Jen Ledger

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Jen Ledger
JenLedgerSingingDrummingLifest2019.jpg
Ledger in 2019
Background information
Birth nameJennifer Carole Ledger
Born (1989-12-08) 8 December 1989 (age 34)
Origin Coventry, England
Genres Hard rock, Christian rock, alternative metal, Christian metal
Occupation(s)Musician, singer
Instrument(s)Drums, vocals
Years active2008–present
Member of Skillet, Ledger

Jennifer Carole Ledger (born 8 December 1989) is an English singer, drummer and co-vocalist for the American Christian rock band Skillet. [1] At the age of 18, she became Skillet's drummer when Lori Peters retired. [1] [2]

Contents

Ledger released a solo EP in 2018 under the name Ledger. Several songs hit the Christian Rock chart and several other songs hit the Contemporary Christian music chart.

Early life

Ledger was born in Coventry and started playing the drums when she was 13. [3] Ledger attended Coventry Blue Coat Church of England School where she passed her GCSEs. [4] She played drums in a local band and was a finalist for the United Kingdom Drummer of the Year competition in 2006. [1]

She relocated to the United States at age 16 to major in drums with a scholarship at Living Light School of Worship in Kenosha, Wisconsin. [4] She joined the band The Spark; since the band already had a drummer, she played bass. [1]

Musical career

With Skillet

Ledger drumming in 2017 Jen Ledger Skillet Lifest 2017.jpg
Ledger drumming in 2017

Band members from Skillet discovered Ledger when they attended church services in the United States, where she was living at the time, and asked Ledger to audition for an open drummer spot in the band. [4] She has been Skillet's drummer and female vocalist since 2008, beginning with their promotional tour for the album Comatose. [4] [5]

Solo

Ledger stated that she and bandmate Korey Cooper began to write music for her own pop-influenced solo-project album in about 2012. [6]

In March 2018, it was announced that her debut EP, Ledger, was scheduled to be released on 13 April. [7] She has signed a deal with Atlantic Records and Hear it Loud, the imprint launched by Skillet's John and Korey Cooper and manager Zachary Kelm. [7] Ledger was produced by Korey Cooper along with writer and producer Seth Mosley. [7] Ledger was named the opening act for Skillet's Unleashed tour. [7] On 6 April, she released an official audio for the song "Not Dead Yet" on YouTube. [8] In a 2018 Billboard article, Deborah Evans Price stated that “Ledger wrote “Not Dead Yet” about a difficult time in her life when she was badly struggling with anxiety, fear and panic attacks.” [9]

On 8 October 2018, it was announced that Ledger would be performing at the 2019 Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, along with Newsboys, Danny Gokey, Mandisa and Rend Collective. [10]

On 15 February 2019, Ledger released her non-album single, "Completely," [11] followed by a music video published on 27 March. [12]

On 14 February 2020, Ledger released her second non-album single, "My Arms", which was accompanied by a lyric video the same day. [13]

Personal life

Ledger became a US citizen April 1st of 2021. [14]

Discography

Ledger performing in 2019 JenLedgerSkilletSingingLifest2019.jpg
Ledger performing in 2019

With Skillet

As Ledger

Extended plays

TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsSales
US
[15] 		US
Christ
[15] 		US
Rock
[15] 		US
Alt.
[16]
Ledger63273

Singles

YearSingle US Main.

[18]

Christ.
Rock		 US Christ. Christ.
Airplay 		Album
2018"Not Dead Yet"311
[19] 		——Ledger (EP)
"Bold"——— [upper-alpha 1] —
"Warrior"
(featuring John Cooper)		—2
[21] 		——
2019"Completely"——2928non-album single
2020"My Arms"——3232

Music videos

YearTitleDirectorAlbum
2018"Not Dead Yet"Roland BingamanLedger
2019"Completely"
  • The Elements – "Neon Feather" remix – TobyMac featuring Ledger

Awards

YearAwardCategoryResultSource
2012 Drummies! Award Rising StarWon [22]
Independent DrummerWon[ citation needed ]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Bold" did not enter the Hot Christian Songs chart, but peaked at No. 10 on the Christian Hot AC/CHR chart. [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skillet (band)</span> American Christian rock band

Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1996. The band currently consists of husband and wife duo John Cooper and Korey Cooper along with Jen Ledger and Seth Morrison. The band has released eleven studio albums, two of which, Collide and Comatose, received Grammy nominations. Two of their albums, Comatose and Awake, are certified Platinum and Double Platinum respectively by the RIAA, while Rise and Unleashed are certified Gold as of June 29, 2020. Four of their songs, "Monster", "Hero", "Awake and Alive", and "Feel Invincible", are certified Multi-Platinum, while another two, "Whispers in the Dark" and "Comatose", are certified Platinum, and another four, "Rebirthing", "Not Gonna Die", "The Last Night", and "The Resistance" are certified Gold.

