Today on The Writer’s Block, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Fred LeBlanc of Cowboy Mouth for a conversation I’ve been looking forward to for a long time.
Fred is someone I’ve admired not only as a musician, but as a songwriter, storyteller, performer, and someone who has spent decades using music to connect with people. As a longtime fan of Cowboy Mouth, getting the chance to actually sit down with Fred and talk about his life and career was a really special experience for me.
We talked about growing up in New Orleans, how the city’s music and culture shaped him, his time with Dash Rip Rock, the story of Cowboy Mouth, and what it has meant for him to keep making music after all these years.
We also got into something I found especially fascinating: Fred’s children’s book, Fred, the Drummer Boy of New Orleans, and the story of how his aunt encouraged him to write it. We talked about the differences between writing a song and writing a children’s book, and how inspiration can sometimes take you in directions you never expected.
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was talking about songs like “Easy” and “I Believe,” and how music can take difficult experiences, emotions, and energy and turn them into something positive.
I also shared with Fred how I’ve used “Easy” in my own boxing classes and with people I work with, and it was great to hear his perspective on the power that music can have on people who may be going through difficult moments.
This conversation felt like much more than just another interview. It was a conversation about music, life, gratitude, struggle, creativity, New Orleans, and the importance of continuing to put something positive into the world.
I’m grateful Fred took the time to join me on The Writer’s Block, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I enjoyed having it.
