Gerry Leonard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gerry Leonard
|
|
|---|---|
Leonard with Spooky Ghost in 2023.
|
|
| Background information | |
| Born | February 26, 1962 Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels |
|
Gerry Leonard is a talented Irish guitarist. He was born on February 26, 1962. He is famous for his special guitar sound, which is often described as "harmonic" and "ambient." This means his music creates a rich, layered, and sometimes dreamy feeling.
Gerry has worked with many well-known artists. These include David Bowie, Suzanne Vega, and Rufus Wainwright. He also has his own music project called Spooky Ghost. Today, he lives in New York.
Contents
Gerry's Early Life
Gerry Leonard grew up in a place called Clontarf, Dublin, in Ireland. As a teenager, he loved playing in bands. He was inspired by different kinds of music. These included rock bands like Led Zeppelin and also punk music.
He also worked at a recording studio. One of his first jobs was helping to record a song for a young singer. That singer was Sinéad O'Connor, who was only 16 at the time.
Music Career and Collaborations
Gerry Leonard is not just a guitarist; he also helps other musicians make their albums. This job is called being a "producer." He has produced albums for artists like Donna Lewis and Ari Hest.
Another famous artist, Laurie Anderson, praised Gerry's work. She said she loved his "lush and groovy parts" on her album. This shows how much other musicians respect his talent.
Music for Movies and Shows
Gerry's guitar playing has been featured in movies and theater shows. He played guitar for the music in films like The Deep End and Bee Season. He also contributed to the soundtrack for CrissCross.
He even wrote and performed the music for an Irish movie called 32A. Gerry has also worked on some theater productions. These include Whisper House, a show that was performed in San Diego.
Working with David Bowie
Gerry Leonard worked a lot with the legendary musician David Bowie. He played on three of Bowie's studio albums. These albums were Heathen (released in 2002), Reality (2003), and The Next Day (2013).
Gerry also toured with David Bowie. He was even the musical director for Bowie's Reality tour. This meant he helped organize all the music for the live shows. Gerry also helped write two songs on Bowie's The Next Day album.
Gerry and Bowie first met through another musician, Mark Plati. Gerry was able to play some of the more unique guitar parts on Bowie's older songs. His first live performance with Bowie was a special concert in 2002. They played two entire albums, Heathen and Low, live at the Roseland Ballroom.
Gerry's Solo Project: Spooky Ghost
Gerry Leonard also creates his own music under the name Spooky Ghost. This name came from a friend who described Gerry's guitar sound as "spooky."
He recorded his first Spooky Ghost album between 1996 and 1998. He made it right in his apartment! This album focused on creating atmospheric guitar sounds. In 2002, he released a second album called The Light Machine. For this album, Spooky Ghost became a trio. It included a drummer and a bass player.
David Bowie himself loved The Light Machine. He called it "quite the most beautiful and moving piece of work." Many people agree that Gerry's Spooky Ghost music is very special and unique.
Spooky Ghost Albums
- Spooky Ghost – Spooky Ghost (1998)
- Spooky Ghost – The Light Machine (2002)
- Spooky Ghost – Official Bootleg (2004; recorded live at The Chance, Poughkeepsie)
- Spooky Ghost – Official Bootleg, Volume 2 (2015; recorded live at Rockwood Music Hall, New York City)
- Spooky Ghost – Viral Times, Volume One (2020)
- Spooky Ghost – Viral Times, Volume Two (2020)