<i>Alien Youth</i> 2001 studio album by Skillet

Alien Youth is the fourth studio album by American Christian rock band Skillet. Developing their sound into hard-hitting industrial rock, it was released August 28, 2001 through Ardent Records. This was the first Skillet album to include guitarist Ben Kasica, replacing Kevin Haaland. Kasica joined Skillet late in the recording process for the album, only recording guitars on "Earth Invasion". It peaked at No. 141 on the Billboard 200 and No. 16 on The Australian Christian Albums Chart.

<i>Comatose</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Skillet

Comatose is the sixth studio album by American Christian rock band Skillet. Released on October 3, 2006, by Lava Records, Ardent Records and Atlantic Records, this album continued a similar music style set by the band's 2003 album, Collide, of downplaying the keyboard elements that were prominent in previous releases in favor of distorted guitars, and included more of an emphasis on orchestral elements. Comatose was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 3, 2009, their first album to do so, and has since gone platinum, selling over 1,000,000 copies as of May 20, 2016. A deluxe edition of the album was released on December 26, 2007, and a live DVD of their headlining tour in support of the record was released in fall 2008. Comatose was nominated for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards on February 10, 2008.

<i>Hey You, I Love Your Soul</i> 1998 studio album by Skillet

Hey You, I Love Your Soul is the second studio album by American Christian rock band Skillet. It was released on April 21, 1998 as an enhanced CD on ForeFront Records and Ardent Records. Hey You, I Love Soul introduces the industrial rock sound that carries onto Alien Youth, with songs like the title track "Hey You, I Love Your Soul" and "Take".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Cooper (musician)</span> American bassist and singer

John Landrum Cooper is an American musician. He has been the lead vocalist, bassist and co-founder of Christian rock band Skillet since 1996 and the only constant member of his side project Fight the Fury since 2018.

"The Older I Get" is the fourth single released by the Christian rock band Skillet from their sixth album Comatose in 2007. The song was also released on an EP called "The Older I Get EP." The song charted at No. 27 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks and No. 14 on the Billboard US Hot Christian Songs chart.

<i>Comatose Comes Alive</i> 2008 live album by Skillet

Comatose Comes Alive is the second live album by American Christian rock band Skillet, which peaked at No. 164 on the Billboard 200. It is the band's first combination CD/DVD of live recording, as their first official live album was 2000's Ardent Worship, a worship album recorded live. The band's first live DVD was the Alien Youth DVD, which featured an acoustic performance. Comatose Comes Alive was recorded at the Tivoli Theatre on May 9, 2008, in Chattanooga, Tennessee and was released on October 21, 2008. The album is a CD of the concert's audio and a DVD capturing the live show. However, John Cooper's speech after "Savior" is cut from the CD. This is also the first release to feature Jen Ledger on drums.

<i>Awake</i> (Skillet album) 2009 studio album by Skillet

Awake is the seventh studio album by American Christian rock band Skillet. It is the follow-up to their Grammy-nominated album Comatose. The album was released on August 25, 2009, by Lava Records, Ardent Records and Atlantic Records and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 27, 2010, and has since gone double platinum, selling over 2,000,000 copies to date. It was nominated for Top Christian Album at the Billboard Music Awards 2011 and won. This is the last album to feature guitarist Ben Kasica and the first studio release to feature drummer Jen Ledger. The singles "Awake and Alive", "Hero", and "Monster" are certified 2× Platinum, 3× Platinum, and 5× Platinum, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hero (Skillet song)</span> 2009 single by Skillet

"Hero" is the first single of the 2009 album Awake by the American Christian rock band Skillet and is the first track on the album. The song talks about mankind's need for a hero with the hero being Jesus Christ. It is the fourth single by Skillet to be released to physical media. The single sold 12,000 copies in its first week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monster (Skillet song)</span> 2009 single by Skillet

"Monster" is the second single from the 2009 album Awake by the American Christian rock band Skillet, and is the second track on the album. The single went on to become the band's breakthrough single, charting at No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and No. 1 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. A radio edit of the song can be found on the deluxe version of the album Awake which doesn’t include the growling section of the song. It is also the fifth single by Skillet to be released to physical media.

"The Last Night" is the third single from Christian rock band Skillet's sixth studio album Comatose. The song has an anti-suicide message. It peaked at No. 38 on the Mainstream Rock charts and No. 16 the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart. R&R magazine counted it as the No. 1 song on Christian CHR radio stations in 2007 with 23,924 plays, and No. 2 for Christian rock radio with 4,554 plays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Awake and Alive</span> 2010 single by Skillet

"Awake and Alive" is the third single of the 2009 album Awake by the Christian rock band Skillet and is the fourth track on the album. It was released on February 15, 2010, to Christian Hard rock and Rock radio. Before release as a single, the song charted at No. 100 in the Billboard Hot 100 for one week and No. 16 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers after the release of Awake thanks to digital sales, becoming Skillet's first song to hit the Hot 100. The song also charted at No. 1 on Christian Rock.net. It has also debuted on Christian Rock charts at No. 12.

