Leeland Dayton Mooring
Encyclopedia
Leeland Dayton Mooring from Baytown
, Texas
, is the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter of the band Leeland
.
Leeland became a Christian at the age of five. He has two siblings; older brother Jack Mooring and younger sister Shelly Mooring. Jack Mooring is married to Michael W. Smith
's daughter, Whitney Katherine Smith-Mooring. Leeland co-wrote six songs on Stand
, Michael W. Smith
's 2007 release, and wrote a seventh entirely.
On describing a scene reflecting God's glory through nature as said in "Yes You Have" said, "We were driving through Washington. I had my headphones on, listening to some Irish Celtic music. A choir was in the background, and while I was listening, I looked outside the van, and we were driving through beautiful mountains. The culmination of the music and the mountains was just incredible. It shows you how small you are and how much of a human you still are and need God."
When pressed about having hard times in his own life, and if there've ever been times when things were overwhelming, like that of which one of the more serious songs from Sound of Melodies
, "Too Much", says, he stated, "I’ve always grown up in a strong Christian family, so I’ve never gone through a lot like a lot of kids have. I’m very blessed with that. But that two-year stint [on the road] was some of the best times and some of the most striving times. I was only 11, 12 and 13 during those years. We constantly had to trust God week to week for finances so we could live. The last week we traveled [as a family], my mom was put in the hospital and almost had a heart attack. She physically couldn’t take it, because we weren’t getting a lot of sleep. It was hard on us. I look at the pictures now, and it was by God’s grace that she got out and that nothing serious happened. I don’t know what I’d do with myself if my mom ever died, because she’s the pillar in our lives. I couldn’t picture myself without her wisdom, guidance and love."
When asked about the story behind "Carried to the Table", said, "One of the evangelists [my family] traveled with for two years had a message that spoke about that story of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel. His message moved me so much that I fell in love with that story and couldn’t get it out of my head. He related [the story] in the message to how God carries us to the table. Things I can’t get out of my head, I make songs out of them. I sat in my room and prayed to God about it. I worked on [the song] two days and finally finished it."
In 2008, Leeland married his girlfriend, Mandy, who he had been dating for a year and a half.
He has written the song "Decoy" with Paramore
's members Hayley Williams and Josh Farro which is on Paramore's live album. He has also co-written the song "Stronger (Back On The Ground)" with Jack Mooring and Nick Jonas for the album "Who I Am" of Nick Jonas and The Administration.
Baytown, Texas
Baytown is a city within Harris County and partially in Chambers County in the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. state of Texas. Located within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, it lies along both State Highway 146 and Interstate 10. As of 2010, Baytown had an population of 71,802...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, is the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter of the band Leeland
Leeland
Leeland is a Christian rock band from Baytown, Texas. The band was formed in 2004, although lead singer Leeland Mooring had been writing songs beforehand. Leeland is composed of Leeland Mooring , Jack Mooring , Casey Moore , Shelly Mooring and Mike Smith...
.
Leeland became a Christian at the age of five. He has two siblings; older brother Jack Mooring and younger sister Shelly Mooring. Jack Mooring is married to Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith
Michael Whitaker Smith is a Billboard top ten Billboard Hot 100 recording artist and Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music. Smith also has achieved a considerable amount of...
's daughter, Whitney Katherine Smith-Mooring. Leeland co-wrote six songs on Stand
Stand (Michael W. Smith album)
Stand is Michael W. Smith's twentieth album.- Track listing :# "Cover Me" - 3:28# "Open Arms" - 3:49# "Come To The Cross" - 4:06# "How To Say Goodbye" - 2:19# "Be Lifted High" - 4:11# "Oh Lord, You're Beautiful" - 2:37# "Grace" - 4:07...
, Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith
Michael Whitaker Smith is a Billboard top ten Billboard Hot 100 recording artist and Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music. Smith also has achieved a considerable amount of...
's 2007 release, and wrote a seventh entirely.
Inspiration
When asked what inspires his songwriting he said, "A lot of my songs are birthed out of prayer. The ones that we've received the best response from have been the ones God just kind of dropped in my lap while I was spending time in His presence. That's my main inspiration."On describing a scene reflecting God's glory through nature as said in "Yes You Have" said, "We were driving through Washington. I had my headphones on, listening to some Irish Celtic music. A choir was in the background, and while I was listening, I looked outside the van, and we were driving through beautiful mountains. The culmination of the music and the mountains was just incredible. It shows you how small you are and how much of a human you still are and need God."
When pressed about having hard times in his own life, and if there've ever been times when things were overwhelming, like that of which one of the more serious songs from Sound of Melodies
Sound of Melodies
Sound of Melodies is the Grammy Award-nominated debut album from Christian band Leeland released in August 2006 on Essential Records.-Track listing:#"Sound of Melodies" — 5:01#"Reaching" — 3:25#"Yes You Have" — 4:23#"Tears of the Saints" — 6:18...
, "Too Much", says, he stated, "I’ve always grown up in a strong Christian family, so I’ve never gone through a lot like a lot of kids have. I’m very blessed with that. But that two-year stint [on the road] was some of the best times and some of the most striving times. I was only 11, 12 and 13 during those years. We constantly had to trust God week to week for finances so we could live. The last week we traveled [as a family], my mom was put in the hospital and almost had a heart attack. She physically couldn’t take it, because we weren’t getting a lot of sleep. It was hard on us. I look at the pictures now, and it was by God’s grace that she got out and that nothing serious happened. I don’t know what I’d do with myself if my mom ever died, because she’s the pillar in our lives. I couldn’t picture myself without her wisdom, guidance and love."
When asked about the story behind "Carried to the Table", said, "One of the evangelists [my family] traveled with for two years had a message that spoke about that story of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel. His message moved me so much that I fell in love with that story and couldn’t get it out of my head. He related [the story] in the message to how God carries us to the table. Things I can’t get out of my head, I make songs out of them. I sat in my room and prayed to God about it. I worked on [the song] two days and finally finished it."
In 2008, Leeland married his girlfriend, Mandy, who he had been dating for a year and a half.
He has written the song "Decoy" with Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
's members Hayley Williams and Josh Farro which is on Paramore's live album. He has also co-written the song "Stronger (Back On The Ground)" with Jack Mooring and Nick Jonas for the album "Who I Am" of Nick Jonas and The Administration.