Bill Leverty

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Bill Leverty
Bill Leverty live.jpg
Background information
Birth nameWilliam G. Leverty II
Born (1962-01-30) January 30, 1962 (age 62) [1]
Origin Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Genres Rock, hard rock, melodic rock
Occupation(s)Guitarist, musician, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s) Guitar, vocals, lap steel guitar, acoustic guitar
Years active1984–present
Website www.leverty.com

William G. Leverty II (born January 30, 1962) is an American guitarist. He is best known as a founding and current member of the rock band, FireHouse. Leverty is responsible for writing many of the band's hit songs. Throughout the 2000s, Leverty has also pursued a solo career, releasing five albums: Wanderlust, Southern Exposure, Deep South, Drive, and Divided We Fall. Following the Death of founding member and vocalist CJ Snare, Leverty alongside drummer Michael Foster are the only original members still active in the band.

Contents

Biography

Born in Richmond, Virginia, Leverty's parents gave him a guitar when he was 4 years old, although he didn't take playing guitar seriously until he was 14. Around this same time, Leverty began to study music theory in high school. [1] In 1984, Leverty's band, White Heat, held auditions for drummers and it was here that Leverty met fellow Richmond native and his longtime bandmate and collaborator, Michael Foster. In 1988, Leverty and Foster's White Heat combined forces with C.J. Snare and Perry Richardson. Before signing to Epic Records in 1989, White Heat changed their name to FireHouse. [2] Firehouse went on to sell over 7 million albums worldwide, as well as win the 1991 American Music Award for "Favorite New Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist." [3] [4] [5]

In 1993, Leverty won an ASCAP songwriter award for Firehouse's highest charting single, "Love of a Lifetime." [6] [7]

Leverty married his wife Kris in 1996; together they have one child.

In 2004, after 15 years with Firehouse, Leverty released his first solo album, Wanderlust. On October 9, 2007, Leverty released his first instrumental and second solo album, Southern Exposure, followed by a third album, Deep South, in 2009. His fourth solo album, Drive, was released in February of 2013. Leverty released his fifth album, Divided We Fall, in 2020. [8]

In 2013, Leverty formed a supergroup, Flood the Engine. FTE is composed of Leverty, Jimmy Kunes (Cactus), Keith Horne (Tanya Tucker, Waylon Jennings, Trisha Yearwood, Luke Bryan), and Andre Labelle (Vinnie Vincent). Flood the Engine released their only album, Flood The Engine, in 2013. [9]

Gear

Throughout the 1990s, Leverty held an endorsement deal with Yamaha Guitar Development. He played the Yahama Pacifica model for 16 years.

On July 4, 2006, GREM USA announced that Leverty signed an exclusive endorsement with the guitar manufacturer. GREM guitars produced "The Bill Leverty Free Radical" model.

In 2012, Leverty began working with C.R. Alsip Guitars and became the guitar manufacturer's first endorsee. Leverty worked hand in hand with C.R. Alsip's master luthier & owner, Jake Willoughby, in the prototyping stages. Soon thereafter, Leverty's C.R. Alsip guitar known as "Lucky 13" was born. Leverty's second Alsip, "Goldie," was pictured on his fourth solo album, Drive. [10]

Discography

Studio albums

with Firehouse

with Flood the Engine

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<i>Good Acoustics</i> 1996 studio album by FireHouse

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love of a Lifetime (FireHouse song)</span> 1991 single by FireHouse

"Love of a Lifetime" is a song performed by the American rock band FireHouse. It was the band's third single and its highest-charting single in the United States, entering the Billboard Hot 100 June 29, 1991 at No. 81 and peaking at No. 5 the week of September 28, 1991. It is also the band's first and most popular power ballad. The song was written by vocalist C. J. Snare and guitarist Bill Leverty.

"All She Wrote" is the fourth and final single from the FireHouse album by the American rock band FireHouse. The single peaked at No. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by the guitarist Bill Leverty and the vocalist C.J. Snare. The promotional video for the song was filmed at the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater in Springdale, Utah.

"Reach for the Sky" is the fifth single released by the American rock band FireHouse. As the first single from their second album, Hold Your Fire, the track reached No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 27 on the Album Rock Tracks chart. The song was written by guitarist Bill Leverty and vocalist C.J. Snare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When I Look into Your Eyes</span> 1992 single by FireHouse

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Live My Life for You</span> 1995 single by FireHouse

"I Live My Life for You" is the seventh single released by the American rock band FireHouse. A power ballad, the song reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 20 on the Adult Contemporary charts. It is generally considered to be the last song released by a 1980s style glam metal band still classified as such to make a significant impact on the charts, something notable because it was released in 1995 which was a full three years after the genre was pushed out of the mainstream by the grunge movement. The song was written by guitarist Bill Leverty and vocalist C.J. Snare.

<i>Full Circle</i> (FireHouse album) 2011 studio album by FireHouse

Full Circle is a compilation studio album by American hard rock band, FireHouse. The album features re-recorded material from the band's previous releases. It features all original members excluding bassist Perry Richardson, and replacing him with ex-Jani Lane bassist Allen McKenzie, thus making the album the first to feature McKenzie on bass. It consists of 5 tracks from their debut, FireHouse, 3 tracks from their sophomore effort, Hold Your Fire 1 track from their 3rd release aptly titled, 3, 1 track from their acoustic release, Good Acoustics, and 1 track from The Best of FireHouse compilation. The album spawned a tour covering the United States, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Peru, Korea, Portugal, and India.

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References

  1. 1 2 Curran, Colleen (January 9, 2016). "Richmond guitarist Bill Leverty on FireHouse fame". Richmond Times Dispatch. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2024. Reported on January 9, 2016, to be 53 years old.
  2. Binggeli, Dagi (Sep 30, 1991). "'FIREHOUSE' Warms You Without Burning You Out". Deseret News. Archived from the original on 2021-09-03.
  3. Mills, Fred (Oct 11, 2005). "Firehouse plans to stay hot". Tampa Bay Times.
  4. Nieman, Carrie (July 24, 2002). "Firehouse: Hard rock band". Style Weekly. Archived from the original on 2015-09-20.
  5. "19th American Music Awards (presented in 1992)". Rock On The Net. Archived from the original on 2004-07-04. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  6. Haring, Bruce (May 25, 1993). "Warren, 'Best' tapped tops at ASCAP gala". Variety. Archived from the original on 2014-03-04.
  7. Wilker, Deborah (Sep 30, 1992). "Firehouse More Than Just A Ballad Band". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2019-07-08.
  8. Wood, James (March 4, 2013). "'Drive': FireHouse Guitarist Bill Leverty Discusses New Album of Classic Cover Songs". Guitar World. Archived from the original on 2020-08-11.
  9. Wood, James (Nov 15, 2013). "Firehouse Guitarist Bill Leverty Discusses His New Project, Flood The Engine". Guitar World. Archived from the original on 2020-09-29.
  10. "Gear". Leverty.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-17.

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