Songwriter LELDON first came to California in the early 1990’s, by way of Alabama. He was lured not only by music and adventure, but the promise of a job and a place to live. He got off his one way ticket bus ride to Long Beach with 2 guitars, an amp, a couple of bags, and only $165 in his pocket. He was greeted by the friend of promises and told that plans had fallen through and that he was to be in his new adventure, homeless! This would ultimately play the beginning and first chapter into a nearly lifelong musical adventure for this musician nurtured on bluegrass and gospel music thanks to his southern roots.
It was trials, tribulations, and eventual wander and wonder-lust that conspired to take LELDON from California. He headed to Nashville, another of the country’s music hotbeds. And it was in that southern city where he found his voice, literally. It was this two year period where he lived in a self-made cabin in middle of the Tennessee backwoods. This is where he learned to sing and realized he was destined to be a singer and not just a guitarist. He played hillsides and sang to the trees as his audience. LELDON would eventually root himself back in the local Long Beach, California social scene and develop a substantial fan base singing his songs in local house party, bars, and clubs. His networking led him to a meeting with Brian Carhart, a young multi-instrumentalist and producer with his own studio, The Green Room. “We realized it would be the sickest thing in the world if we worked together,” remembers LELDON.
In December 1998, LELDON and Brian Carhart were contracted through their manager and a high-profile music attorney to begin working on a full band demo in order to shop their talents to record labels. It wasn’t long thereafter, with the buzz created from his demo and numerous sold-out solo performances, LELDON garnered interest from the music industry. Label reps were making the drive from L.A. to Long Beach to check out LELDON and his gruff, melodic, heartfelt vocals and equally unique and memorable songs. LELDON and Brian Carhart acquired two additional musicians to round out their musical project One Way Ride. They were compelled by the songs and excitement surrounding the project to showcase their talents at The Viper Room on July 29th, 1999. Needless to say, the gig was a success and afterwards several of the 100 industry reps in attendance cornered LELDON outside the club to sing his praises. After meeting producer Don Gehman after the show, LELDON was told by Gehman, that he was thrilled and shocked by the audience he observed at the gig. “It was so crowded and such a diverse audience; some of the people you’d be scared to see in an alley at night,” he laughs. “from kids to a 75 yr. old couple.” Gehman said it reminded him of a Bruce Springsteen concert, which isn’t so bad. LELDON and his band One Way Ride were discovered by legendary A&R man Michael Rosenblatt (Madonna, Soft Cell, New Radicals) and were inked to MCA Records in October of that year and there began the next chapter of LELDON’s musical adventures.
LELDON and his band recorded with Grammy nominated producer Don Gehman (John Melloncamp, Hootie & The Blowfish, Tracy Chapman, REM) and engineer Mark Dearnley (ACDC, Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne, Marilyn Manson) and released their major label debut in August of 2000. They released their first single to radio and were 1 most added at Rock and Active Rock and 2 on the Alternative Rock formats. LELDON and his band One Way Ride toured the country for the next year opening for a number of national acts such as Fuel, 3 Doors Down, Finger Eleven, Nickelback, and Union Underground. They even had major bands Linkin Park and Lifehouse open for them along the way (It’s funny how thing happen). One Way Ride would eventually reach 13 on the Billboard R&R charts before their first single started to lose momentum and before they pushed for a second single at radio. It was that time when LELDON started to see a different side of the music business and his dream of becoming a musical household name. MCA Records were on the verge of dissolving their musical corporation into the Geffen Records roster. MCA Records wanted LELDON to drop the heavier band approach to his songs and release a new album of more singer/ songwriter oriented material which they saw apparent the first time they had seen him perform solo. LELDON chose to stay loyal to his band and decided that his venture with MCA Records would best be parted. MCA Records and One Way Ride parted ways in 2001 and LELDON and the band continued on their own to develop themselves and to continue where they left off with their parted venture with the MCA Records label.
In hindsight, nobody knows if LELDON made the right decision. One Way Ride continued unsuccessfully by themselves and failed to maintain a self sufficient career without the financial support of their record company. The label did dissolve which created a lot of politics surrounding its roster. Therefore, with the current status of the music business and countless artists leaving the major label system to release their music independently, it could serve as LELDON’s blessing in disguise. Now that years have passed, the most recent chapter of LELDON’s adventure had taken a positive turn. From where he considers his new home of San Deigo, California, LELDON was contacted by his former manager with the news that he had investors and wanted a new solo album recorded immediately. LELDON had reacquainted himself with longtime collaborator and ex-bandmate Brian Carhart and put him at the helm as producer for the LELDON solo project. “We vibe subconsciously,” explains LELDON, in reference to his kindrid spirit relationship with Brian Carhart. The two spent the next 4 months in The Green Room recording studio and recreated LELDON’s signature soulful southern style of songwriting. The magic displayed on their previous collaborations is hugely apparent on the 17 tracks for the LELDON solo debut. So, here begins the next chapter of his adventures, and what a long dynamic and passionate journey it has been. Proudly, the album was released on February 12th, 2008 on the indie label Foti-Oz. Entertainment. The disc is titled “One Way Or Another” which explains the raw enthusiasm and drive of the soul bleeding, from the gut singing, genuine talent that is LELDON!
