John Lefebvre
| John Lefebvre | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | August 6, 1951 |
| Origin | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, lawyer |
| Instruments | Vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, keyboards |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Website | www.Psalngs.com |
John Lefebvre (born August 6, 1951), is a Canadian musician, composer, entrepreneur, retired lawyer and philanthropist currently active as a songwriter, touring performer, and recording artist—as well as an activist and advocate who has made extensive contributions to the dialogue surrounding climate change issues.
In 2007, he composed and recorded a double CD album entitled Psalngs with the help of the legendary record producer Brian Ahern, whose previous credits include producing records by Emmylou Harris, Marty Robbins, George Jones and Ricky Skaggs. This was John's first effort as a solo artist. Ahern gathered a skookum studio band for the album, which included Jim Keltner, Hutch Hutchinson, Greg Leisz, Patrick Warren, Dean Parks, Al Kooper, Matt Rollings and Mac McAnally. The players regrouped with Lefebvre and Ahern in the spring of 2010 to record Lefebvre's second solo effort, The Initial Album, scheduled for release in fall 2010.
As an environmental advocate, Lefebvre is a chief benefactor of DeSmogBlog.com, a whistleblower blog run by Vancouver public relations specialist James Hoggan.[1] The site's focus is on exposing those who deny the effects of fossil fuel upon the world's climate while covertly working on behalf of fossil fuel producers. John is among the blog's most active commentators, in addition to substantial writing in other forums including social media. His at times blunt outspokenness on environmental issues is well documented.[2] In addition, since July 2009 Lefebvre has served as a director of the David Suzuki Foundation[3] and is also a continuing supporter of the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education, a Vancouver-based institution focused upon the teachings of Dalai Lama and "education of the heart.”
Lefevre first garnered public attention in 1999, when he co-founded NETeller (now known as Neovia), an online money transfer facility. Though a publicly traded UK company, the firm's involvement in transactions serving the then-fledgling online gambling sector led to U.S. charges of possible money laundering against the company and his arrest in January 2007.[4] Lefebvre plead guilty to charges of conspiracy to conduct illegal Internet gambling transactions and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and testify if necessary. The court ordered him to repay $185 million.[5]
References
- ↑ "DeSmogBlog". August 24, 2008. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
- ↑ "John Lefebvre on Twitter". Retrieved 2010-09-07.
- ↑ "David Suszuki Fdn Board of Directors". DavidSuzuki.org. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
- ↑ Verrinder, Matthew (January 16, 2007). "NETeller ex-directors on money laundering charges". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-08-27.
- ↑ Hartman, Bob (July 10, 2007). "Neteller Founder Lefebvre Pleads Guilty in Internet Gambling Case". Casino Gambling Web. Retrieved 2009-08-27.