Lee Greenwood was born with a good voice and a wide range, which he accidentally turned into a unique voice through overworking in a less-than-healthy setting. Originally from Sacramento, Greenwood honed his musical skills on the casino circuit in Reno and Las Vegas, dealing cards by day and performing in dark lounges by night. The strain of performing six nights a week in smoky nightclubs led to permanent hoarseness, yet Greenwood used this to his advantage, establishing himself as one of country music’s premier balladeers. Discovered by Mel Tillis’ road manager, Larry McFaden, Greenwood took the initiative to fly to Nashville, where his efforts finally paid off in late 1981 with the breakthrough hit “It Turns Me Inside Out.” His career took off, earning accolades for his signature song, the self-written “God Bless the U.S.A.”