Grammy-winning artist Steve Leslie will pay tribute to James Taylor when he brings a collection of his iconic songs to Fairfield this month. Leslie will be accompanied on stage by Kyle Tupper.
“It’s going to be a fantastic night out. It’s a tribute concert, celebrating the music of James Taylor. These are songs everybody knows and Steve has an amazing warmth and presence that really captures the storytelling of Taylor’s songs,” said David Sheldrick, marketing specialist for Fairfield Parks & Recreation.
The “How Sweet It Is: Steve Leslie sings James Taylor” concert is 8 p.m. Saturday, April 25 at the Fairfield Community Arts Center. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the Fairfield Community Arts Center, by phone at 513-867-5348, or online at www.Explore.FairfieldOH.gov.
“People have been listening to James Taylor’s music for decades. Everybody loves his songs. These are songs people want to sing along to, celebrate, and there’s such a timelessness of the songs,” Sheldrick said. “Steve and Kyle are based in Nashville, so our audiences will hear from world-class performers right here in Fairfield.”
Leslie will pay tribute to Taylor by performing many of his hit songs. He will also share some of his own award-winning songs during the performance.
Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, and currently living in Nashville, Tennessee, Leslie is a professional songwriter with a career spanning more than 25 years. His songs have been recorded by Kenny Rogers, Mark Chesnutt, George Strait, Darryl Worley, Rhonda Vincent, Neal McCoy, Darius Rucker and others.
Leslie received a Grammy for the title cut of Ricky Skaggs’ 2004 Best Bluegrass Album of the Year “Brand New Strings.”
As an educator, Leslie has been a guest clinician and lecturer at Morehead State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Belmont University, Berklee College of Music and the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
His online songwriting course, “The Fine Art of Songwriting” can be found at indiemusicacademy.com/fas.
As a recording and performing artist, Leslie has released three independent projects, which are available on CD and all digital platforms.
Tupper, a Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist, will join Leslie on piano and keyboards.
Tupper, originally from upstate New York, has quickly become one of Nashville’s most in-demand producers and musicians. He sings background vocals and plays keyboards and drums.
“This is more than just a tribute performance. Steve Leslie is a Grammy-winning songwriter and performer. His music has been recorded by artists like Kenny Rogers, George Strait and Darius Rucker. His voice and guitar style are so remarkably close to James Taylor that the audience is going to feel like they are hearing the songs the way they remember them,” Sheldrick said.
