Jennifer Leonhardt
Hometown: Ft Worth, TX
Background: Not allowed to listen to recorded music or watch TV until her teens. Expelled from a private school in Washington DC in the 4th grade for misbehavior. Attended high school in New England before being emancipated at 17, finished senior year in Florida before moving to Los Angeles for college. Got married to a fellow actor met while training in London. Moved back to the States, acting in regional and off Broadway plays in NY and Philadelphia which led to commercial, TV and film work in LA. Published numerous essays, fiction and non, stage and screenplays and poetry. Wrote, directed and co-produced the 2003 featurette Kitchen Help. Divorced in 2004, the same year her original songs caught the attention of recording artist Mark Curry, who asked her to open a show of his at the Lingerie Club in Hollywood. Released an EP that year followed by tour dates that led her to New Orleans on the eve of Katrina. Released and toured in support of additional recordings. Returned to Texas in 2006, currently resides in Austin.
Music training: Classical training on violin from the age of 7, self-taught piano and guitar sitting in with late night living room jams with extended family and guest players, playing everything from madrigals to old time spirituals and blues.
Discography:
Homeless (2004) 5-song EP
Hard Times Two LIVE (2005)
United State of Americana Vol 4 (2006) from ShutEye Records w single "Gentlemen's Bet"
Gods & Nations (2007)
Water St (2007) Unreleased
Minstrel's Daughter (2008) Release date Sep 2008
Odd(est) jobs: House painter, gardener, waitress, busking, usher at the National Theatre, the revolutionary in the Floria Sigismundi-directed Incubus music video Megalomaniac, short order cook
Family: Included musicians, a governor of Texas, a mathematical genius, a TV personality, writers, an Alamos engineer, actors, a ballet mistress, librarian, oilmen, member of the Securities and Exchange Commission under FDR, a poetry-minded economist, several black sheep and a partridge in a pear tree
Favorite travel story: tie: Aesop's The North Wind & The Sun & Jann Martel's Life of Pi
Loves: Red poppies, coffee
Hates: Rudeness
Craziest moment: Which one?