Band members
* Leeland Mooring - Lead vocal, Guitars
* Casey Moore - lead guitar, background vocals
Touring musicians
Josias Badillo - bass guitar
Payden Hilliard - drums
David Ramirez - keys
Former Band members
* Jack Mooring - Backing vocal, Keyboard (2004-2015)
* Mike Smith - Drums (2004-2015)
* Shelly Mooring - Backing vocal, Bass (2011-2015)
* Jeremiah Wood (2002-2006)
* Austin Tirado (2006-2007)
* Matt Campbell (2007-2009)
* Jake Holtz (2002-2011)
Beginnings
At the age of 11, Leeland Mooring wrote his first song, "Shine". After having a successful performance of it at a church in Illinois while the Moorings were touring the United States as evangelists, he felt a spiritual calling towards music. His mother, Cyndy Mooring, entered him in a contest in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 14, and was a finalist in the songwriting and artist divisions. Although he did not win, one of the contest judges, Kent Coley, took interest in the young teen. He is now their manager. Later at the age of 15 he attracted the attention of Eddie DeGarmo, President of EMI CMG Publishing, and signed a songwriting contract with EMI CMG Publishing. While practicing after youth group, Leeland, his older brother Jack, their cousin Jake Holtz, and two close friends from church, Mike Smith and Jeremiah Wood, realized they had become a band. They decided to use Leeland's name for the band because they liked the way it sounded. They later started practicing in the night at a funeral home.
The band has worked closely with Christian music legend Michael W. Smith. Leeland Mooring co-wrote seven songs on Smith's new album, Stand, while Jack Mooring married Smith's daughter Whitney Smith-Mooring on June 1, 2007.
Discography
* Sound of Melodies (2006)
* Opposite Way (2008)
* Love Is on the Move (2009)
* The Great Awakening (2011)
* Invisible (2016)
Sound of Melodies (2005-2007)
The band's debut album, Sound of Melodies, was released in the USA on August 15, 2006. At the 49th Grammy Awards on December 7, 2006, the album was nominated for "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album". Sound of Melodies was also released in Japan on March 21, 2007, with the title song "Sound of Melodies" peaking at #6 on the general Japan radio chart.
Opposite Way (2008-2009)
Their second album Opposite Way, released on February 26, 2008, received success in its first few weeks of release. In its debut week, Opposite Way reached #1 on the iTunes Christian Albums chart. By March 15, 2008, it had reached a peak position of #72 on the Billboard Top 200 albums. Since September 2007, Leeland has been on "The Altar and the Door Tour" with Grammy Award-winning band Casting Crowns, which will continue until May 1, 2008.
Love Is on the Move (2009-present)
Leeland's third studio album, titled Love Is on the Move, is scheduled for release on August 25, 2009 in the United States.
Changes in membership and label
In early 2011, only a few months before the release of their fourth studio album, bassist Jake Holtz left the band to pursue a career with the US Army.Leeland's fourth studio album, The Great Awakening, was released on September 20, 2011.
In September 2015, Leeland announced via YouTube that they would be joining Bethel Music as part of the Bethel Music Collective,after Leeland Mooring and Casey Moore established an organic friendship with Bethel's founding member, Brian Johnson.Leeland's fifth full-length studio album, Invisible, was released on July 22, 2016. It is the first album the band has released under the Bethel label, with Brian Johnson featuring on the song "Son Was Lifted Up".
Touring
Leeland performed at all the Student Life "Clarity" conferences in 2007. In late 2007, they were on The Altar and the Door tour with Casting Crowns and John Waller, which started September 27, 2007 and ended December 2, 2007. They are currently on the spring leg of the tour, which began on January 31, 2008 and will end May 1.Leeland made their Canadian debut in Ottawa, Ontario at the Life Centre during the annual Shift Conference on March 10-11, 2007.
In September 23, 2009, the band will launch their "Follow You Tour", co-headlining with Brandon Heath and featuring Francesca Battistelli as an opening act.
