Leon Ware started his career as a songwriter in 1967. He co-wrote along with Ivy Hunter and Steve Bowden for The Isley Brothers recording of "Got to Have You Back". In 1971, Leon would collaborate with Ike & Tina Turner, co-writing six songs on their United Artist album called Nuff Said. The album reached the top 40 of the R&B charts and also appeared in the pop charts. Later that year, Ware began collaborating with Arthur "T-Boy" Ross, younger brother of Diana Ross. One of the songs they wrote was 'I Wanna Be Where You Are' recorded by Michael Jackson for his album, Got To Be There. The single reached the runner-up position of the R&B charts and peaked at 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. Ware's songwriting success led to a contract as an artist to United Artists, releasing his self-titled debut album.
Ware wrote for numerous artists during this period including Donny Hathaway and The Miracles. In 1974, Quincy Jones booked Ware as songwriter and performer for two songs off Jones' Body Heat album. The song, "If I Ever Lose This Heaven", hit the R&B charts in September of the year and was covered by the Average White Band. Ware worked with Minnie Riperton on Jones' album and collaborated again on Riperton's album, Adventures in Paradise album, composing Riperton's R&B hit, "Inside My Love". Ware and T-Boy Ross worked on demos for Ware's second album, this one to be issued on Motown Records and also for T-Boy Ross to win a deal. One of the demo recordings, "I Want You", was heard by Berry Gordy, who decided the song would be a good fit for Marvin Gaye. Gaye heard the other demos and decided to record much of it on what would be his next album, I Want You. Buoyed by the number-one title track, the album peaked at number-one on the R&B charts and reached the top ten of the Billboard 200 selling over a million copies.
Having given away the material for his album, Ware began again on a solo effort for Motown. The result would be Ware's second album, Musical Massage. Released in September 1976, the album failed to generate similar success and was not properly promoted. Ware continued his songwriting and producing career while also releasing solo albums between 1979 and 2008. During that period, Ware wrote for Teena Marie, Jeffrey Osborne, Loose Ends, James Ingram, Melissa Manchester, Krystol, Bobby Womack and Lulu, co-writing the latter's European hit, "Independence" in 1993. Ware helped to produce singer Maxwell's debut album, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite, released in 1996, and considered one of the landmark albums of the neo-soul genre. At the same time of that success, Ware's earlier work became a heavy source of samples in hip-hop music.
As of 2009, Ware was recovering from treatment for prostate cancer, and credited his friend and fellow songwriter Adrienne Anderson with directing him to appropriate medical care.
Ware produced the Shadows In The Street album for the group Shadow, which was released in 1981.
Discography
Studio albums
1972 Leon Ware — — United Artists
1976 Musical Massage — — Motown
1979 Inside Is Love — 62 Fabulous
1981 Rockin' You Eternally — — Elektra
1982 Leon Ware — —
1987 Undercover — — Sling Shot Records
1995 Taste The Love — — Kitchen Records
2001 Candlelight — —
2003 Love's Drippin — —
2004 A Kiss In The Sand — —
2008 Moon Ride — — Stax
Why I Came to California
Leon Ware Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh I'd like to walk the beach on Zuma
Watching all those pretty girls
Venice
It gets really strange going through Venice
There's a different attitude
On a many a summer evening
Found me searching for the fire
Then became a one desire
There were places in the valley
Where they said that I could find it
There were rhythms in the distance
In the ancient elder forest
That is why I came to California
It's the strangest groove that I have ever known
All the youth seekers come to California
Following the fountain in their mind
San Francisco
Catch a cable car to where your dreams go
There's a lot of make believe
San Diego
From LA you'll find out where your dreams flow
From the hillside to the desert
Following the map inside me
I can feel the road is leading
To the treasure that will guide me
There were places in the valley
Where they said that I could find it
There were rhythms in the distance
In the ancient elder forest
That is why I came to California
It's the freest groove that I have ever known
All the youth seekers come to Caliornia
Following the fountain in their mind, in their mind
Zuma
Oh I'd like to walk the beach on Zuma
Watching all those pretty girls
Venice
It gets really strange going through Venice
There's a different attitude
That is why I came to California (California)
It's the purest groove that I have ever known
All the youth seekers come to Caliornia
Following the fountain in their mind
That is why I came to California (California)
It's the strangest groove that I have ever known (California)
All the youth seekers come to California
Following the fountain in their mind
The lyrics of Leon Ware's song "Why I Came to California" appear to be a nostalgic tribute to California, and the sense of freedom and possibility that the state represents for many people. The song describes a journey through various Californian locations, from the beaches of Zuma and Venice to the cities of San Francisco and San Diego. The singer of the song seems to be searching for something - perhaps an elusive feeling from childhood, or a sense of purpose - and believes that California is the place where they will find it.
The song's repetition of the phrase "following the fountain in their mind" suggests that the search for meaning or inspiration is universal, and that many people are drawn to California as a place where they can pursue their dreams. The imagery of the beaches and forests, as well as the references to make-believe and different attitudes, all contribute to a sense of California as a place of possibility, where one can reinvent oneself and find new paths to follow.
Overall, the lyrics of "Why I Came to California" seem to be a celebration of the restless, searching spirit that brings so many people to the state, and a recognition of the unique appeal that California holds for those who are seeking something more.
Line by Line Meaning
Zuma
I want to take a walk on the beach of Zuma while admiring the beauty of the girls there.
Oh I'd like to walk the beach on Zuma
Watching all those pretty girls
I feel the urge to stroll around the lovely beach of Zuma to watch and appreciate the beauty of the women there.
Venice
Traveling through Venice seems unusual because of the different attitude.
It gets really strange going through Venice
There's a different attitude
Moving around Venice feels strange due to the uncommon behavior and mindset of people there.
On a many a summer evening
Found me searching for the fire
The elusive sea of childhood
Then became a one desire
During many summer evenings, I longed for the emotions I had in my childhood, which aroused the desire for those feelings.
There were places in the valley
Where they said that I could find it
There were rhythms in the distance
In the ancient elder forest
People suggested that I could discover my longed-for feelings in some valley locations or hear their rhythms from afar in the primeval, old forest.
That is why I came to California
My search for the fountain of youth brought me to California.
It's the strangest groove that I have ever known
California has the most unusual and unique vibes I have ever encountered.
All the youth seekers come to California
Following the fountain in their mind
Many young people come to California, searching for the fountain of youth that they desire.
San Francisco
In San Francisco, people can chase their dreams by taking a cable car to their desired locations.
Catch a cable car to where your dreams go
There's a lot of make believe
To pursue your heart's desires, take a cable car to where you want to go in San Francisco because it's full of illusions.
From LA you'll find out where your dreams flow
From the hillside to the desert
Los Angeles can direct you to the perfect spot where you can connect with your dreams, whether on the hills or in the desert.
Following the map inside me
I can feel the road is leading
To the treasure that will guide me
I'm following my intuition to find my way to the treasure that will lead me to where I want to go in life.
It's the freest groove that I have ever known
In California, there is an unexplainable sense of freedom that I have never experienced before.
That is why I came to California (California)
It's the purest groove that I have ever known
All the youth seekers come to California
Following the fountain in their mind
I came to California to find the most genuine and untainted vibes, which draw many young people searching for the fountain of youth.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Janis Siegel, Leon Ware
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind