Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers:
Molly Ann Leikin

Canada has produced many songwriters who have gone on to international fame with their songwriting credits. Most at that level have received widespread recognition and publicity in Canada… a few of them have remained in relative obscurity on the Canadian home front. A songwriter who falls into the latter category is Ottawa, Ontario-born MOLLY-ANN LEIKIN.

After graduating from Fisher Park High School in Ottawa in 1961, Molly-Ann began to pursue her songwriting skills. After a decade of failing to get much family and peer support for her efforts, Molly-Ann decided a trip to the Los Angeles music scene might provide better opportunities.

Soon after arriving in California in 1970, Molly-Ann found work as a staff writer at Almo Music (A&M Records), then moved on to similar positions with Interworld Music and Chappell Music.

It took some time, but Molly-Ann Leikin did become a “big-time” songwriter. One of the first Country acts to score on the charts with one of Leiken’s songs was Billie Jo Spears, with her recording, “Silver Wings And Golden Rings” – a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Country Charts in 1975. The song was also recorded by Pop star Cher and by Country singer Randy Cornor.

The best showing on the Country charts for a Leikin song came in 1979, when Susie Allanson peaked at #6 with the tune, “Two Steps Forward & Three Steps Back”. Allanson would also enjoy a Top 20 hit in 1980 with the Leikin song, “Dance The Two-Step”.

Nashville hit-maker Barbara Fairchild had a Top 20 hit with the Molly Ann Leikin song, “Let Me Love You Once Before You Go,” a tune that was also recorded by Rex Allen Jr., Dusty Springfield and Con Hunley, among others.

Molly-Ann’s Billboard-charted singles by Spears, Allanson and Fairchild all resulted in prestigious ASCAP Songwriting awards for Molly-Ann.

Other Country artists who have recorded a Molly Ann Leikin song include DoIe West, Jody Miller, Guy & Ralna, Lynn Anderson, etc. Canadian superstar Anne Murray has recorded four Pop-flavoured songs penned by Leiken.

As much as Molly-Ann Leikin has enjoyed success on the “Country” front with her songs, she has been even more productive and successful on the “Pop” music scene, with her songs recorded by such mainline acts as The Carpenters, Cher, John Travolta, Tina Turner, Billy Preston, Johnny Mathis, Frankie Valli, Nana Mouskouri, The 5th Dimension, and many, many more.

Also, being based out of Hollywood, Molly-Ann Leikin has had the opportunity to write music and songs for movies and TV shows. Among her many credits are the theme for the TV sitcom “Eight Is Enough” and TV productions “American Dream” and “Big City Cowboys”. Her songs and music can also be heard on soundtracks for the TV show “The Brady Bunch” and in the movies “Happy Endings”, “Moment To Moment” and the Academy Award-winning “Violet”.

In addition to her songwriting credits, Molly Ann Leikin also provides consulting services for other aspiring songwriters. She has authored several books, not surprisingly entitled “How To Write A Hit Song”.