Keith LeBlanc explained

Birth Date:10 November 1954
Birth Place:Bristol, Connecticut, U.S.
Occupation:Drummer, record producer
Years Active:–2024

Keith LeBlanc (November 10, 1954 – April 4, 2024)[1] [2] was an American drummer and record producer who was a member of the bands Little Axe and Tackhead.[3] [4]

His record "No Sell Out" was one of the first sample-based releases.[5] The song was a success, charting at No. 60 on the UK Singles Chart,[6] and becoming the single of the week for several major music publications.[7] His career started out on Sugar Hill Records recording with hip hop pioneers Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel, and released several singles on and was a studio musician for Tommy Boy Records.[5] He is also featured on several tracks on the album Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails.[8] He had his own record label on which he released music, samples records, and experiments.[9]

Early life

LeBlanc was born in Bristol, Connecticut,[10] in 1954[11] 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 being snuck into the club by his older bandmates.

Sugar Hill Records

LeBlanc's friend Harold Sargent, the drummer for the house band at Sugar Hill Records, was retiring and needed to find his replacement. He brought in LeBlanc to audition for Doug Wimbish and 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.

Death

Keith LeBlanc died on April 4, 2024,[12] at the age of 69 or 70.[13] [14] His death was confirmed by his label On-U Sound.[15]

Discography

Solo albums

Source:[16]

Remixes

Tackhead

See main article: Tackhead discography.

Session work

External links

Notes and References

  1. 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
  2. https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/keith-leblanc Keith LeBlanc Interview | NAMM Oral History Library (2021)
  3. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p13471|pure_url=yes}} Biography: Keith LeBlanc]. Dougan. John. AllMusic. 1 August 2010.
  4. Web site: On-U Sound In The Area - Keith LeBlanc biography. Skysaw.org. January 23, 2020.
  5. Book: The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music. Colin Larkin. Virgin Books. 1998. First. 0-7535-0252-6. 195.
  6. Web site: Malcolm X - Singles . officialcharts.com . 30 September 2014.
  7. Jon . Savage . Radical Chic . . New Society Limited . 20 February 1984 . 67-68 . 186 . 30 September 2014.
  8. Web site: Pretty Hate Machine - Nine Inch Nails | Credits . AllMusic. 23 June 2021.
  9. Web site: Blanc Records . 2024-04-05 . Myspace.
  10. Web site: Keith LeBlanc . 2024-04-05 . www.metal-archives.com.
  11. Web site: Rimbaud . Robin . Robin Rimbaud . April 5, 2024 . 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. . April 5, 2024 . Threads.
  12. Web site: Robb . John . 2024-04-04 . Keith LeBlanc RIP . 2024-04-04 . Louder Than War . en-GB.
  13. Web site: Addio a Keith LeBlanc. Aveva 70 anni . 2024-04-05 . Rockol . it.
  14. Web site: 2024-04-05 . Keith LeBlanc, Drummer and Nine Inch Nails Producer, Dead . 2024-04-05 . Consequence . en-US . Keith LeBlanc, (...), has passed away at the age of 70..
  15. Web site: Keith LeBlanc Obituary . 2024-04-05 . on-usound.com . en.
  16. Web site: Keith LeBlanc | Album Discography. AllMusic. 23 June 2021.
  17. Web site: Televangel – Strip Mall Church (Vocal) (Keith LeBlanc Prophet Siren Remix). Discogs. 6 March 2024.
  18. Web site: Green . Jim . Robbins . Ira . ABC . Trouser Press . 6 April 2024.
  19. Web site: Keith LeBlanc credits . AllMusic . 6 April 2024 . en.
  20. Azerrad . Michael . R.E.M. - Green review . Rolling Stone . 6 April 2024 . 12 January 1989.
  21. Web site: Aswad . Jem . Keith LeBlanc, Pioneering Drummer on Early Hip-Hop Classics by Grandmaster Flash and Sugar Hill Gang, Dies at 69 . Variety . 6 April 2024 . 5 April 2024.
  22. Web site: Freeman . Phil . Keith LeBlanc . Burning Ambulance . 6 April 2024 . en . 1 September 2023.
  23. Web site: Raggett . Ned . Depeche Mode: Ultra . Pitchfork . 6 April 2024.

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