Leeroy Stagger
{{Short description|Canadian musician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Leeroy Stagger
| image =
| alt =
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| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Lee John Thomas Starck{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/887726031 |title=CAROL |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=March 13, 2023}}
| alias =
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| origin = Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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| genre = Alternative country
Rock
| occupation = singer/songwriter
| instrument =
| years_active = 1998–present
| label = True North
| associated_acts = Easton Stagger Phillips
| website = {{URL|https://leeroystagger.com/}}
}}
Lee John Thomas Starck, better known by his stage name Leeroy Stagger, is a Canadian alternative country singer-songwriter based in Victoria, British Columbia. He has released a number of albums of his own music, produced albums for several other musicians including Mariel Buckley, Tim Easton, Dennis Ellsworth and has toured around North America and Europe with Artists such as Steve Earle, Josh Ritter, Buffy Sainte Marie and Frazey Ford, The Pixies, Modest Mouse and Evan Dando, and has collaborated with Danny Michel.
He was signed with industry mogul Danny Goldberg's label Gold Lake for two albums before signing with Canadian label True North Records joining a celebrated roster with the likes of Bruce Cockburn and more.
Early life
Career
Stagger performed in several local Punk Bands. In 2002 he accompanied Hot Hot Heat on a Canadian tour. Reinventing himself as a singer-songwriter, he released his debut independent EP, Six Tales of Danger, in 2002.
He spent 15 years in Lethbridge, Alberta but moved back with his family to his hometown of Victoria in 2020.
In 2015 Stagger won the top prize at the Alberta Peak Performance Project competition, and used the money to develop a home studio in Lethbridge.[https://exclaim.ca/music/article/leeroy_stagger-love_versus "Leeroy Stagger Love Versus"]. Exclaim!, By Kerry Doole 5 April 2017[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/key-of-a-s-top-ten-for-2017-1.4462425 "Top Alberta albums of 2017, from the Key of A's Katherine Duncan"]. CBC News, Katherine Duncan, 30 December 2017 He produced a 2017 album, Sleeping Buffalo, for The Wardens.[https://www.rmotoday.com/mountain-guide/wardens-set-to-release-album-into-the-wild-1570476 "Wardens set to release album into the wild"]. Rocky Mountain Outlook, 2 April 2017
Leeroy Stagger's 11th studio recording, Love Versus, was released 7 April 2017, through True North. The album was produced by Colin Stewart (Dan Mangan, Black Mountain, Yukon Blonde), and includes performances from drummer Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello), guitarist Paul Rigby (Neko Case), keyboardist Geoff Hilhorst (the Deep Dark Woods), and Stagger's longtime bassist Tyson Maiko.
The first single from Love Versus, was "I Want It All" , a meditation on being grateful for what one has.[https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/music/album-review-leeroy-stagger-writes-and-plays-with-sure-footing "Album review: Leeroy Stagger writes and plays with sure footing"]. Edmonton JOurnal, Fish Griwkowsky, 8 April 2017 Stagger continued touring and performing songs from this album in 2018.[https://exclaim.ca/music/article/the_dead_south_leeroy_stagger-capital_ballroom_victoria_bc_october_3 "The Dead South / Leeroy Stagger Capital Ballroom, Victoria BC, October 3"]. Exclaim!, By Alan Ranta, 4 October 2018
In 2019 Stagger released the album Strange Path, which included a song acknowledging the influence of Gord Downie.[https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/music/557748212.html "New music – Reviews of this week's CD releases"]. Winnipeg Free Press, 22 August 2019 He headed out on a North American tour in support of the album.[https://vancouverweekly.com/leeroy-staggers-strange-path-leads-him-to-a-beautiful-mess/ " Leeroy Stagger’s ‘Strange Path’ leads him to a beautiful mess "]. Vancouver Weekly, 19 October 2019, by Mariko Margetson
==Personal Life==
Leeroy is married to longtime Partner, designer Coby Starck, They have two children together.
Discography
= Albums =
- Dear Love (2004)
- Beautiful House (2005)
- Depression River (2006){{cite web|last=Greene|first=Jo-Ann|title=Depression River|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/depression-river-deluxe-edition-mw0000744753|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=19 January 2014}}{{cite web|title=Leeroy Stagger and The Sinking Hearts – "Depression River" (Boompa Records, Sept. 19)|url=http://www.songsillinois.net/2006/09/leeroy-stagger-and-the-sinking-hearts-depression-river-boompa-records-sept-19/|publisher=songsillinois.net|accessdate=19 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201132522/http://www.songsillinois.net/2006/09/leeroy-stagger-and-the-sinking-hearts-depression-river-boompa-records-sept-19/|archive-date=1 February 2014|url-status=dead}}
- Everything Is Real (2009)
- Little Victories (2010)
- Radiant Land (2012)
- Truth be Sold (2013)
- Dream It All Away (2015)
- Love Versus (2017)
- Me and the Mountain (2019)
- Strange Path (2019)
- Dystopian Weekends (2021)
= EPs =
- Six Tales of Danger (2002)
- Tales from the Back Porch (2006)
= Live =
- Live at the Red River Saloon (2010)
See also
{{Portal|Music|Canada}}
References
{{Reflist
| refs =
|title = Leeroy Stagger » island boy goes from punk rock to productivity
|first = Jeffry
|last = Lee
|url = http://beatroute.ca/view_archived_article.php?id=17§ionID=15&articleID=815
|newspaper = BeatRoute Magazine
|location = Calgary
|date = March 2005
|accessdate = 14 December 2011
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120425235659/http://beatroute.ca/view_archived_article.php?id=17§ionID=15&articleID=815
|archivedate = 25 April 2012
}}
{{cite web
| url = http://exclaim.ca/music/article/leeroy_stagger_signs_to_true_north_records_for_love_versus
| title = Leeroy Stagger Signs to True North Records for 'Love Versus'
| author = Calum Slingerland
| date = 16 February 2017
| publisher = Exclaim!
| accessdate = 20 March 2017
}}
{{cite web
| url = http://canadianbeats.ca/2017/03/02/leeroy-stagger-releases-video-for-i-want-it-all/
| title = Leeroy Stagger releases video for "I Want It All"
| author = Jenna Melanson
| date = 2 March 2017
| publisher = canadianbeats.ca
| accessdate = 20 March 2017
}}
| colwidth = 30em
}}
External links
- [https://leeroystagger.com/ Leeroy Stagger] official site
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071011055253/http://harpmagazine.com/articles/detail.cfm?article_id=5518 Profile of Leeroy Stagger in HARP Magazine]}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stagger, Leeroy}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Canadian alternative country singers
Category:Canadian rock singers
Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters
Category:Canadian country singer-songwriters