Leon Bridges facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leon Bridges
Bridges performing in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Todd Michael Bridges
Born	(1989-07-13) July 13, 1989 (age 36) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Origin	Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Soul neo soul
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter record producer
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2014–present
Labels	Columbia Night Time Stories
Associated acts	Khruangbin, John Mayer

Todd Michael "Leon" Bridges (born July 13, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, and music producer. He is known for his soulful music that sounds like it came from the 1950s and 1960s.

Leon Bridges signed with Columbia Records and released his first album, Coming Home, in 2015. This album was very popular, reaching number six on the Billboard 200 chart. It also sold enough copies to be certified platinum, meaning it sold over a million copies! The album was even nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.

His next albums, Good Thing (2018) and Gold-Diggers Sound (2021), also received Grammy nominations. In 2019, his song "Bet Ain't Worth The Hand" won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance.

Early Life and Music Start

Todd Michael Bridges was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 13, 1989. He grew up in Fort Worth, Texas.

Leon learned to play the guitar by practicing simple chords. He used these chords to help him write his own songs. Before becoming famous, he worked at a restaurant in Fort Worth. He often performed his songs at open-mic nights, where anyone can get on stage and perform.

His unique style became clear with his song "Lisa Sawyer," which he wrote about his mother. In December 2014, his talent was noticed, and he signed a record deal with Columbia Records.

Music Career Highlights

Starting with Coming Home (2014–2015)

Leon Bridges began creating soul music that sounded like it was from the 1950s and 1960s. People loved his "heartfelt" style. He met guitarist Austin Jenkins and Joshua Block, who helped him record his first songs. They used old-fashioned equipment to give the music a classic feel.

He released two demo songs online in late 2014. His song "Coming Home" became popular on local radio stations. This caught the attention of many record labels, and he signed with Columbia Records.

Leon Bridges and his band performing in New York City in October 2015

In early 2015, Leon Bridges started his first national tour. He played shows in Texas and opened for other artists in New York City. His official single, "Coming Home," was released in February 2015 and quickly became a top song online. He also performed at big events like the Sundance Film Festival and SXSW.

His first album, Coming Home, was released in the summer of 2015. It was even called one of the "Albums to Look Forward to From Texans" by The New York Times. Leon Bridges also appeared on the cover of Fort Worth, Texas magazine. His song "Coming Home" was even used in an Apple iPhone 6 commercial! The album was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Leon Bridges also performed at the Apple Music Festival in September 2015, opening for Pharrell Williams. He sang popular songs from his album like "River" and "Better Man." He was also the musical guest on Saturday Night Live in December 2015, where he performed "Smooth Sailin'" and "River."

Success with Good Thing and Texas Sun (2016–2019)

In 2016, Leon Bridges performed for President and Michelle Obama at the White House. He sang a song by Ray Charles and one of his own.

His song "River" gained more attention in 2017 when it was featured in the TV series Big Little Lies. In 2018, his song "Better Man" was used in the movie Pacific Rim: Uprising. He also opened for Harry Styles on his first solo tour in South America and Mexico.

Leon Bridges performing during his Good Thing tour in June 2018

Leon Bridges' second album, Good Thing, came out on May 4, 2018. He even had a small role in the movie First Man, playing singer Gil Scott-Heron. He also worked with rapper Bun B and guitarist Gary Clark Jr. on the song "Gone Away."

In December 2019, Leon Bridges teamed up with the band Khruangbin. They released a song called "Texas Sun." Their joint music project, also called Texas Sun, was released in February 2020.

New Music: Gold-Diggers Sound and Texas Moon (2020–2022)

On June 8, 2020, Leon Bridges and Terrace Martin released a song called "Sweeter." This song was a response to the sad event of George Floyd's death.

Leon Bridges also performed at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

His third album, Gold-Diggers Sound, was released on July 23, 2021. He then released another collaborative music project with Khruangbin, called Texas Moon, on February 18, 2022.

Latest Album: Leon (2024–Present)

On August 8, 2024, Leon Bridges released a new song called "Peaceful Place." At the same time, he announced his fourth album, Leon, which was released on October 4, 2024.

Musical Style

Leon Bridges' music is mostly soul, but it sounds a lot like the rhythm and blues music from the 1960s. People have described his style as a "throwback to '60s-soul," similar to artists like Otis Redding and Sam Cooke.

He often performs in vintage clothing, which means clothes from an earlier time. This helps him match the classic sound of his music. As one magazine put it, his "music sounds like he looks."

Discography

Albums

Extended Plays (EPs)

Singles

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

Images for kids

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  Bridges performing in 2016

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  Bridges and his band at Webster Hall, Manhattan, in October 2015

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  Bridges performing at Toyota Music Factory during tour for Good Thing, June 2018