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Full slate for Golden’s own, Leo Downey

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LEO Downey performs at the Rockwater. Leo Downey will be back to the Rockwater monthly. His next show at the Rockwater will be on March 3rd.

What do you get when you cross Kevin Costner’s character from Dances With Wolves with Johnny Cash? The answer is a local man. Does that help? Actually, his name is Leo Downey: singer/songwriter, guitar aficionado, and buffalo farmer. It is this bizarre combination of talents that has enabled Leo to continue a life as a professional musician for over three decades.

Nestled in the Blaeberry amidst dense forest, charming log structures, and 85-acres of buffalo roaming land lives Downey; a place that can do nothing but suck music from your soul and onto paper before hitting the ears of hungry listeners. It is a surreal place that Leo has been calling home since 1998 when he decided to give up the beaches of California and adventure “North” to Canada.

“When I was deciding on a place to move from Santa Barbara, I was looking for a place where I would have the opportunity to live off of the land. I wanted to grow my own vegetables, raise my own meat, and basically live a simple life…a real Canadian experience. And I found it here,” Leo Downey said of his transition to life in the Golden area.

If the decision to move to Canada was not life-altering enough, one decision made earlier in his life truly changed the path his music career would take.

It was the early ‘90s. The Los Angels music scene was bustling; Leo Downey’s name frequented marquees and posters all over Southern California.

“I often played seven days a week. There were opportunities for shows all over the place, and the money was great,” Downey said of the early ‘90s scene.

It was this constant gigging that solidified Leo’s status as a top-tier musician. What happened next was not much of a surprise seeing as Leo’s popularity had grown since the release of four studio albums.

In 1992 Leo’s manager approached him with an offer from Sony Records; it was an offer that would be music to any musician’s ears, no pun intended. The offer was to be a three record deal with the infamous record label. As great as a dream-deal like this sounds, the result was not a decision that came easy for Downey.

“At the time I was offered the record deal, I was already at a point in my life when I was seriously pondering my music career and its existence. I was getting tired of the whole LA scene by that point,” Leo explained.

Leo couldn’t decide what he wanted to do. Take the deal? Or not? The decision weighed heavily on his mind and pressure was beginning to mount. His decision was to flee into the California forest for two weeks to think; it was a place Leo had found serenity in the past, hence his returning to make one of the biggest choices of his life. After two weeks of seclusion and time to dig deep into his own spirituality, he came out of the woods with a decision of “no”.

“I decided not to take the deal with Sony. My manager couldn’t believe it, no one could. It was tough for me to make such a decision, but it is one that I don’t regret…well, not too much,” Downey said with images of his past flickering in his eyes.

The decision was not to throw his guitar in the fire and forget completely about his musical passion, but more of a choice in life that he claims had to be made.

“I think back and wonder how things could have been, how different they may have been. One thing I do realize is that without making that decision, I probably wouldn’t be living here in Golden, and I might not have my son. So, I still think I made the right choice,” Downey said.

Today, with the Sony Record deal long gone, Leo is still picking away on his guitar. No major record deals are in the works, but his musical flavour is still hitting the stage, pleasing all those who hear him. Leo has also recently been offered, and this time accepted, a music publishing deal with a Canadian publisher; perhaps we will be hearing some of his work in movies, commercials, or on television in the very near furture.

Leo has also moved into a position of teacher. Out at the Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch, Leo is currently accepting students of all levels for guitar, singing, and songwriting lessons. For more information on his classes contact Leo at: leo@leodowney.com or give him a call at: 250-344-4779.

Leo will also be on stage monthly at the Rockwater. The next show is scheduled for March 3rd. Also catch Leo up at Eagle’s Eye Restaurant at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort on February 26th.