Forgiven is the fourth single from Christian rock band Skillet's 2009 album Awake, and is the ninth track on the album. The single was released to Christian CHR/Rock radio on August 2, 2010. The song received critical acclaim and was a moderate success. Although it reached number one on both Christian rock radio and CHR, Skillet has never performed it live.

<i>Awake and Remixed EP</i> 2011 EP by Skillet

Awake and Remixed EP is the third EP by American Christian rock band Skillet. All songs are remixed versions from their previous album, Awake. It was released on March 22, 2011 and debuted at No. 98 on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sick of It</span> 2013 single by Skillet

"Sick of It" is the first single from the 2013 album Rise from the Christian rock band Skillet. The single was released on SoundCloud on April 8, 2013 and was released in the iTunes Store on April 9, and was released to US rock radio on April 23.

<i>Unleashed</i> (Skillet album)

Unleashed is the ninth studio album by American Christian rock band Skillet, released on August 5, 2016. The album was announced on May 20, 2016, and a lyric video was released for the track "Feel Invincible" at the same time on the band's YouTube channel. Six days later, the band released a lyric video for the track "Stars" on their YouTube channel. The album was certified gold on December 4, 2018, selling 500,000 copies.

"Feel Invincible" is the lead single from the 2016 album, Unleashed, by the American Christian rock band Skillet, and is the first track on the album. It was released on June 29, 2016. The song became Skillet's first Hot Christian Songs No. 1 single.

<i>Victorious</i> (Skillet album) 2019 studio album by Skillet

Victorious is the tenth studio album by American Christian rock band Skillet, released on August 2, 2019. The album was announced on May 7, 2019, and a lyric video was released for the track "Legendary" at the same time on the band's YouTube channel. The band released the song "You Ain't Ready" on July 26, 2019, as a promotional single. "Legendary" was later chosen to be the new theme song for a new look WWE Raw, which debuted in 2019.

"I Want to Live" is a song by the Christian rock band Skillet, released as a promotional single off of their ninth album, Unleashed.

<i>Dominion</i> (Skillet album) 2022 studio album by Skillet

Dominion is the eleventh studio album by American Christian rock band Skillet. It was released on January 14, 2022, through Atlantic Records. The album was produced by Kane Churko, Kevin Churko, Michael O'Connor and Seth Mosley.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Angela (2014). Women Drummers: A History from Rock and Jazz to Blues and Country. Scarecrow Press. pp. 169–170. ISBN   9780810888357 . Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  2. ↑ Skillet drummer exits; Jesus Freak Hideout reprint of John Cooper press release, 14 January 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2008
  3. ↑ "Jen Ledger of Skillet". Modern Drummer Magazine. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Waddington, Jenny (20 May 2008). "Coventry teen Jennifer Ledger rocks all over America". Coventry Telegraph . Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  5. ↑ "New Drummer". crossrhythms.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "Ledger, 'Not Dead Yet' - Exclusive Song Premiere". Loudwire. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Skillet's Jen Ledger Inks Solo Deal, Releasing EP Next Month: Exclusive". Billboard . Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  8. ↑ "Not Dead Yet (Official Audio)". LEDGER. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  9. ↑ Evans Price, Deborah (16 August 2018). "Jen Ledger Overcomes the Odds in 'Not Dead Yet' Video: Exclusive". Billboard . Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  10. ↑ Clarks, Jessie (9 October 2018). "Winter Jam 2019 Tour Details Announced". TheChristianBeat.org. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  11. ↑ Cluver, Ross (15 February 2019). "LEDGER Releases Compelling New Single 'Completely'". CCM Magazine. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  12. ↑ Blabbermouth (26 March 2019). "SKILLET Drummer JEN LEDGER Celebrates God's Love In New Video, 'Completely'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  13. ↑ "LEDGER Drops New Single & Lyric Video 'My Arms'". 14 February 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  14. ↑ "I BECAME AN AMERICAN CITIZEN TODAY!". Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 "Skillet Side Project Ledger Debuts at No. 5 on Emerging Artists Chart". Billboard . Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  16. ↑ "Chart Search | Billboard". Billboard . Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  17. ↑ "Metal By Numbers 4/25: Breaking Benjamin's sales are hotMetal Insider". 25 April 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  18. ↑ "Rock Music: Top Mainstream Rock Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  19. ↑ "Christian Rock | Week of 2 June 2018". Billboard . Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  20. ↑ "Chart Search | Billboard". Billboard . Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  21. ↑ "Christian Rock | Week of 8 December 2018". Billboard . Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  22. ↑ "'Skillet's' 'Jen Ledger' Named 'Rising Star' in Drum Magazine's 2012 Drummies Award". The Metal Resource - mauce.nl. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
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