Keith LeBlanc: Difference between revisions

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{{shortShort description|American drummer (1954–2024)}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image = Keith Leblanc - Little Axe, Vienna 2009a.jpg
| caption = LeBlanc performing with [[Little Axe]] in 2009
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1954|11|10}}
| birth_place = [[Bristol, Connecticut]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and given age|2024|4|4|69}}
| occupation = Drummer, record producer
| years_active = {{circa|1980s}}–2024
}}
 
'''Keith LeBlanc''' is(November an10, American1954 – April 4, 2024)<ref>[[https://pitchfork.com/news/keith-leblanc-drummer-on-grandmaster-flash-and-sugarhill-gang-songs-dies-at-69/ Keith LeBlanc, Drummer on Grandmaster Flash and Sugarhill Gang Songs, Dies at 69]</ref><ref>[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/keith-leblanc Keith LeBlanc Interview | NAMM Oral History Library (2021)]</ref> was an American drummer and [[record producer]], andwho iswas a member of the bands [[Little Axe]] and [[Tackhead]].<ref name="Dougan">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p13471|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Keith LeBlanc|last=Dougan|first=John|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.skysaw.org/onu/artists/keithleblanc.html|title=On-U Sound In The Area - Keith LeBlanc biography|website=Skysaw.org|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref>
{{BLP sources|date=August 2010}}
[[File:Keith Leblanc - Little Axe, Vienna 2009a.jpg|thumb|Keith LeBlanc ([[Little Axe]] concert in Vienna, 2009)]]
'''Keith LeBlanc''' is an American [[drummer]] and [[record producer]], and is a member of the bands [[Little Axe]] and [[Tackhead]].<ref name="Dougan">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p13471|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Keith LeBlanc|last=Dougan|first=John|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.skysaw.org/onu/artists/keithleblanc.html|title=On-U Sound In The Area - Keith LeBlanc biography|website=Skysaw.org|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref>
 
His record "[[No Sell Out]]" was one of the first sample-based releases.<ref name="LarkinDM">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1998|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0252-6|page=195}}</ref> The song was a success, charting at No. 60 on the [[UK Singles Chart]],<ref>{{cite web | title=Malcolm X - Singles | publisher=officialcharts.com | url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/malcolm%20x/ | access-date=30 September 2014}}</ref> and becoming the single of the week for several major music publications.<ref name="newsociety84">{{cite journal |first=Jon |last=Savage |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q6opAQAAIAAJ&q |title=Radical Chic |journal=[[New Society]] |publisher=New Society Limited |date=20 February 1984 |volume=67-68 |page=186 |access-date=30 September 2014}}</ref> His career started out on [[Sugar Hill Records (hip hop label)|Sugar Hill Records]] recording with hip hop pioneers [[Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five|Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel]], and released several singles on and was a studio musician for [[Tommy Boy Entertainment|Tommy Boy Records]].<ref name="LarkinDM"/> He is also featured on several tracks on the album ''[[Pretty Hate Machine]]'' by [[Nine Inch Nails]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/pretty-hate-machine-mw0000207551/credits|title=Pretty Hate Machine - Nine Inch Nails &#124; Credits |website=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=23 June 2021}}</ref> He now hashad his own record label on which he still releasesreleased music, samples records, and experiments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blanc Records |url=https://myspace.com/blancrecords |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=[[Myspace]]}}</ref>
 
== Early life ==
LeBlanc grewwas upborn in Bristol, Connecticut,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Keith LeBlanc |url=https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Keith_LeBlanc/16892 |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=www.metal-archives.com}}</ref> in 1954<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rimbaud |first=Robin |author-link=Robin Rimbaud |date=April 5, 2024 |title=Sad to read of the passing of drummer Keith LeBlanc (1954-2024). His superglue percussive skills locked together so much music I've loved over the years. 'No Sell Out" (1983) remains an utter sonic gem and redefined dance music at the time. |url=https://www.threads.net/@robinrimbaud/post/C5X3Y8krTZd |access-date=April 5, 2024 |website= |via=[[Threads (social network)|Threads]]}}</ref> and grew up there. He got his start playing drums after seeing [[Ringo Starr]] from [[the Beatles]] on TV. After showing an early interest and focus, his parents bought him a practice pad, and he joined the orchestra in school. A drummer in school encouraged his early interest, inspiring him to cobble together a makeshift kit which he played along to records on his father's HiFi system. He performed his first show at 14 after having beenbeing snuck into the club by his older bandmates.<ref name="truth">{{Citation |title="TRUTH IN RHYTHM" - Keith LeBlanc (Sugar Hill, Tackhead), Part 1 of 3 | date=February 7, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwW7UUrPSiA |language=en |access-date=2022-05-05}}</ref>
 
