Carl LeBlanc facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carl LeBlanc
Background information
Birth name	Carl LeBlanc, Jr.
Born	(1955-05-26) May 26, 1955 (age 70)
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Genres	Jazz, Avant-garde jazz, Bebop, R&B
Occupation(s)	Musician, educator
Instruments	Guitar, banjo, vocals
Years active	1967-present

Carl LeBlanc is an amazing American musician. He was born on May 26, 1955. Carl plays both the guitar and a special kind of four-string banjo. He is famous for his work in different types of jazz music. Carl is the only musician to have played with both the unique jazz artist Sun Ra and the traditional Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Carl has released seven solo albums. These albums mix different music styles. They include traditional jazz, modern jazz, bebop, and New Orleans music. This includes Mardi Gras Indian and Second line styles. He also plays the banjo at Preservation Hall. He followed in the footsteps of another great banjo player, Narvin Kimball. Carl also led the Preservation Hall Junior Jazz and Heritage Band.

Biography

Early Life and Inspiration

Carl LeBlanc was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in an area called the Seventh Ward. As a child, he often heard the city's lively brass band parades. These parades happened right in his neighborhood.

But it was The Beatles' famous TV appearance that truly inspired him. They were on The Ed Sullivan Show. This made Carl want to play the guitar. He started performing at just 12 years old. He played with a high school band called The Sonics. They played at a place called The Wonderful Boys Club. Carl also learned a lot from older musicians in his neighborhood.

Education and Career

Carl received a scholarship to Columbia University. There, he studied Music Education. Later, he graduated from Southern University at New Orleans. He studied music under the guidance of Kidd Jordan. After college, Carl moved to Philadelphia. He went there to play with the famous jazz musician Sun Ra.

Throughout his career, Carl LeBlanc has played with many other great artists. These include Fats Domino, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. He also performed with Allen Toussaint, Bo Diddley, and Ellis Marsalis Jr.. Other musicians he played with are James Rivers, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra.

Carl LeBlanc continues to keep the music traditions of New Orleans alive. He does this by teaching and performing.

Music Albums

Carl LeBlanc's Own Albums

• Sidewalk Serenade (1975)
• Bebop (1979)
• Gazebo Afternoon (2004)
• New Orleans’ Seventh Ward Griot (2008)
• Partners (2009)
• Those Who Have Ears (2011)
• Justin Case (2012)

Playing with Other Artists

Carl LeBlanc has also played on albums with many other musicians.

With Sun Ra

• Reflections in Blue (1986)
• Hours After (1986)
• Blue Delight (1988)
• Mayan Temples (1990)
• Somewhere Else (1993)

With Preservation Hall Jazz Band

• The Hurricane Sessions (2008)
• Preservation: An Album to Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program (2010)
• The 50th Anniversary Collection (2012)

With The Del McCoury Band

• American Legacies (2011) (with The Del McCoury Band and Preservation Hall Jazz Band)

With The Blind Boys of Alabama

• Down in New Orleans (2008)

With Fats Domino

• Alive and Kickin' (2006)
• Legends of New Orleans: Fats Domino Live! (2003)

Other Notable Works

• Dick Tracy Original Soundtrack (1990)
• Our New Orleans: A Benefit Album for the Gulf Coast (2005)
• Goin’ Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino (2007)