Derek Leckenby

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Derek 'Lek' Leckenby (14 May 1943 - 4 June 1994) was an English guitarist, most famous for his work with Herman's Hermits.

Leckenby was born in 1943, in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He was educated at William Hulme's Grammar School, Manchester, and commenced a civil engineering degree course at Manchester University, before leaving to become a professional musician.

An accomplished guitarist and musician, he played the lead guitar for Herman's Hermits. He played on many of the band's early hits and composed songs with band mates Keith Hopwood and Karl Green. He admired record producer Mickie Most, but was bothered at times by Most's use of session musicians on the band's mid career hits, despite most of the Hermits' more than acceptable skills as players.

Leckenby is credited with arranging the band's first big hit, "I'm into Something Good". His skills on guitar and later dobro are most apparent not only on the Herman's Hermits tracks on which he played, but also on releases such as the LP A Whale of a Tale, and the later singles such as, "Ginny Go Softly", "Heart Get Ready for Love" and the compilation album, Vault 69, available from Pluto Music.

Despite the split with Peter Noone, Leckenby always spoke highly of his friend and defended the singer's vocal abilities to critics, who tended to overlook the singer and the band.

Leckenby succumbed to cancer on 4 June 1994, at the age of 51.