Lenny LeBlanc

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

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

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. It also reached No. 11 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. The song likewise reached number 11 on the U.S. Cash Box Top 100, and spent three weeks at number 11 on the Canadian RPM Top 100. 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

• "Falling" - Named BMI Millionaire song (one million or more radio plays)
• "Falling" - Named one 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
• In 2010 LeBlanc worked with Asian artists Brian Joo, Van Ness Wu, Choi Siwon, and John Lee on the 3RD WAVE Music project.

Discography

• 1976 – Hound Dog Man – Big Tree
• 1977 – Lenny LeBlanc – Atlantic/Big Tree
• 1978 – Midnight Light (as LeBlanc & Carr) – Atlantic/Big Tree
• 1980 – Breakthrough – Heartland/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
• 2006 – Arise: A Celebration of Worship – Integrity Music
• 2007 – All For Love – Integrity Music
• 2007 – Songs From My Living Room (DVD) – LenSongs Pictures
• 2008 – Christmas Night – Indelible Creative Group
• 2010 – Love Like No Other – In:ciite
• 2012 – Anthology — The Best of Lenny LeBlanc – In:ciite