Lenny LeBlanc (born June 17, 1951) is an American musician and songwriter. He started his career with Pete Carr in 1975 and later separated ways when both had different plans for their profession. A resident of Alabama, he is known for the song " Falling" and has sung with many artists. Since 1987, LeBlanc works at his own studio in

Muscle Shoals, Alabama Muscle Shoals is the largest city in Colbert County, Alabama, Colbert County, Alabama, United States. It is located along the Tennessee River in the northern part of the state and, as of the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, the populati ...

Early life

He was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, United States. In 1955, his family moved south to

Daytona Beach, Florida Daytona Beach, or simply Daytona, is a coastal Resort town, resort-city in east-central Florida. Located on the eastern edge of Volusia County, Florida, Volusia County near the East Coast of the United States, Atlantic coastline, its population ...

. LeBlanc spent his summers on the beach surfing until he met some teens who played guitars. He later landed a job washing dishes to pay for his first bass guitar. During the next three years of school, LeBlanc 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 Florence is a city in, and the county seat of, Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States, in the state's northwestern corner. It is situated along the Tennessee River and is home to the University of North Alabama, the oldest college in the st ...

since 1973.

Musical career

Former band member and good friend Pete Carr had become a successful producer and studio guitarist in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He encouraged LeBlanc to join him there. After a few months LeBlanc began playing bass as well as singing background vocals with artists such as Hank Williams Jr.,

Crystal Gayle Crystal Gayle (born Brenda Gail Webb; January 9, 1951) is an American country music singer widely known for her 1977 hit "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". Initially, Gayle's management and record label were the same as that of her oldest sist ...

Etta James Jamesetta Hawkins (January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012), known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer who performed in various genres, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, rock and roll, and soul. Starting her career in 1954, sh ...

, Shenandoah, Ricky Skaggs, Sawyer Brown, The Supremes, Joan Baez, Amy Grant and

Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. His music was described by critics as ...

. With much success as a background musician and singer, LeBlanc embarked on a solo career. In 1975, he recorded a demo and producer Carr sent a copy to

Jerry Wexler Jerry may refer to: Animals * Jerry (Grand National winner), racehorse, winner of the 1840 Grand National * Jerry (St Leger winner), racehorse, winner of 1824 St Leger Stakes Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Jerry'' (film), a 2006 Indian fil ...

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...

. A few months later LeBlanc's first solo LP was released. Atlantic saw great potential in LeBlanc and teamed him with Carr, with the two of them recording a subsequent album credited to LeBlanc and Carr. The result was three chart singles, including the top 40 hit " Falling". LeBlanc and Carr began touring with major acts. After a while, Carr decided he enjoyed making the records more than promoting them, so before they could record a follow-up album, the duo went their separate ways. LeBlanc continued writing songs and pursuing a solo effort, this time with

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...

. On the ''

American Top 40 ''American Top 40'' (previously abbreviated to ''AT40'') is an internationally syndicated, independent song countdown radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds, and Ron Jacobs. The program is currently hosted by Ryan Seacr ...

'' 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 Lynyrd Skynyrd ( ) is an American rock music, rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. The group originally formed as My Backyard in 1964 and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (lead vocalist), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Ju ...

. 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 Born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelicalism, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and sepa ...

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 *

Dove Award A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented annually. Formerly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Dove Awards ...

- Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year -"Above All" - Worship album Michael W. Smith, Lenny LeBlanc, Paul Baloche (2003) *In 2010 LeBlanc worked with Asian artists Brian Joo,

Van Ness Wu Vanness Wu (; born August 7, 1978) is a Taiwanese-American singer and actor. He is a member of the Taiwanese boyband F4 and the Korean Mandopop duo Kangta & Vanness. Early life Wu was born in Santa Monica, California. He learned to breakdan ...

Choi Siwon Choi Si-won (; born 7 April 1986), known mononymously as Siwon, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, model, and actor known for his work as a member of South Korean boy group Super Junior. Choi committed as special representative of UNICEF K ...

, 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! Maranatha! Music is a Christian music record label which was founded as a nonprofit ministry of Calvary Chapel in 1971. The label is distributed by Capitol Christian Music Group, a division of Universal Music Group, Universal Music. Background ...

/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'' – *2012 – ''Anthology — The Best of Lenny LeBlanc'' –

References

External links