So This is Love

-If downloading music is more your style, you can go to itunes and download 'Ed: So This Is Love'! 'Calling Ed Leonard a singer/songwriter is like describing a Ferrari as... a car; True, it is a car, but it's so, so much more.' - Luca Di Montezemolo, Ferrari President and Spiritual Guide 'His songs just get stuck in my head! They're so catchy, you know?' - John Badger, Camarillo State Mental Hospital Career Resident '...just look at his honesty, his truth, vision, charisma- No, moron, I'm not talking about the President, I'm talking about Ed Leonard! Haven't you been listening?' - Robert McNamara, former United States Secretary of Defense. An Introduction from Me to You on Me for You. By Ed Leonard. For the last 6 years, my guitar has been my counselor, my friend, my enemy, my lover, and my baby. I've written songs as responses to events, apoligies to lovers, as confessions, and as revenge. I have poured the last several years of my life into these songs so I feel confident in saying they're honest. I've tried to stay away from social and political subjects, not because I do not have opinions in these matters, but because I choose to focus on a topic that transcends social and geograpic differences- our humanity. The things we all have in common- with our ancestors as well as heirs- are our feelings of joy, pain, sorrow, regret, and love. THESE are the topics I've addressed in my songs because THESE are what I find myself and my friends wrestling with every day. The songs and lyrics you will hear on this album 'So This Is Love' were written by me, but I am by no means the only artist here. About three years ago I became friends with an amazing guitarist, Donny Roberts. Donny toured internationally, playing lead guitar for acts such as Steve Earle and Webb Wilder, to name a few; He recorded professionally as a studio musician in LA and Nashville; He even had a signature guitar under his nickname 'The Twangler'; And, for some reason, he took up playing music with me. Where I lacked in experience and musicianship, Donny excelled. We found a kinship as artists, with common ground in the 'essence of the song'. And, as true artists would, for countless hours, days, and months we poured our talents and hearts into 'the song'. Looking back on this period of coolaboration, I throw my head back and laugh, recalling the arguments and storm-out-of-the-studio debates on timing, progression, tempo, key. Only two people completely committed to making 'the song'- for the sake of the song- as excellent as it could be would ever find themselves in such a place. For this reason- and for the shear joy the endeavor brough me- I smile. After a year of playing as an acoustic duo, Donny and I found ourselves searching for other musicians to help us take the songs musically to where we felt they should be. Eventually, we found Nick Garcia to play percussion and Mike Cross to play bass. Nick grew up on the Southside of Tucson playing Norteno, Salsa and Cumbia music. His later move to Phoenix brought him and his percussive abilities to our songs. Once 'Mad Mike' Cross made his way to our little musical melee, we had a band. Mike- forever the rockstar- added the bass and the edge the songs needed. This album 'So This Is Love' is a portrait of the aforementioned collaborations and experiences of my bandmates and I. The tile for the album 'So This Is Love' comes from the album cover as well as from the title track on the album. 'So This Is Love' is a painting by Bisbee, Arizona's Rose Johnson. I first became familiar with Rose's work through a mural commissioned to her behind the bus-stop at the corner of 16th St. ^#^and McDowell Rd. ^#^in Phoenix, Arizona. If I were asked to liken our music to paint on canvas (which I have, actually) then I would cite Rose Johnson as our painter. I contacted Rose to pitch the idea of using her work for our album cover and she was unexpectedly receptive to the idea. We had a great time browsing her portfolio and once I saw the painting 'So This Is Love', I knew that would be our cover piece. In fact, it made such an impression on me I ended up writing a song about it titled, appropriately, 'So This Is Love'. It is a song delivered softly and intimately by myself as the man in the painting (Track #4).