Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Leigh
Hi Jennifer, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My Dad, he paved the way for me to be myself musically. My singing has never fit into one genre…….having grown up with The Allman Brothers, Waylon Jennings, Etta James, and Bonnie Raitt, as the soundtrack of my life. Dad was an awesome human, and an incredible musician. He had THE voice, stage presence, and solid pocket bass playing, he laid right back in the cut. So many memories, sitting side stage in a roadside honkytonk with my own personal bouncer to make sure no one messed with me.
I got to sing with him from time to time, it always depended on the crowd and bar owner. I knew from the first moment I got on stage with him, that someday I would work in music, be it on stage doing my own thing, or helping out in the industry.
In Southeast Missouri bars with Dad, or in some of those same bars with my first band MojoFilter-(Early 2000’s) It’s there that I really cut my teeth and discovered I liked to write, and sing the blues.
I became a mother, to an amazingly musical daughter in 2006.
Made the move to Nashville in 2010, for the music scene and love. (that love didn’t work out, but we did have some fun playing music together in a band called Theo Cas,) Theo Cas, was a funk/soul band and we got to play all the fun spots in town for many years. Even recorded a live album at the old French Quarter in 2011! I miss that spot.
My daughter Cadence and I made the official move here in March of 2010. We loved our new spot near the Opry, on the Cumberland River, but come May of 2010 we didn’t really love it anymore! Two months into officially living here, it was all gone. My daughter would tell everyone the river ate her toys, she was only 4. Man! did this town show up and show out!!!! Being full time musicians my partner and I got a lot of help. (thank you Community of Middle Tennessee and MusicCares!) We ended up relocating to the Whites Creek area, on the northwest side of Nashville. This move would give me some of my very favorite musical memories in Nashville, along with some lifelong friendships. I wore many hats at The Fontanel out off Whites Creek pike. Bartender, Caterer, Singing Tour Guide, it was my first time having a job that I really loved. Fontanels owners realized there was a lot of talented people working there and decided to start an employee ran label. As long as you worked there you were signed and we ran it ourselves, it was the best internship ever. We learned the workings of the industry hands on, even released two compilation albums. (Fontanel Originals and Fontanel Family Christmas) I attribute a lot of the skills I use now with festival planning and booking to what I learned in my 5 years at Fontanel.
2017-I wanted to go back to school, so we made the move to Columbia TN. WOW, can I tell you, I had lived in Nashville for 7 years, and this little town just an hour south of Nashville TN, holds some insanely beautiful talent………..passion, songwriting and musicianship everywhere!
2020- my high school sweetheart resurfaced and changed my heart for the better. During the pandemic we locked down with a couple other friends. Carport jams, bonfires and a good bit of booze got us through that weird and crazy time.
Now, during all these years I continuously played shows with my Dad, and sometimes my daughter when the venue would allow. (reminds me of those honkytonk days when I was a kid!) He was my constant musical partner no matter who I played with here, I would always make time to go back home to Missouri and play a show with him. I lost my lifetime musical partner to Covid on August 29th 2021. He and my stepmom contracted it around the same time and were in hospitals 4 hours away from each other. People say I was lucky that dad could have a visitor for 30 minutes a day (unless you played the system and came back again after shift change) I don’t know if I was “lucky”, but watching my big strong healthy father, my mentor, my hero slip away was, surreal and deeply soul crushing. I am an only child, the weight was unbearable. The love of my chosen family has helped me in healing……..and all things musical that I do, I now do in his honor.
Now going back to those Covid carport sessions, they evolved into a band that included my love, Chris on bass. Cochise County was formed with great friends. While playing with them I planned and put together Big Shakes Fall Musicfest! 15 acts, 2 stages, we played that bill with some of those amazing Columbia musicians I mentioned above. It was a damn good day! I have found a passion for putting together these kinds of events and showcasing hidden talent, that might not get that opportunity otherwise.
I moved on from Cochise County earlier this year, they are still playing and killing it. I wanted to step away and regroup. Right now I am helping with bookings for a few local places in the Columbia area, and I am helping out some artists with their bookings as well.
Currently, working on a one day music festival (with all the devastation it might evolve into several separate days of music) to help the flood/hurricane victims, its tragic and heartbreaking to see. As a flood victim myself it is pulling at me to do something. I love seeing all the humanity in times like these.
Flood Relief Band Jam 2024: October 27th 12-8pm at The Rebel Bar and Grill Columbia Tn. I have no doubt it’s going to be a beautiful day.
As for me, musically, I am currently working on my dream band: A blues/country mash up with a Hammond B, steel guitar and soul called Jenn and Her Wilder Kin. I want to travel, write and do the dang thing………anybody wanna jam??? My child is grown, my day job as a nanny is super flexible……I feel like its my time to do it……..and if I can help out some other musicians along the way even better. I have never looked at this industry as a competition, we are all here wanting to do the same thing…..lets lend a hand when we can.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing smooth about the gravel roads I tend to take……..ha………
I am certain many other folks have had worse struggles…..I let self doubt and fear hold me back from really pursuing anything musical, big fish in a tiny pond was my safe space. Growing up I dreamed of moving to Nashville, I had visited a few times and heard dads stories of when he would come over and try his hand a cowriting…..that was the Nashville I first fell in love with, the 90’s Nashville.
My daughter was born premature at 24 weeks in 2006 and stayed in the hospital for 8 months…..I of course stopped everything to be there for her. I didn’t play music for almost 2 years. She is now 18, healthy and talented.
Losing my Dad kinda knocked the musical breath right out of me…..I didn’t know if I could do it without him. I still get low from time to time, but I swear that’s when I feel his giant hand pushing me, so I will keep trying and helping people just like he did…….he grew up on gravel roads too.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Well I am a jack of all trades……..pay the bills kind of work: I am a nanny, and it’s not something I had on my job bingo card. I was looking to change up my day job and some friends reached out. They were looking for a nanny and thought it would be cool if I could come hang out with their boys and teach them about music and art. So that’s the day job…..I am a professional silly goose…
What am I known for? bad jokes, and insane true stories about my life.
But seriously, I guess I am the blues singer chick with the big hair and big voice.
I am proud of my ability to bring people together in the name of music. Be it a big local music festival, a fundraiser, or helping a fellow musician passing through find a gig. Even planning small things, like a carport brunch jam with friends, laughing over mimosas, bacon and John Prine sing a longs …….it’s cool to be a part of those memories.
I honestly don’t know what sets me apart: I am unapologetically myself……take it or leave it. I will always do what I can to help out another human…it’s what we are suppose to do…..that’s what I think anyway.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Don’t hold yourself back and NEVER let others hold you back.
If you want to shine, you buy the rhinestone suit, and SHINE.
Starting out, I didn’t have a clear path…..it was really about the party…..I wouldn’t have wasted so many years in my safe bubble…..time is a thief…..don’t waste a moment living in fear or self doubt.
When I decided to do the thing and make the move I would have never imagined I would be recording at the Cash Cabin, recording on music row, singing background for some great folks, demo work, helping run a label, I have had some amazing opportunities and adventures. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Thank you all so much for doing this! It’s a beautiful thing!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://soundcloud.com/fontanelrecords/13-have-yourself-a-merry-little-christmas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLeighHenderson
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/USQRBFmwD-U
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bradynyoung/honeycomb-blues-jennifer-leigh-feat-brady-young
- Other: https://youtu.be/4skOzuo6PcY?si=d4Ie8VvB1UyhSO5Y
