Sac History Happenings: In History's Spotlight: Lee Greenwood

Sac History Happenings

News and developments in Sacramento and California history

December 25, 2011

In History's Spotlight: Lee Greenwood

Born: Oct. 27, 1942

Known for: Raised in North Sacramento, Greenwood became an award-winning singer-songwriter whose "God Bless the USA" has been a patriotic favorite for more than two decades.

Background: Greenwood was raised on a chicken farm by his grandparents and attended Norte Del Rio High School. A musician for much of his young life, he skipped his high school graduation ceremony because he had a show to play at the Golden Hotel and Casino in Reno. Wanting to pursue a solo career, he eventually became a regular on the Las Vegas casino circuit. Greenwood was signed in 1981 by the Nashville-based MCA label, and his first hit was "Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hands." In 1984, he released "God Bless the USA," which was played at that year's Republican National Convention. The song became increasingly popular after the 1991 Gulf War and the 9/11 attacks. It is now regularly played during fireworks, at parades and other events.

A highlight: Greenwood has won two Male Vocalist of the Year awards from the Country Music Association. He also won the CMA Song of the Year honor in 1985 for "God Bless the USA." and the Top Male Vocal Performance in 1983 for "I.O.U."

In History's Spotlight profiles of Sacramento newsmakers were published originally in 2007 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of The Sacramento Bee. They were written by Anthony Sorci. Look for them every Sunday in Sac History Happenings.

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California and Sacramento have a long, rich, vibrant history. And our region is blessed with an abundance of historical resources maintained by museums, libraries, archives and societies. This blog aims to alert readers to the latest developments in local/state historical education and research.

Send tips concerning upcoming exhibits, tours, lectures and meetings, as well as new books, magazine articles and online collections to the blog's contributors.

The Contributors:

Michael Dolgushkin

Michael Dolgushkin is Manuscript Librarian at the California State Library History Section. He is co-author of San Francisco's California Street Cable Cars and is a frequent contributor to the California State Library Foundation Bulletin. Contact him at mdolgushkin@library.ca.gov.

Amanda Graham is a Certified Archivist working in the Sacramento Room of the Sacramento Public Library. She earned a BS in History from Southern Oregon University and a MS in Information Studies with an emphasis in archives from The University of Texas at Austin. Contact her at agraham@saclibrary.org.

Pete Basofin is Director of Editorial Research at The Sacramento Bee. He previously worked at The St. Petersburg Times and Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. Contact him at pbasofin@sacbee.com.

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