Grammy Award nominations
2007: Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album - Sound of Melodies GMA Dove Award nominations
In 2007 they were nominated for five GMA Dove Awards in the categories New Artist of the Year, Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (for the song "Sound of Melodies"), Worship Song of the Year (for "Yes You Have"), Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year and Praise & Worship Album of the Year.
In 2008, their song "Tears of the Saints" was nominated for two Dove Awards: "Song of the Year" and "Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year". Leeland Mooring was nominated for "Songwriter of the Year", and co-writer with Michael W. Smith for "Be Lifted High" in the "Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year" category.
Beginning And The End
Leeland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know that I will be alright
Here inside Your hands
I never want to stray too far
Just want to be where You are
Here inside Your plan
And You're the center of
The beginning and the end
And I place my life inside Your hands
You hold for me a perfect plan
And You are
The beginning and the end
Everything that I've done wrong
Put You there on that cross
Where nails drove in Your hands
A crown of thorns deep in Your brow
I never knew it until now
It was all Your plan
God, You've always been
The beginning and the end
You have plans for me
You've given me a hope and a future
You have plans for me
You've given me a hope and a future
(I place my life inside your hands
You hold for me a perfect plan)
And You're the center of
The beginning and the end
And I place my life inside Your hands
You hold for me a perfect plan
And You are
The beginning and the end
[Repeat: x2]
You have got plans for me
You've given me hope and salvataion
Beginning And The End by Leeland is a powerful statement of faith and trust in God's plan for one's life. The opening lines, "Out of darkness into light, I know that I will be alright, here inside Your hands" speak of the faith that is necessary in order to move towards God's plan. The first verse shows a desire not to stray from God's path and to remain within His plan. The chorus reinforces the idea that God is the center of all things, both the beginning and the end, and that one's life must be placed within His hands. This concept is further emphasized in the bridge with the lyrics, "God, You've always been the beginning and the end" which acknowledges God's eternal presence and sovereignty over all creation.
The second verse brings to light the reality of the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross and how it was all part of God's plan. The lyrics, "Everything that I've done wrong, put You there on that cross, where nails drove in Your hands, a crown of thorns deep in Your brow, I never knew it until now, it was all Your plan" reveal the recognition of one's own sinfulness and how it led to Jesus' crucifixion. This recognition leads to a deeper appreciation of God's plan and the faith that He will see one through it. The song ends with a declaration of God's plans for one's life and the hope and salvation that comes from believing in Him.
Line by Line Meaning
Out of darkness into light
I am emerging from a place of sadness and despair and finding hope and happiness
I know that I will be alright
I have faith that everything will work out for the best in the end
Here inside Your hands
I trust in a higher power to guide me through life
I never want to stray too far
I don't want to lose my connection with my faith and my beliefs
Just want to be where You are
I desire to be close to my God and feel their presence in my life
Here inside Your plan
I believe that there is a greater purpose for my life and I am willing to follow that path
And You're the center of
The beginning and the end
My faith is centered around God, who has always existed and will always exist
And I place my life inside Your hands
You hold for me a perfect plan
I trust in God to take care of me and guide me towards the best possible future
Everything that I've done wrong
Put You there on that cross
Where nails drove in Your hands
A crown of thorns deep in Your brow
I never knew it until now
It was all Your plan
The suffering of Jesus on the cross was part of God's plan, and my mistakes and sins contributed to that sacrifice and redemption
God, You've always been
The beginning and the end
God is eternal, and has been present since the beginning of time and will continue to exist forever
You have plans for me
You've given me a hope and a future
God has a unique purpose for my life, and I have faith that my future will be bright and fulfilling
You have got plans for me
You've given me hope and salvataion
My faith in God has given me hope and salvation, and I trust that they will continue to guide me throughout my life
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: LEELAND MOORING, WILLIAM JACOB HOLTZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind