About Lenny LeBlanc

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It was nearly impossible to turn on the radio in the late 70’s without hearing Lenny LeBlanc’s hit ballad, “Falling.” He was an integral part of the phenomenon that became known as “Muscle Shoals Music”.  

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A self-taught musician, Lenny describes his childhood as “somewhere between dirt poor and middle class.” His first real experience with music came with the discovery of an old upright piano in his aunt’s dark basement. That initial encounter with that old instrument awakened the gift inside of him. “I remember laying in my bed at night wishing for a piano.”

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From the first invitation to join a garage band for the upcoming middle-school talent show where Lenny confesses, “I was so petrified, I kept my hands in my pockets and stood facing the band because I couldn’t look at the audience,” to session work for The Temptations and Hank Williams Jr. Lenny’s resume soon glittered with stars such as  Joan Baez, Andy Williams, Etta James, Carl Perkins, Mac Davis, Roy Orbison, the Supremes, and many more.

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After signing a record deal with Atlantic Records as part of the duo LeBlanc & Carr, success came quickly with the release of the romantic ballad “Falling”, which was named one of Billboard’s “all-time favorite Top 40 hits”.  

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After numerous television guest appearances, including American Bandstand, and The Midnight Special, a national tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd was on the books. In 1977 shortly after the tour had begun tragedy hit the Skynyrd band; the infamous plane crash put LeBlanc’s plans on hold.  He says, “After the crash I eventually began touring again and recorded one solo record, this time with Capitol Records. Over time I became frustrated and disenchanted with the whole thing.”  However, he continued to write new songs with his Muscle Shoals friends and was convinced the next big success was just ahead.

And then the phone rang.

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LeBlanc says, “It was one of my friends, a Vietnam vet. This guy had been like a brother to me growing up and by this time he had become a drug smuggler.

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He said, “Lenny, I’ve been saved. I’m going to heaven and I want you to be there with me.” His friend’s words shook LeBlanc to his foundation. “I really knew this guy, and I could hear it in his voice.  Something profound was going on, and I knew that my own life was about to change.”

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LeBlanc’s friend sent him a Bible.  “I knew nothing about God, I didn’t know a Methodist from a Baptist.  I didn’t know how to talk to God, but I started asking Him if He was real; and He began revealing himself to me.”

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“Finding Jesus was like a sign-post in my life.  Whatever storm comes, I know I can look back and never refute what happened to me.  That’s the Rock I cling to.”

 

While he loved being part of the church, he was still a songwriter at heart, but felt no real connection to much of the church music of that decade.  “I had this desire to pen songs that were relevant,” says LeBlanc, “and wanted to write something more vertical than what was being sung in the church during the eighties… that’s where my roots in worship started. With his decision to write and record Christian music, his Pop career suddenly came to a full stop. 

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LeBlanc’s name appears on dozens of beloved songs of the church, including the Dove award winning  “Above All” which has been recorded by Michael W. Smith, Rebecca Saint James along with country artists Randy Travis and Richie McDonald of Lonestar and the classic “There Is None Like You.” His voice and his compositions are featured on dozens of various worship recordings.

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He currently lives in Florence, Alabama with his wife Sherrie. Lenny continues to write Christian, pop and country songs, including hits like “Treat Her Right” for Sawyer Brown and “You First” with eight-time CMA, “Musician of the Year”, Mac McAnally. He still travels nationally and internationally as a Christian artist, both solo and often with long-time friend Don Moen.

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Lenny’s latest release “Anthology” is an acoustic collection of his most notable songs along with two new titles “Unchained” and “Hope”. Also included are bonus tracks “You First” and a re-recorded version of his seventies pop hit “Falling”.

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Looking back over his career and his personal walk, Lenny reflects, “It’s amazing what God has done in my life.”

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