| Over the past few years, Peabody’s Renee Leavitt has gradually taken several steps towards becoming a marquee name in country music. She’s performed on television, signed a record contract and is on her way to cutting a third CD. As if that isn’t enough, she even snagged the number one slot on a major southern gospel/positive country chart.
Her band – Renee and the Renegades – will be performing Friday night at the Endicott Grille in Danvers. The band, which has been retooled, is now chock full of new, young talent and features several Berklee School of Music graduates. The band will take to the stage at 8:30 p.m. “It has taken a while, but we finally have put together an incredible group of musicians that are striving for the same goal,” said Renee. “With the exception of guitarist Craig Farrington, the rest of the group is made up of early 20s musicians. They are so good.” Other members of the band include Jason Ji on rhythm guitar, Zoey Rose Depaz on fiddle and Jennifer Murphy on keyboard. This past summer of 2022 Leavitt appeared on a TV show taped in Times Square, New York called Wonderama. It is a show that is hosted by Dave Osmond, the nephew of Donnie and Marie. That will air this spring. In addition to that, Leavitt has also signed a record contract with Tribeca records out of New York City and to top that off she made it to number one on the CDX Southern Gospel/Positive Country Charts with a song titled “Walk With The Big Guy.” Leavitt, a theology graduate student at Boston College and religion teacher at St John’s Prep Middle School, thrives on being busy. “I’ve always enjoyed a good challenge and the busy schedule helps me strive for excellence,” said the daughter of radio personality Gary Leavitt. “My daily visits to the gym also helps me focus on what is at hand. It’s a great balance between mental and physical.” Leavitt is about to release her third CD “Trilogy” over the next few weeks. “It has eight songs, and is a little different from the previous two in that it includes some blues cuts, one gospel, and the rest is country. In some ways it’s more meaningful but fun loving at the same time,” stated Leavitt. “We will be playing a lot of the new material this coming Friday night, Feb. 10 at the Endicott Grill in Danvers.” Renee and the Renegades is expected to open for some major country musicians this coming summer. The dates will be announced soon. The band is also expected to travel to Nashville sometime this summer. |
