Lenny White facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lenny White
White at the Oslo Jazz Festival 2016
Background information
Birth name	Leonard White III
Born	(1949-12-19) December 19, 1949 (age 75) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Jazz funk jazz fusion jazz funk jazz rock progressive rock
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter bandleader
Instruments	Drums, percussion
Years active	1968–present
Associated acts	Return to Forever, Twennynine, Azteca, Jamaica Boys

Leonard White III (born December 19, 1949) is an American jazz fusion drummer. He was a key member of the band Return to Forever in the 1970s. This group was led by the famous musician Chick Corea. Many people call Lenny White "one of the founding fathers of jazz fusion."

Lenny White has won three Grammys and one Latin Grammy. His song Algorithm Takedown won Best Song at the Cannes World Film Festival in 2023.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Lenny White was born in Queens, New York City. He became interested in music when he was very young. His father often took him to jazz concerts and shows.

Lenny taught himself how to play the drums. He started performing with different groups in New York's jazz scene. He played in clubs like the Aphrodisiac, Slugs, and The Gold Lounge. He looked up to many great drummers. These included Kenny Clarke, Max Roach, and Tony Williams. He even wrote a song called "Magnificent Seven" for them.

At The Gold Lounge, he had his first show with saxophonist Jackie McLean. In the late 1960s, he played with McLean around Queens. Because of this, Lenny was asked to play on Miles Davis' important 1969 album, ... Brew. He also played on Freddie Hubbard's 1970 album, Red Clay. In 1972, Lenny White joined the band Return to Forever.

A Career in Music

White and Stanley Clarke, 1976

In 1975, Lenny White released his first solo album, Venusian Summer. It featured guitarists Al DiMeola and Larry Coryell. His second solo album, Big City, came out in 1977. He also released The Adventures of Astral Pirates and Streamline in 1978.

Later, he started a jazz/soul group called Twennynine. They released three albums: Best of Friends (1979), Twennynine with Lenny White (1980), and Just Like Dreamin' (1981).

Lenny White also worked with other artists. He appeared on Chick Corea's 1982 album Touchstone. He also produced Chaka Khan's 1982 album Echoes of an Era. He helped produce Pieces of a Dream's 1986 album Joyride. In 1995, he released his album Present Tense.

Today, Lenny White teaches at NYU Steinhardt. He leads a music group and teaches a class about the album ... Brew.

Personal Life

Lenny White lives in Teaneck, New Jersey. He uses Vic Firth drum sticks and plays his own special cymbals. These cymbals are made by Istanbul Agop.

Awards and Achievements

Lenny White has won several important awards for his music.

Grammy Awards

He has won three Grammy Awards.

Latin Grammy Awards

He has won one Latin Grammy Award.

Other Honors

• Cannes World Film Festival 2023: Best Song Winner for Algorithm Takedown.

Music Albums

Here are some of the albums Lenny White has released as a leader or with his main bands.

As a Leader or Co-Leader

• Venusian Summer (1975)
• Big City (1977)
• The Adventures of Astral Pirates (1978)
• Streamline (1978)
• Attitude (1983)
• Present Tense (1995)
• Hancock Island (2008)
• Anomaly (2010)

With Twennynine

• Best of Friends (1979)
• Twennynine with Lenny White (1980)
• Just Like Dreamin' (1981)

With Return to Forever

• Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (1973)
• Where Have I Known You Before (1974)
• No Mystery (1975)
• Romantic Warrior (1976)
• Returns (2009)

As Corea, Clarke & White

• Forever (2009)

See also

In Spanish: Lenny White para niños