Melvin
Lee Greenwood (born
October 27, 1943) is an American country music singer-songwriter. He also plays the saxophone. Active since 1962, he has released more than
20 major-label albums and has charted more than 35 singles on the Billboard country
music charts. Greenwood is known for his patriotic signature song "God Bless the U.S.A.",
which was originally released and successful in 1984, and became popular again
during the Gulf War in 1991 and after the September 11, 2001, attacks (becoming
his highest charting pop hit, reaching number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100), and again
during the 2016 and 2020 American Presidential Elections as President Donald
Trump's rally introduction track. He also has charted seven number-ones on the
US Hot Country Songs list
in his career: "Somebody's Gonna Love You",
"Going,
Going, Gone", "Dixie Road", "I Don't Mind
the Thorns (If You're the Rose)", "Don't
Underestimate My Love For You", "Hearts Aren't Made to Break (They're Made to Love)", and
"Mornin' Ride". His
1983 single "I.O.U." was also a top-five hit on the adult
contemporary charts, and a number 53 on the Hot 100. Greenwood was born
in South Gate, California, a
few miles south of Los Angeles. After the separation of his parents, he grew up
near Sacramento on the poultry farm of his maternal grandparents. At the age of
seven, he started singing in church. In 1969, he joined the Chester Smith Band
and had his first television appearance. A short time later, he worked with the
country musician Del Reeves. He founded his
first band, The Apollos, in 1962. The band, which changed its name later
to Lee Greenwood Affair, played mostly pop music and appeared mostly in casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada. A few records were recorded in Los Angeles with
the Paramount label.
After the band broke up in the 1970s, Greenwood moved back to Las Vegas with
just his children and his wife, where he worked as a blackjack dealer during the day, and as a singer at
night. He is well known for his meet and greets at Hyvee
grocery stores.