The 2004 Winner of the Tennessee Waltz with a Twist Contest is . . .

Margie LeBlanc
www.margieleblanc.com

To hear Margie's version of Tennessee Waltz -Click here

As winner of this contest, Margie will be featured on Redd's tribute site for a full year, along with being featured in our newsletter for the next six months, and will receive a copy of Redd's "I Remember" CD signed by Redd's youngest son, Billy. She will also receive an offical framed winners award to hang on her wall.

Congratulations Margie!!!!!!!

Margie's Bio
Born Margie Ann Kinler on July 29, 1949 in the sleepy little town of Lutcher, located on the river between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana. Margie’s family moved from Lutcher when she was 2 years old to Gretna, LA. She made her singing debut, on her third birthday, on the “Little Miss Muffin’s Show”, WDSU-TV, New Orleans, LA. She did a rendition of “How Much is That Doggie in the Window”. Her performance was so successful that she was asked to be a regular on the Leon Kelner Show. When Margie was 5 years old, she was invited to be a guest of Joe Reichmann and his Orchestra, performing in the Blue Room of the Roosevelt Hotel.

At the age of 7, Margie became a regular of the “Porky Mason Jamboree Road Show” performing in LA and MS. Many different shows gave her the opportunity to perform with Rusty and Doug “Kershaw”, radio personality B.J.Johnson, Picayune, MS., Jimmy Clanton, and other Louisiana regulars. Also during this period of time, Margie performed at the Jerusalem Temple with LA. singer Jimmy Donley and Texan singer Hank Thompson.

Margie was known to many of her musical family as the “Little Trooper”, because she never complained or tired when the schedule got rough. She carried her little pillow around and would cat nap, whenever possible. She would do live radio performances with her hair in curlers, because later that night she would be expected to do a stage performance. Margie’s family moved to Houston when she was eleven years old. She continued performing with numerous Texas bands, and would even from time to time set in with Johnny Lee’s band at the East Hardy Club. She also performed at the Magnolia Gardens as one of the acts, along with such well known artists as George Jones and Gene Pitney. Margie recorded a record in Dickinson, Texas when she was 14 years old. During the recording session, a musician walked in, liked the music and sat down at the piano and added his expertise to the songs. His name was Mickey Gilley. Margie moved back to Louisiana when she was 15. Before long she had her own band, ’Lil Margie and the Country Swingers. They became regulars at the South Louisiana Hayride, in Ponchatoula, LA., sharing the stage with such greats as Hank Williams, Jr., Connie Smith, Tex Ritter, David Houston, and the list goes on.

Margie won the title “ Miss South Louisiana Hayride” when she was 17. The main prize was a complete western outfit from Bear Creek Western Store in Montpelier, LA. and a trip to Nashville TN., with a spot on the Ernest Tubb “Midnight Jamboree” where she performed as Billy Walker’s guest.

After returning from Nashville, Margie graduated from high school and began performing in LA. nightclubs. After a couple of years, she returned to Houston. During this period, she went to Nashville to record her first album with a great team of musicians including the talented steel guitarist, Weldon Myrick and RCA singers “The Tennessee Express”. A single was also released from the album on NSD label, “Friday Night Friend”, which gained notoriety on the Gavin Report in Little Rock, Ar. Again, Margie traveled in the LA, MS, and TX areas sharing the stage with Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, and her all time favorite Gene Watson. As part of promotion for her new album she earned a spot on the national TV show ”You Could Be A Star” hosted by Jim Ed Brown. Also during this time, Margie worked a full time job for Tenneco Oil Co, Houston, Texas and was a single Mom of three. She never strayed too far from home because if her children were to grow up with only one parent, she felt like that parent should be stable and family oriented. In 1982, Margie returned to her beloved Louisiana to be closer to her family. Margie and her brother, Henry,(Bubby) teamed up and formed a band in the Baton Rouge area called “90 Proof”. The band was partly Country and partly Swamp Pop music. By this time, Margie’s children had become teenagers and Margie decided that her children needed her more than her fans needed their Country singer. She stepped out of the limelight, except for doing shows for Nursing homes and the terminally ill at the hospitals where she worked. All her life, she has performed for the less fortunate, the elderly, the sick and more benefit shows for fellow musicians than you can count. Her own words are, “Talent is a gift from God and if you are so blessed with such a gift, you should share that gift”. She loves making other people happy and for the last few years Margie has been content with just singing for the love of it. Recently, Margie’s manager from years ago, Bob Swaringim, asked her to try one more time. “Come to Houston and record a new single to be sent to the European Country stations”. Last November, Margie recorded “What Can I Do With this Broken Heart”.

Hopefully, later this year she will be back in Nashville to record a brand new CD. Bob said, “In all of my years of working with female artists, Margie has got to be one of the best. Her voice is strong and true, but most of all comes directly…….”From the Heart”.

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