He’s heard it most of his life.
“You sound like James Taylor; you look like James Taylor.”
And some have even said he plays the guitar the same way James Taylor does.
But unlike other singers who consider themselves “tribute artists” and mimic another performer, even copying their mannerisms and costumes, Steve Leslie doesn’t try to embody Taylor, who is known for songs such as “Fire and Rain,” “Shower The People,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” “Carolina In My Mind” and others.
Instead, he said he sings to pay homage to a great singer-songwriter. Leslie will present “How Sweet It Is” at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center.
He’s battled a type of imposter syndrome for many years, he said, wondering who he was to be singing the songs of a six-time GRAMMY winner and Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee. So he sings Taylor’s songs and let’s people decide whether or not they think he sounds like Taylor. And most of the time they do.
“I kept getting in my head about it. ‘You’re not James Taylor,’” said Leslie in a phone interview.
James Taylor aside — Leslie has his own claims to songwriting greatness.
Leslie has written songs for the likes of Kenny Rogers, George Strait, Darius Rucker, Ricky Skaggs and Rhonda Vincent.
One song he wrote received a 2004 GRAMMY Award. It was the title cut for Ricky Skaggs’ bluegrass album of the year “Brand New Strings.”
Leslie said he didn’t go to the award ceremony, and he wasn’t home when Skaggs called him from backstage at the GRAMMY Awards, thanking him for the winning song.
“It was pretty cool,” Leslie quietly acknowledged.
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One of the highest accolades Leslie has ever had, though, has come from the legendary songwriter Bernie Taupin who has written the lyrics for most of Elton John’s songs.
Leslie wrote the song “The Last Best Place” for singer Rhonda Vincent.
In a 2018 Q&A interview along with Vincent in “Bluegrass Today,” Taupin sang high praise of that song.
“I met the kid that wrote that song, Steve Leslie. He came up to me and he was very sweet – but yeah, when I go I want that song sung at my [funeral], or whatever they’re going to do with me when I die. So Rhonda, if you’re still, around I want you to sing that for me,” Taupin said.
Vincent replied that she “would be honored.”
Leslie finds such words humbling.
“He’s a great songwriter,” he said of Taupin. “He’s a poet.”
While he’s written great songs that others have recorded, Leslie’s recorded of few of his own. A jazz guitarist, he’s recorded his own jazz collection called “Sonia.” It’s available on all major streaming platforms. Tickets for the show are $39.95 and are available at augustaamusements.com or by calling (706) 726-0366.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
