These days a lot of Christian artists are trying to crossover
into the pop market; and some are even succeeding. For
Lenny LeBlanc "crossover" has an entirely different meaning:
crossing over in the other direction, from pop success to
Christian music. The man whose voice and instrumental talent
graced the recordings of stars like Roy Orbison,The Supremes
Hank Williams Jr., Crystal Gayle and Joan Baez also had a pop
career of his own as part of a duo and as a solo artist.
In what many consider to be the "golden age" of tasteful pop
music, the late 1970s, Lenny LeBlanc rode the crest of
success as half of the popular duo LeBlanc & Carr. To this day
their smash hit "Falling" remains in the record books as one of
the most popular singles ever, lasting 27 weeks during 1978
and 1979. In fact, "Falling," a dreamy, romantic ballad co-written
by LeBlanc, attained the rare feat of being named a BMI Millionaire
song, indicating one million radio plays, and was named one of
Billboard's all time favorite Top 40 hits.
So how did this reverse crossover happen? Well, after achieving
many of the goals LeBlanc dreamed about as a teenager, things
were looking good. "My career was my god and I began to worship
the gift He had given me even to the point of leaving my family
behind. I was not at a low point in life nor looking or searching
for God until a good friend of mine who was a drug smuggler called
me late one night. He said 'Lenny I got saved and I'm going to
heaven.' Then he said, 'Lenny I want you to be there with me. Are
you saved?' Without even thinking I said 'Yes,' not knowing what
being saved even meant. My friend sent me a Bible and for the next
few weeks God began to reveal His love to me. I began to realize
how shallow and selfish my life was and there in my house I cried
out to God for mercy and forgiveness."
After that life changing experience, Lenny's desires changed radically.
Before long he began to write songs that reflected his new found
faith in Christ. "I could have gone on in the field of pop music as a
Christian but I sensed that God had something different for me. I
didn't know anything or anyone in Christian music except for Amy
Grant. I had sung on her first record "My Fathers Eyes." She was only
18 years old at the time." Soon LeBlanc began making many new
friends in the Contemporary Christian music industry and his first
release entitled "Say a Prayer" was warmly received. He has had seven
solo releases with more than a dozen top 10 radio singles. His
involvement with the Maranatha Praise Band and serving as worship
leader on Integrity Hosanna's "Pure Heart" has brought him in front
of even more Christian audiences. As a songwriter he primarily writes
pens solid relational songs like the #1 country hit "Treat Her Right" for
Sawyer Brown and "Father Knows Best" for Ricky Skaggs.
Lenny lives in Florence, Alabama with his wife Sherrie and youngest
daughter Hanna where he serves as Worshp Leader at Faith Church.
Lenny continues to travel, performing 30 to 40 concerts a
year as well as producing various releases like Integrity Hosanna's
"I would hope that my music causes people to seek to know G od,"
says Lenny. "Not seek to become a better Christian, but to know Him more.
That's what I desire in my own life."
Born in 1951- Leominster Ma.
1955 - Moved to Dayona Beach Fl.
1970 - Moved to Cincinnati Oh.
1973 - Moved to Muscle Shoals Al.
Family
Wife: Sherrie
Daughters: Noelle & Hanna
Son-in-Law Robert Morone
Grandson - Deven Morone
Interests
Songwriting and Recording
Designing & building furniture
Enjoys fishing
