By Greg Parrott
A couple of months ago I got a Sonia Leigh CD and took it on a road trip with me. I listened to it throughout about 10 times. I knew after the first round through the CD I was a Sonia Leigh fan. She can absolutely put me in high gear with her soulful, bluesy, country rock vocals. I decided I’d have to see her in person to get the total effect of this local Pike County girl.
Greg Parrott and Sonia Leigh
Yesterday's Footsteps: Living a dream
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©The Pike County Journal Reporter/pikecountygeorgia.com: This information may not be reprinted, broadcast or distributed electronically in any form or fashion without express consent. For reprint permission, e-mail news@pikecountygeorgia.com.
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Last week I got to pay a visit to the Tabernacle in Atlanta where Sonia Leigh opened up for the legendary Willie Nelson. I was in contact with Sonia Leigh’s mother Rebecca Rolling as I was on my way to the concert.
When I got to the Tabernacle, I met Dennis and Rebecca Rolling in the parking lot. They invited me to go into the Tabernacle early where Sonia Leigh was doing a sound check with her band for the show to start at 7:30 p.m.
I was amazed at how much Sonia Leigh sounded like the songs on her CD. Some musicians have a tendency to not sound much like their recorded songs. She’s a talented singer and musician who has been performing on stage about 25 years.
When the sound check ended, I was invited to go to the tour bus to meet Sonia Leigh. As I got on to the bus I was introduced by her mother. I was greeted with a smile and a hug as though I was family.
I sat down and talked with Sonia Leigh and her family and instantly knew this was a tight musical family from years back. Sonia Leigh and her father Dennis used to play at the Hollonville Opry House where she got her first taste of the music life. She hasn’t looked back since and has blazed a trail to stardom.
We left the tour bus and made our way into the Tabernacle to absorb the music of Sonia Leigh. As she took to the stage I got chill bumps knowing a Pike girl was about to erupt with vocals that would fill the ears of the crowd with heart-felt music at its best. I felt as though I was 18 again and reminisced of days long ago at the Omni listening to Bob Seger and the Eagles.
Sonia Leigh entertained the crowd for about an hour. It seemed to me as though it only lasted about 15 minutes. I wanted her to sing more and let Willie rest up for his Tabernacle gig.
I watched Willie perform then headed out to give my thanks to Sonia Leigh and her parents for their hospitality during the evening. Once again, Sonia Leigh gave me a hug and spoke words of kindness.
“Thanks for coming and I hope to see you at another concert,” Sonia Leigh said. “It’s good to have my Pike County family and friends support me.”
Sonia Leigh has just seen the tip of the iceberg with what is yet to come for her musical career. Zac Brown signed Sonia Leigh to his record label, Southern Ground. Zac Brown knows talent.
I hope to see Sonia Leigh playing one day right here in Pike. She has a busy tour schedule and it may be a while before she could come back to her home county to play for those of us who know her talent. Her roots run deep here in Pike and I know she’ll make Pike County proud as she entertains people from all over the world.
Sonia Leigh had a dream and she is living it to it’s fullest. Rock the world Sonia Leigh, rock the world!
If you’re fortunate enough to have your mother alive, call her and tell her you love her. I’ve got to go for now, I have a phone call to make.
©The Pike County Journal Reporter/pikecountygeorgia.com: This information may not be reprinted, broadcast or distributed electronically in any form or fashion without express consent. For reprint permission, e-mail news@pikecountygeorgia.com.
***************
Last week I got to pay a visit to the Tabernacle in Atlanta where Sonia Leigh opened up for the legendary Willie Nelson. I was in contact with Sonia Leigh’s mother Rebecca Rolling as I was on my way to the concert.
When I got to the Tabernacle, I met Dennis and Rebecca Rolling in the parking lot. They invited me to go into the Tabernacle early where Sonia Leigh was doing a sound check with her band for the show to start at 7:30 p.m.
I was amazed at how much Sonia Leigh sounded like the songs on her CD. Some musicians have a tendency to not sound much like their recorded songs. She’s a talented singer and musician who has been performing on stage about 25 years.
When the sound check ended, I was invited to go to the tour bus to meet Sonia Leigh. As I got on to the bus I was introduced by her mother. I was greeted with a smile and a hug as though I was family.
I sat down and talked with Sonia Leigh and her family and instantly knew this was a tight musical family from years back. Sonia Leigh and her father Dennis used to play at the Hollonville Opry House where she got her first taste of the music life. She hasn’t looked back since and has blazed a trail to stardom.
We left the tour bus and made our way into the Tabernacle to absorb the music of Sonia Leigh. As she took to the stage I got chill bumps knowing a Pike girl was about to erupt with vocals that would fill the ears of the crowd with heart-felt music at its best. I felt as though I was 18 again and reminisced of days long ago at the Omni listening to Bob Seger and the Eagles.
Sonia Leigh entertained the crowd for about an hour. It seemed to me as though it only lasted about 15 minutes. I wanted her to sing more and let Willie rest up for his Tabernacle gig.
I watched Willie perform then headed out to give my thanks to Sonia Leigh and her parents for their hospitality during the evening. Once again, Sonia Leigh gave me a hug and spoke words of kindness.
“Thanks for coming and I hope to see you at another concert,” Sonia Leigh said. “It’s good to have my Pike County family and friends support me.”
Sonia Leigh has just seen the tip of the iceberg with what is yet to come for her musical career. Zac Brown signed Sonia Leigh to his record label, Southern Ground. Zac Brown knows talent.
I hope to see Sonia Leigh playing one day right here in Pike. She has a busy tour schedule and it may be a while before she could come back to her home county to play for those of us who know her talent. Her roots run deep here in Pike and I know she’ll make Pike County proud as she entertains people from all over the world.
Sonia Leigh had a dream and she is living it to it’s fullest. Rock the world Sonia Leigh, rock the world!
If you’re fortunate enough to have your mother alive, call her and tell her you love her. I’ve got to go for now, I have a phone call to make.
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