== Sugar Hill Records ==
LeBlanc's friend Harold Sargent, the drummer for the house band at [[Sugar Hill Records (hip hop label)|Sugar Hill Records]], was retiring and needed to find his replacement. He brought in LeBlanc to audition for [[Doug Wimbish|Doug Wimbush]] and [[Little Axe|Skip McDonald]], who agreed to take him on after hitting it off with LeBlanc. After replacing Sargent, LeBlanc worked as the session drummer for Sugar Hill Records for four years.<ref>{{Citation |titlename="TRUTH IN RHYTHM" - Keith LeBlanc (Sugar Hill, Tackhead), Part 1 of 3 |url=https:truth//www.youtube.com/watch?v>

=wwW7UUrPSiA |language=en |access-dateDeath ==2022-05-05}}</ref>
Keith LeBlanc died on April 4, 2024,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Robb |first=John |date=2024-04-04 |title=Keith LeBlanc RIP |url=https://louderthanwar.com/keith-leblanc-rip/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Louder Than War |language=en-GB}}</ref> at the age of 69 or 70.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Addio a Keith LeBlanc. Aveva 70 anni |url=https://www.rockol.it/news-743676/addio-a-keith-leblanc-aveva-70-anni |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Rockol |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-05 |title=Keith LeBlanc, Drummer and Nine Inch Nails Producer, Dead |url=https://consequence.net/2024/04/keith-leblanc-drummer-nine-inch-nails-producer-dead/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Consequence |language=en-US |quote=Keith LeBlanc, (...), has passed away at the age of 70.}}</ref> His death was confirmed by his label On-U Sound.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Keith LeBlanc Obituary |url=https://on-usound.com/Keith-LeBlanc-Obituary |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=on-usound.com |language=en}}</ref>
 
==Discography==
=== Solo albums ===
Source:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keith-leblanc-mn0000077361/discography|title=Keith LeBlanc &#124; Album Discography|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=23 June 2021}}</ref>
 
* ''[[Major Malfunction]]'' (1986, World)
* ''[[Stranger Than Fiction (Keith LeBlanc album)|Stranger Than Fiction]]'' (1989, [[Enigma Records|Enigma]])
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* ''[[Time Traveller (Keith LeBlanc album)|Time Traveller]]'' (1992, Blanc)
* ''[[Freakatorium (album)|Freakatorium]]'' (1999, Blanc)
* ''[[Stop the Confusion (Global Interference)]]'' (2005, Collision: Cause of Chapter 3)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keith-leblanc-mn0000077361/discography|title=Keith LeBlanc &#124; Album Discography|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=23 June 2021}}</ref>
 
=== Remixes ===
* ''[[Strip Mall Church (Vocal) (Keith LeBlanc Prophet Siren Remix)(single)|Strip Mall Church (Vocal) (Keith LeBlanc Prophet Siren Remix)]]'' (2023, Emergency Hearts)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Televangel – Strip Mall Church (Vocal) (Keith LeBlanc Prophet Siren Remix)|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/26378720-Televangel-Strip-Mall-Church-Vocal-Keith-LeBlanc-Prophet-Siren-Remix|website=[[Discogs]]|access-date=6 March 2024}}</ref>
 
