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.
Learn To Love
Leeland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Caught up in satisfaction
We're missing so much
Don't even know we're disconnected
But Where is the love that makes us stronger
Binds the hearts of every color
In the end we are all God's children
Need action for resolution
We need a revolution
Need to come close to each other
one love of sisters and brother
But Where is the love that makes us stronger
Binds the hearts of every color
In the end we are all God's children
We gotta Learn To
Pray for each other
stand in together
we'll see his kingdom come
shinning like the sun
Something is stirring
A new day is calling
Jesus Is the king
We lift our voice and sing
But Where is the love that makes us stronger
Binds the hearts of every color
In the end we are all God's children
We gotta Learn To Love
In the end we are all God's children
We gotta Learn To Love
We gotta Learn to Love x8
The lyrics to Leeland's "Learn To Love" tackle the issue of disconnection and the need for love to bring people together. The opening lines suggest that people are living too fast and are caught up in their satisfaction that they do not realize their disconnection. The lyrics also seem to suggest that there is a need for love to be the binding factor that brings people together despite their different races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.
The song seems to take a critical stance against the lack of love, advocating for action and resolution to bring about a revolution. The idea of coming close to each other is emphasized as a necessary step towards achieving this resolution. The lyrics suggest that despite our differences, we are all God's children, and it is crucial to learn to love and accept each other.
The lyrics also suggest that prayer and standing together are crucial steps in bringing people closer and that this can lead to something new and exciting happening. The song ends with the repeated phrase, "We gotta Learn to Love," which serves as a call to action to listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
We're living too fast
We are constantly in a rush, and do not take the time to appreciate life.
Caught up in satisfaction
We are too focused on materialistic or selfish desires.
We're missing so much
We fail to see the beauty and purpose in life.
Don't even know we're disconnected
We are oblivious to the fact that we are disconnected from one another and God.
Where is the love that makes us stronger
We need a strong sense of community and love to unite us and give us strength.
Binds the hearts of every color
This love should bring together people of all races and backgrounds.
In the end we are all God's children
Regardless of our differences, we are all equal in the eyes of God.
We gotta Learn To Love
We must make a conscious effort to prioritize and practice love for one another.
Need action for resolution
We must take action to resolve the issues we face as a society.
We need a revolution
A drastic change in our way of thinking and living is necessary to improve our world.
Need to come close to each other
We must build connections and relationships with one another to create change.
One love of sisters and brother
We are all one family and must treat each other with love and respect.
Pray for each other
We must support and uplift one another through prayer.
Stand in together
We must stand in unity and support each other during difficult times.
We'll see his kingdom come
If we come together in peace and love, we can create the type of world that God envisions.
Shining like the sun
Our united love and actions will radiate brightly in the world.
Something is stirring
There is a sense of change and hope in the air.
A new day is calling
A new beginning is on the horizon.
Jesus is the king
Jesus can inspire us and guide us towards a better world.
We lift our voice and sing
We celebrate our unity and progress with joy and song.
We gotta Learn To Love
Reinforcing the importance of actively practicing love and respect for one another.
In the end we are all God's children
A powerful message repeated at the end of the song to cement the idea that we are all equal and deserving of love.
We gotta Learn to Love x8
A final reminder to the listener to take this message to heart and practice love in their daily life.
Contributed by Benjamin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.