Lenny LeBlanc

Lenny LeBlanc
Background information
Born (1951-06-17) June 17, 1951
Origin Leominster, Massachusetts, United States
Genres Soft rock, contemporary Christian music, contemporary worship music
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter
Years active 1975–present
Labels Big Tree, Heartland, Integrity!
Associated acts Warryn Campbell
Website www.lennyleblanc.com

Lenny LeBlanc (born June 17, 1951) is an American musician and songwriter, half of the music duo LeBlanc and Carr.[1]

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 has resided in Florence, Alabama since 1973.

Musical career

LeBlanc performing together with Don Moen

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 15 hit "Falling". The single peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 28 weeks during 1977 and 1978.[2] It also reached No. 11 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.[3] The song likewise reached number 11 on the U.S. Cash Box Top 100,[4] and spent three weeks at number 11 on the Canadian RPM Top 100.[5] 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.

On the American Top 40 show of February 25, 1978, Casey Kasem reported that LeBlanc and Carr had been bumped from the ill-fated flight which killed some of the members of rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The acts were touring together, and last-minute travel plan changes prevented the duo from boarding the plane after they had initially been offered seats.

In 1980, LeBlanc became a born-again Christian and began recording Christian-themed music. In 1983, Heartland Records released Say a Prayer followed by Person to Person in 1984. In 1987, LeBlanc opened his own recording studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama where he does his own productions as well as others.

Awards

Discography

Genre Year CD Title Recording Company Awards
Pop 1976 Lenny LeBlanc Atlantic/Big Tree Yielded one chart single
Pop 1978 Midnight Light Atlantic/Big Tree - Leblanc and Carr Yielded two Top 40 singles and one Top 15 single: "Falling" (co-written by LeBlanc and Eddie Struzick)
Pop 1980 Breakthrough MSS/Capitol - Lenny LeBlanc Yielded one Top 50 single
CCM 1983 Say a Prayer Heartland/CBSPriority - Lenny LeBlanc Yielded one Top 10 single: "Say a Prayer"
CCM 1984 Person to Person Heartland/Benson - Lenny LeBlanc Yielded one Top 15 single: "He is the One"
CCM 1990 Single: "Forgive One Another" Faithful Heart Maranatha/Benson Member of group Faithful Heart Maranatha/Benson Yielded No. 2 single "Forgive One Another"
CCM 1991 Prisoner of Love Maranatha/Benson - Lenny LeBlanc Yielded 2 Top 15 singles: "Praise Him" and "Prisoner of Love"
Worship 1991 Pure Heart Integrity Hosanna (Worship Series)
Worship 1994 All My Dreams Integrity Music - Lenny LeBlanc Yielded No. 5 AC single: "Born to Worship"; No. 7 AC single: "All My Dreams"; and No. 1 Country Christian single: "A Carpenters Son"
Worship 1996 The Bridge Integrity Music - Lenny LeBlanc Yielded Top 15 CCM single: "River of Forgiveness"; and Top 10 inspirational single: "The Bridge"
Worship 1999 Above All Integrity - Lenny LeBlanc Yielded Top 15 inspirational single: "I Believe"

See also

References

  1. ↑ "SongFacts.com". SongFacts.com. 1977-10-20. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 360.
  3. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 142.
  4. ↑ http://50.6.195.142/archives/70s_files/19780318.html
  5. ↑ https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5529a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=u307nkulfrj3hqr8ijm0tjhqa7
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