=== Tackhead ===
{{Main|Tackhead discography}}
 
=== Session work ===
* [[The Sugarhill Gang]] - ''[[Sugarhill Gang (album)|Sugarhill Gang]]'' (1980)<ref name="amg1"/>
* The Sugarhill Gang - "[[8th Wonder (song)|8th Wonder]]" (1980)<ref name="aswad1"/>
* The Sugarhill Gang - "[[Apache (instrumental)#The Sugarhill Gang version|Apache]]" (1981)<ref name="aswad1"/>
* [[Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five]] - "It's Nasty" (1981)<ref name="aswad1"/>
* Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - ''[[The Message (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five album)|The Message]]'' (1982)<ref name="amg1"/>
* [[Force MDs]] - ''Love Letters'' (1984)<ref name="aswad1"/>
* [[ABC (band)|ABC]] - ''[[How to Be a ... Zillionaire!]]'' (1985)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Jim |last2=Robbins |first2=Ira |title=ABC |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/abc/ |website=Trouser Press |access-date=6 April 2024}}</ref>
* [[Artists United Against Apartheid]] - ''[[Sun City (album)|Sun City]]'' (1985)<ref name="aswad1"/>
* Force MDs - ''[[Chillin' (Force MDs album)|Chillin']] (1985)<ref name="amg1"/>
* [[Afrika Bambaataa]] and [[Soulsonic Force]] - ''[[Planet Rock: The Album]]'' (1986)<ref name="amg1"/>
* [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]] - ''[[Twitch (Ministry album)|Twitch]]'' (1986)<ref name="amg1">{{cite web |title=Keith LeBlanc credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keith-leblanc-mn0000077361#credits |website=AllMusic |access-date=6 April 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[R.E.M.]] - "[[Turn You Inside-Out]]" (1988)<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Azerrad |first1=Michael |title=R.E.M. - Green review |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/green-94792/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=6 April 2024 |date=12 January 1989}}</ref>
* [[Nine Inch Nails]] - ''[[Pretty Hate Machine]]'' (1989)<ref name="aswad1">{{cite web |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |title=Keith LeBlanc, Pioneering Drummer on Early Hip-Hop Classics by Grandmaster Flash and Sugar Hill Gang, Dies at 69 |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/keith-leblanc-drummer-hip-hop-message-white-lines-dead-1235961145/ |website=Variety |access-date=6 April 2024 |date=5 April 2024}}</ref>
* [[Seal (musician)|Seal]] - ''[[Seal (1991 album)|Seal]]'' (1991)<ref name="amg1"/>
* [[Annie Lennox]] - ''[[Diva (Annie Lennox album)|Diva]]'' (1992)<ref name="bamb1">{{cite web |last1=Freeman |first1=Phil |title=Keith LeBlanc |url=https://burningambulance.com/2023/09/01/keith-leblanc/ |website=Burning Ambulance |access-date=6 April 2024 |language=en |date=1 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="amg1"/>
* [[The Wolfgang Press]] - ''[[Funky Little Demons]]'' (1996)<ref name="amg1"/>
* [[Tina Turner]] - ''[[Wildest Dreams (Tina Turner album)|Wildest Dreams]]'' (1996)<ref name="bamb1"/>
* [[Depeche Mode]] - "[[Useless (song)|Useless]]" (1997)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Raggett |first1=Ned |title=Depeche Mode: Ultra |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/depeche-mode-ultra/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=6 April 2024}}</ref>
* Tina Turner - ''[[Twenty Four Seven (Tina Turner album)|Twenty Four Seven]]'' (1999)<ref name="amg1"/>
* [[Spoon (band)|Spoon]] vs. [[On-U Sound Records|On-U Sound]] - ''[[Lucifer on the Moon]]'' (2022)<ref name="amg1"/>
 
==References==
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*[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/keith-leblanc Keith LeBlanc Interview] NAMM Oral History Library (2021)
 
{{use dmymdy dates|date=April 20152024}}
 
{{Keith LeBlanc}}
{{Tackhead}}
 
{{Authority control}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leblanc, Keith}}
[[Category:Year1954 of birth missing (living people)births]]
[[Category:Living2024 peopledeaths]]
[[Category:People from Bristol, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Tommy Boy Records artists]]
[[Category:American drummers]]
[[Category:American record producers]]
[[Category:Tackhead members]]
[[Category:Fats Comet members]]
 
 
{{US-drummer-stub}}