Lenny LeBlanc
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Lenny LeBlanc (born June 17, 1951 in Westminster, 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 in 1970. He currently resides in Muscle Shoals, Alabama since 1973.
[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., Crystal Gayle, Etta James, Shenandoah, Ricky Skaggs, Sawyer Brown, The Supremes, Joan Baez, 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 three chart singles, including the top 20 hit "Falling". The single peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 28 weeks during 1977 and 1978. It also reached #11 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. LeBlanc and Carr began touring with major acts. After a while 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 Records.
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] Awards
- "Falling" - Named BMI Millionaire song (one million or more radio plays)
- "Falling" - Named on of Billboard's all time favorite Top 40 Hits
- 2003 - Dove Award- INSPIRATIONAL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR -"Above All" - Worship album Michael W. Smith, Lenny LeBlanc, Paul Baloche
[edit] Discography
- 1977 – Lenny LeBlanc – Atlantic/Big Tree
- 1978 – Midnight Light (as LeBlanc & Carr) – Atlantic/Big Tree
- 1980 – Breakthrough – MSS/Capitol
- 1983 – Say a Prayer – Heartland/CBS-Priority
- 1984 – Person to Person – Heartland/Benson
- 1990 – Faithful Heart – Maranatha!/Benson
- 1991 – Prisoner of Love – Maranatha!/Benson
- 1991 – Pure Heart – Hosanna! Music/Integrity
- 1994 – All My Dreams – Integrity Music
- 1996 – The Bridge – Integrity Music
- 1999 – Above All – Integrity Music
- 2002 – One Desire – Integrity Music
- 2007 – There is none like you – Integrity Music
[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.
