Sue Leonard is an esteemed industry artist whose voice can be heard on k.d. lang’s Ingenue album, Bon Jovi's New Jersey, MTVs Unplugged, her own release, Bend and much more.
Television Appearances, a Recording Artist and a Live Performer
The Canadian born songster has impressed audiences on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, Late Night with Jay Leno, the Late Show with David Letterman, MTV Unplugged, the Grammy Awards, the Juno Awards,Canadian Country Music Awards and a slew of other television programs.
Sue Leonard’s vast discography encompasses k.d. lang’s intoxicating “Constant Craving,” Bon Jovi’s “Lay Your Hands on Me,” MTV Unplugged Volume 1 with k.d. lang, Ray Forbes “Human Kind,”Sandy Scofield’s “Dirty River,”and a list of additional titles much to long to mention here.
Whether it is on a tour with k.d. lang, at the Top of the Pops and BBC One in England or stepping up to join Bruce Willis and his band on stage for a live performance, Sue Leonard continues to wow a swath of audiences and musicians regardless of where she goes. Her album Bend is currently available online.
Suite 101 caught up with Sue Leonard for a telephone interview from Boise, Idaho, where she spoke about her music and notable career.
Sue Leonard Interview: Working with k.d. lang, Recording with Bon Jovi and Current Plans
Suite101: Tell us who influenced you to get into the music business.
Sue Leonard: My entire family sings. My mother and father and sisters recorded music and my grandparents were opera singers, so it might be in the DNA.
Suite 101: Did you have any favorite artists that you listened to?
S L: Joni Mitchell was a huge influence. I’d play the Blue album over and over again. After a while my mother would say, “Go get yourself another album.” I also grew up with Bob Dylan and all those back then.
Suite 101: You’ve done a lot of work with k.d. lang. How did you get connected touring and recording with her?
S L: My best friend was working at k.d.’s office when they asked her to do a gig. She couldn’t do it so I went down with my manager at the time. I went in, auditioned and got the job. I sang “Big Boned Gal.”
Suite101: Did you meet k.d. lang?
S L: Yes, she was gracious. I think we sang three songs. She came over and shook my hand and said, “You got the job.”
Suite101: You also went on tour with k.d. lang.
S L: At the time, I did every show in the U.S. with her including a duet on the Arsenio Hall show. I started out in eighty-nine and did two world tours. I was there from the cowpunk to her contemporary sound.
Suite101: Do you also play guitar?
S L: Yes, I do.
Suite101: k.d. lang’s music sometimes has a down home country feel; did she ever employ open tunings?
S L: Yeah, we had a number of songs based on open tunings.
Suite101: You also sang background and recorded with Bon Jovi. How did that come about?
S L: That was in Vancouver at Little Mountain Studios with the great producer Bruce Fairbairn. He’s worked with so many famous artists. One day I just got called in. We called ourselves the Sweet Thing Vocal Association. It was great. That was for “Lay Your Hands on Me,” from Bon Jovi’s New Jersey album.
Suite101: Your current album, Bend , was recorded in Vancouver and you were a co-producer, co-executive producer, writer and arranger on the collection.
S L: That’s correct. We recorded with the help of my friend Paul Baker at Bakerstreet Studios in North Vancouver . Sadly, Paul has since passed away. We did it in three days, live off the floor. The very famous Palace Studios in Vancouver did some additional production.
Suite101: You also have a number of songs for a new album that you are planning to release. Do you have a title and a release date for the new album yet?
S L: I am getting ready to record. I have some songs for the new album but there’s no title and no release date yet. I don’t know what it’s going to be called. I’m going into Audio Lab sound studio here in Boise; that’s where I’ll record it. Steve Fulton has a world class studio there. I’m doing a stripped down, meat and potatoes thing with just guitar, bass, drums and vocals.
Suite101: Tell us about your collaboration with musician and song writer, Steve Eaton.
S L: Steve and I met through a friend of mine here in Boise. I thought he should be in Nashville but he was happy to be here with friends. Steve was an in house studio writer. We’re in the middle of writing.
Suite101: Does one of you prefer writing the music and the other the lyrics? How does that work for the both of you?
S L: Steve does both. For me, it depends on who I’m writing with.
Sue has a number of projects lined up, including working with Gayle Chapman who formerly played keyboards for Prince and she’s penned a tune for blues singer-songwriter, guitar player Billy Thompson’s current album. The future can only be bright for such a hard working musician.
- Latest Sue Leonard song with Prince's former keyboardist Gayle Chapman.
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