Leon Bridges explains his ties to the Mississippi River
by Bill DeVille and Leon Bridges
October 28, 2015
"This is my daytime casual getup!" says Leon Bridges, in a '40s-style suit and leather Oxfords, as he greets host Bill DeVille.
Just a year ago, though, Leon would have been clad in an apron washing dishes at a restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas. It's been a whirlwind ever since he signed to Columbia Records (including a performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony last April).
Ahead of a long sold out show at First Avenue—his second performance in the mainroom but first time headlining—Leon Bridges stopped by The Current studio to chat about his successful debut album, Coming Home, influenced by artists ranging from Curtis Mayfield to Usher and Otis Redding to Genuwine.
Since Twin Cities folk are live on either side of the Mississippi River, Bill wondered, why the line "I'd swim the Mississippi River" on the track "Better Man?" Leon explains his family is from New Orleans, and his dad moved to Atlanta for a job, then back to New Orleans for a year before staying put in Texas.
After his chat with Bill, Leon sat down for a session with The Current's photographer Nate Ryan. See the full photo gallery below. And if you'd like to see video of Leon and Bill's conversation, the archive is available for on-demand streaming via Periscope until 2 p.m. CT on Thursday, Oct. 29.
