion to Christianity, influenced Bridges' soulful style. Bridges started composing and performing his own material in the style of 1950s and 1960s soul music. His work was praised by entertainment website Austin 360 as being heartfelt.

Bridges gained more popularity and caught the attention of guitarist Austin Jenkins and drummer Joshua Block from the rock band White Denim. The trio recorded an album using vintage equipment and collaborated with various musicians associated with White Denim. Bridges' demo recordings were released on Soundcloud in late 2014, and his song "Coming Home" received radio airplay and attracted the interest of several record labels. Ultimately, Bridges signed a deal with Columbia Records.

In January 2015, Bridges embarked on his first national tour, performing in Texas and opening for Sharon Van Etten in New York. His debut single, "Coming Home", was released in January 2015 and quickly became a viral hit, reaching the top 10 on Spotify's viral tracks chart. Bridges toured with Jenkins and Block until they returned to White Denim. He performed at the Sundance Film Festival and the SXSW festival in 2015.

In the summer of 2015, Bridges released his debut album, also titled "Coming Home". The album was highly anticipated and was described by The New York Times as "an album you can’t wait to hear from Texans". Bridges was featured on the cover of Fort Worth, Texas magazine in May 2015, not only for his vocal talents but also for his standout retro style. The song "Coming Home" was featured in an advertisement for Apple's iPhone 6.

In May 2015, Bridges made his debut as a performer in the UK with a sold-out concert at the London Village Underground. His final concert during his 2015 UK tour took place on September 28 at the Shepherd's Bush Empire. In addition to his own shows, Bridges opened for Pharrell Williams at the Apple Music Festival in September 2015. He performed his hits "River", "Better Man", and "Lisa Sawyer" from his debut album "Coming Home" during the opening of the Roundhouse concert hall.

Bridges collaborated with hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on their song "Kevin", which is included in their second album "This Unruly Mess I've Made". He also performed as a musical guest on the popular TV show Saturday Night Live on December 5, 2015. Bridges' musical style and performance approach are reminiscent of 1960s rhythm and blues. The Wall Street Journal has described him as a "return to the soul of the 1960s, reminiscent of Otis Redding and Sam Cooke".

Bridges is known for his vintage fashion style, and the Fort Worth Weekly described him as someone whose "music sounds just like he looks".