Oct 12, 2021

James Taylor tribute singer set to perform in Colby

Posted Oct 12, 2021 10:05 AM

WPAA

COLBY — A James Taylor tribute singer is coming Sunday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. CDT to Colby Community College’s Cultural Arts Center. This is a community and venue change from the pre-season show list. 

Grammy Award-winning songwriter and recording artist Steve Leslie performs the music of the internationally famous singer-songwriter James Taylor in an authentic concert event “How Sweet It Is!”

The program is made possible through the generous gifts of the Deane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan, and the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation-Dane Hansen Community Grant for Thomas County, in addition to additional area foundations, businesses and individuals. Admission is by Western Plains Arts Association season ticket for adults $20 and students $10.

Leslie’s warm baritone and exceptional guitar technique will have audiences singing along to such James Taylor classics as “Carolina In My Mind,” “Shower the People,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Fire and Rain,” “Up On the Roof,” and many more. Taylor, who was born in 1948 and achieved his breakthrough in 1970, is a six-time Grammy Award winner and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Taylor is one of the best-selling music artists of all times having sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

Steve Leslie has had a professional songwriting career spanning more than 25 years with songs recorded by Kenny Rogers, Mark Chesnutt, George Strait, Darryl Worley, Rhonda Vincent, Neal McCoy, Ricky Skaggs, Darius Rucker, and more. A multiple BMI Award-winner, Leslie received a Grammy for the title cut to Ricky Skaggs' 2004 Best Bluegrass Album of the Year "Brand New Strings.”

Leslie has been playing guitar and singing onstage since he was 15 years old. As a recording artist Steve has released three CDs, as well as written the music and book for the full-length musical, Umbrella.

A music educator, Leslie taught Jazz History at Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee, Fla., Songwriting at Belmont University, Nashville, Tenn., and at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro. He is Senior Faculty Member at Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), and a regular contributor to American Songwriter Magazine. Visit www.steveleslie.com for additional information.

Sometimes joining Leslie onstage is The Walking Man Band, a world-class group of recording and touring musicians.

Wichita Children’s Theatre will perform Alice in Wonderland to several area schools Oct. 18-20. More about these school programs next week.