Article  Kings Of Leon Music Is A Hit Worldwide If you are a fan of good old American rock with a definite fusion of other types of styles then the Kings of Leon music should be an addition to your collection. This band, originally formed in 1999 is really an evolution of a very traditional southern style blues band that adapted and encompassed a variety of other types of rock styles into a new, unique and hit making style all of their own. The Kings of Leon are also different from many bands in that they are all members of the same family. There are three brothers, Anthony Caleb Followill, Michael Jared Followill, Ivan Nathan Followill and their cousin Cameron Matthew Followill that compromise the entire band. All the band members also go by their middle name, not their first name, adding a quirky bit of family tradition to the band itself. Although Caleb provides the lead vocals, all of the other members provide backup vocals as well as provide the guitars and drums that are prominent in the musical style of the group. The Followill brothers had an interesting early life traveling around the southern United States with their father and mother. Their father, a Pentecostal preacher, brought the family with him as he traveled through Oklahoma, Tennessee and the Deep South. The boys would occasionally play on the drums and other musical instruments during his sermons, but mostly they remained largely out of sight. It wasn't until their father and mother divorced in 1997 and the brothers moved to Nashville that they really got started in their music style, formed a band and began playing anything other than very traditional southern music and blues. The name Kings of Leon came about as a tribute to their grandfather and father. Both of those very influential men in the brother's lives were named Leon, so the name of the band is also very much a family connection. Cousin Matthew was brought in as a drummer once a record deal was signed with RCA. It was also at this time that the youngest bother Jared also became a continuous part of the group, supplying bass guitar and backup vocals. The first Kings of Leon music that the worldwide audience was exposed to was through the Holy Roller Novocaine song that was released on February 18, 2003. The full album, Youth and Young Manhood was released in both the United Kingdom and the United States in 2003. Aha Shake Heartbreak was the band's second album and was released in the same two countries in 2004 and 2005. Interestingly enough both albums were first released in the United Kingdom and then the United States, a bit of a reversal from the path of many bands that release in the USA first. The music of the Kings of Leon has definitely changed in the few short years they have been recording and touring. Music critics have labeled their sound everything from garage band rock to indie or alternative rock. There is a definitely sound of traditional rock and roll combined with southern references and styles within their music, but it all comes together for a distinctive and easily identified style. To date the Kings of Leon music has earned the band the 2010 Grammy award for Record of the Year, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Troup and Best Rock Song for "Use Somebody". In addition they won two BRIT Awards in 2008 and the best selling album in Australia in 2008 for "Because of the Times". This album also went platinum in the USA, Australia and the United Kingdom.   Category Internet Author WOA Member Add To Favorites Print This Article Email Article To A Friend Post Comments   Rate This Article (0) 1 - Poor2345 - Good678910 - Excellent Added On 14 February 2010