During the 1980s, Leon Everette was one of the most highly acclaimed entertainers in the country music industry. He learned to play the guitar onboard a naval aircraft carrier during his two tours of duty in the Vietnam War. He got married while in the navy, and after completing his tour of duty, he and his family moved to Ward, SC.
After settling into civilian life, he and some of his friends formed a band, playing at weddings and other social events. The band dissolved over time, but Leon continued on his own at local clubs. It was during this time that he met Carroll Fulmer, a self-made millionaire from nearby Ridge Springs-Monetta, SC. While enjoying a celebratory evening out on the town with his wife and friends, Fulmer discovered Leon during one of his performances at a club in Augusta, GA. Fulmer was blown away by Leon’s dynamic voice and energetic stage presence. To Leon’s surprise, Fulmer made him an offer he couldn’t refuse—complete financial backing and a guarantee that he would get him a contract with a major music label in Nashville.
During his career as a country music entertainer, Leon recorded eleven albums with his band, Hurricane. Ten of those albums reached the top ten on the Billboard magazine charts. Throughout his shortened career he received nine gold albums, appeared in a variety of TV shows, performed at the Grand Ole Opry, was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame on the same day as Elvis Presley, and received many other country music awards—too many to mention here.
While anger issues and alcohol contributed to his ending his music career, his salvation and his love for his savior, Jesus Christ, made him the man he is today. And when an opportunity arises, wherever he goes, he always gives his personal testimony about his past and present life, including his relationship with Jesus. And believe me, he doesn’t hold anything back. He tells it like it is—
The Good, The Bad, And The Blessed.
