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]
Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Genres Hard rock, glam metal
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar
Years active1984–present
Member of FireHouse
Formerly ofWhite Heat
Website leverty.com

William G. Leverty II (born January 30, 1962) is an American guitarist. He is a founding member of the hard rock band FireHouse and has been 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]

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 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

Leverty playing his C.R. Alsip Guitar "Lucky 13" Bill Leverty & C.R. Alsip Lucky 13.jpg
Leverty playing his C.R. Alsip Guitar "Lucky 13"

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]

Personal life

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

Discography

Studio albums

with Firehouse

with Flood the Engine

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FireHouse</span> American rock band

FireHouse is an American hard rock band that formed in 1984 in Richmond, Virginia, and then moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where they were signed to Epic Records in 1989. The band reached stardom during the early 1990s with charting singles like "Reach for the Sky", "Don't Treat Me Bad" and "All She Wrote", as well as their signature power ballads "I Live My Life for You", "Love of a Lifetime" and "When I Look into Your Eyes". At the 1992 American Music Awards, FireHouse won the award for "Favorite New Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist".

Michael Foster is an American musician best known as the drummer and founding member of rock band FireHouse. Foster and guitarist/founding member Bill Leverty are the only original members still active in the band, following the death of vocalist CJ Snare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perry Richardson</span> American bassist

Perry Richardson is an American bass guitarist who played in the hard rock band FireHouse until 2000 and is currently the bassist of Stryper.

Bruce Kenneth Waibel was an American musician who played for several artists and bands. He was last remembered for playing bass guitar and touring with rock band FireHouse. He died in 2003 and his death was ruled a suicide.

Damon Che is a rock drummer and guitarist. He has contributed to indie rock and progressive rock through his work with math rock pioneers Don Caballero since 1991. His style is heavily influenced by metal, hard rock, punk, jazz, and fusion.

Wanderlust is a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world.

<i>O<sub>2</sub></i> (FireHouse album) 2000 studio album by FireHouse

O2 is the sixth studio album of the rock band FireHouse. It was released in 2000 and it is the only album to feature the late Bruce Waibel on bass, this album saw FireHouse back to its harder form of Glam Infused Hard Rock sounds that make them popular in early 90s while also modernizing their sound in the same time.

<i>FireHouse</i> (album) 1990 studio album by FireHouse

FireHouse is the debut album by American glam metal band FireHouse. Released in 1990, it launched the group into stardom. The record was certified double platinum in the United States and gold in Canada, Japan and Singapore.

<i>Hold Your Fire</i> (FireHouse album) 1992 studio album by FireHouse

Hold Your Fire is the second studio album by the hard rock band FireHouse. It was released in June 1992. The album spent thirty weeks in the Billboard 200 Top Albums chart peaking at No. 23.

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

Good Acoustics is the fourth studio album by the hard rock band FireHouse. It was released in 1996 on Epic Records. The album featured acoustic versions of several of the band's biggest hits. However, it also featured four new songs.

<i>Category 5</i> (album) 1998 studio album by FireHouse

Category 5 is the fifth album of the rock band FireHouse. It was originally released in 1998 in Japan and in 1999 in the United States by Lightyear Records.

<i>Prime Time</i> (FireHouse album) 2003 studio album by FireHouse

Prime Time is the seventh studio album of the rock band FireHouse. It was released in 2003 by Pony Canyon in Japan, and in 2004 in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen McKenzie</span> American bassist

Allen McKenzie is an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the hard rock/glam metal band FireHouse.

<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

"When I Look into Your Eyes" is the sixth single released by American rock band FireHouse. The song, a power ballad, became the band's second hit ballad, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending October 17, 1992. The song peaked at number 65 on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending December 19, 1992.

<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. It is a tenth and last track from its third album, 3. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C.R. Alsip Guitars</span>

C.R. Alsip Guitars is a small American guitar manufacturing company founded in Arkansas City, KS in February 2012. The company operated in Kansas from 2012 to 2014. The company is now based in the Atlanta, GA area. C.R. Alsip LLC was named after Connie Rae Alsip-Willoughby. C.R. Alsip LLC is owned & operated by Connie's son Jake Willoughby who originally planned to name the company "Mason Alsip".

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 (September 30, 1991). "'FIREHOUSE' Warms You Without Burning You Out". Deseret News. Archived from the original on September 3, 2021.
  3. ↑ Mills, Fred (October 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 September 20, 2015.
  5. ↑ "19th American Music Awards (presented in 1992)". Rock On The Net. Archived from the original on July 4, 2004. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  6. ↑ Haring, Bruce (May 25, 1993). "Warren, 'Best' tapped tops at ASCAP gala". Variety. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014.
  7. ↑ Wilker, Deborah (September 30, 1992). "Firehouse More Than Just A Ballad Band". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019.
  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 August 11, 2020.
  9. ↑ Wood, James (November 15, 2013). "Firehouse Guitarist Bill Leverty Discusses His New Project, Flood The Engine". Guitar World. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Gear". Leverty.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021.
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