Lenny White | |
|---|---|
.jpg) White at theOslo 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 | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument(s) | Drums, percussion |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Website | lennywhite |
Leonard White III (born December 19, 1949) is an Americanjazz fusion drummer who was a member of the bandReturn to Forever led byChick Corea in the 1970s. White has been called "one of the founding fathers of jazz fusion".[1][2][3]
White has won threeGrammys and oneLatin Grammy.[4][5] His songAlgorithm Takedown won Best Song at the Cannes World Film Festival in 2023.[6]
Born inQueens, New York City, White became interested in music at a young age. While he was living at home, his father would take him to jazz gigs. A self-taught drummer, he started playing with groups on the New York jazz scene. Early on, he played clubs such as the Aphrodisiac, Slugs, and The Gold Lounge.
It was at The Gold Lounge where he had his first gig with saxophonistJackie McLean.[7] During the late 1960s he began performing with Mclean around Queens. Through this, White was recommended to play onMiles Davis' landmark 1969 LPBitches Brew and feature onFreddie Hubbard's 1970 LPRed Clay. During 1972, White joinedReturn to Forever.[8][9][10]
In 1975 White released his debut solo album entitled ‘’Venusian Summer,’’which featured guitarists Al DiMeola and fusion guitar pioneer, Larry Coryell.Big City was released in 1977. During 1978 he released his Space opera inspiredThe Adventures of Astral Pirates and his third solo albumStreamline. He eventually formed the jazz/soul groupTwennynine who went on to issue three studio albums, 1979'sBest of Friends,Twennynine with Lenny White in 1980, and 1981'sJust Like Dreamin'.[1][2]
White then made a guest appearance onChick Corea's 1982 albumTouchstone and producedChaka Khan's 1982 LPEchoes of an Era. He also co-produced, withEW&F'sMaurice White,Pieces of a Dream's 1986 LPJoyride and later released his 1995 albumPresent Tense.[1][2] White now teaches atNYU Steinhardt where he has an ensemble as well as a lecture class onBitches Brew called “The Miles Davis Aesthetic.”[7][11]
White has been a longtime resident ofTeaneck, New Jersey.[3] He endorsesVic Firth drum sticks and only plays his own signature epoch cymbals sponsored byIstanbul Agop.[12]
Grammy Awards
White has earned two soleGrammy Award nominations, while winning a total of three.[13]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | No Mystery | Best Jazz Performance by a group | Won |
| 2010 | The Stanley Clarke Band | Best Contemporary Jazz Album | Won |
| 2011 | Forever | Best Jazz Instrumental Album | Won |
Latin Grammy Awards
White has been nominated for and won oneLatin Grammy Award.[14]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Forever | Best Instrumental Album | Won |
Cannes World Film Festival 2023
Best Song Winner withAlgorithm Takedown[citation needed]
WithChick Corea,Bill Connors andStanley Clarke
With Chick Corea,Al Di Meola and Stanley Clarke
As Corea, Clarke & White
With Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke,Jean-Luc Ponty,Frank Gambale
WithGeri Allen
WithAzteca WithCyrus Chestnut
WithStanley Clarke
WithLarry Coryell &Victor Bailey
WithLetizia Gambi
WithChaka Khan,Freddie Hubbard,Joe Henderson,Chick Corea &Stanley Clarke
WithAl Di Meola
WithWallace Roney
WithBuster Williams
| With others
|
White, a two-time Grammy winner, is one of the founding fathers of jazz fusion. His first recording gig was with Miles Davis on the groundbreaking "Bitches Brew" album that was released in 1970.
