Lenny LeBlanc
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Lenny LeBlanc (born June 17, 1951 in Leominster, Massachusetts) is an American musician and songwriter.
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[edit] Early life
In 1955 his family moved south to Daytona Beach, Florida. LeBlanc spent his summers on the beach surfing until he met some teens that played guitars. He later landed a job washing dishes to pay for his first bass guitar. During the next three years of school Lenny played at dances and local clubs around Daytona, developing his vocal talents as well. He graduated from high school in 1969 and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio.
[edit] Musical career
Former band member and good friend Pete Carr had become a very successful producer and studio guitarist in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He encouraged Lenny to join him there. After a few months Lenny began playing bass as well as singing background vocals with artists like Hank Williams Jr., Amy Grant and Roy Orbison.
With much success as a background musician and singer, Lenny LeBlanc embarked on a solo career. In 1975, he recorded a demo and producer Pete Carr sent a copy to Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records. A few months later Lenny's first solo LP was released. Atlantic saw great potential in Lenny and teamed him with Pete Carr. The result was the top 10 hit "Falling," LeBlanc and Carr began touring with major acts. After awhile Carr decided he enjoyed making the records more than promoting them so the duo went their separate ways. LeBlanc continued writing songs and pursuing a solo effort, this time with Capitol.
In 1980, LeBlanc became a born-again Christian and began recording Christian-themed music. In 1983, Heartland Records released the "Say a Prayer" LP which was followed by the "Person to Person" LP in 1984. In 1987, LeBlanc opened his own recording studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama where he does his own productions as well as others.
[edit] Trivia
- In August 2006, LeBlanc's song "Falling" returned to the mainstream when a video of alleged murderer John Mark Karr playing the song at a friend's wedding was repeatedly shown on several news programs.
