Leo LeBlanc..Gone but Not Forgotten

Gary Hoetker · Post by **Gary Hoetker** » 28 May 2017 9:16 am

Perhaps this should be posted in the Gone section of the Forum. Leo worked and lived in Bakersfield in the late 60's. He was a frequent customer at the Bank where I worked to cash his paychecks.Some were good and some weren't. He was a small man in size but large in stature always smiling and was as nice a man as you could ever meet. I followed the Bakersfield Music scene and already knew and heard how good of a pedal steeler Leo was. A fine session player, he is featured in the ruck songs recorded by Red Simpson for Capitol. He also had the most unique tone and style. RIP Leo !!

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 28 May 2017 9:54 am

Deleted because of wrong facts.

Tommy Detamore · Post by **Tommy Detamore** » 28 May 2017 10:07 am

Always liked his work on the John Prine albums. When I was just starting out on steel I would try to copy his licks. With varying success

Isn't his son a member here?

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 28 May 2017 10:18 am

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... eo+leblanc

Jerry Jones · Post by **Jerry Jones** » 28 May 2017 10:34 am

Many years ago, I found a compilation album of truckers tune at a "fire sale" store and nearly ruined the grooves listening and learning this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEQfTCn1BJA

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 28 May 2017 11:22 am

Leo also played on some Jerry Jeff Walker albums, loved his sound, his son used to post on the forum, hope he sees this if he is still active.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 28 May 2017 1:24 pm

Stu Schulman was JJW's lead guitarist when Leo worked with Walker, if I remember correctly. Stu should chime in here about Leo. I think they were road roomies.

Jack Stanton · Post by **Jack Stanton** » 28 May 2017 1:36 pm

Leo's work with Danny O'Keefe was on of the things that made me want to learn steel guitar. Check out his work on I'm Sober Now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPgzcqtAzAo

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 28 May 2017 7:41 pm

Yeah...Leo...
We did a bunch of sessions together years ago. A cool guy, playing cool stuff on his Endicott steel.
I think his son might be on the Forum.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 29 May 2017 10:15 am

Leo,Yep!I was Leo's roommate on the road for the one tour that I played lead guitar for Jerry Jeff,Leo was the nicest guy,One time I asked him why his Endicott guitar didn't have any rollers at the nut...He said because it didn't need them,From the first time I heard Leo on Red Simpson's "Roll Truck Roll"I became a fan,Leo was legally blind but was really good at taking buses around town,nothing stopped him...if you can find the first Danny O'Keefe record Leo just kills on "I'm sober now!

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 29 May 2017 11:20 am

With Marlin Greene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7wh6C247e0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQsLQfCqRTU

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 29 May 2017 11:46 am

Conikydink! I just happened to pick up Danny O'Keefe's first album in mint vinyl at my local record shop...for 99¢! Nice work by Leo Leblanc. Bumped into him a couple of times, probably in different bands playing a Sunday gig at the Cowboy in Anaheim. Hard to believe he schlepped his gear via public bus!

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 29 May 2017 12:36 pm

John,Right? Public transportation?not sure that I've ever done that growing up in N.Y.C.

Darrell Criswell · Post by **Darrell Criswell** » 29 May 2017 12:45 pm

Leo LeBlanc was from Memphis TN. I talked with someone who knew him and went to church with him. I was told he became fascinated with the steel guitar to the exclusion of everything else, this in part led to a divorce from his wife. As part of the divorce I believe he got to live in a garage in his wife's yard where the divorce decree said he could play steel guitar.

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 29 May 2017 5:43 pm

I'm a fan. His playing on John Prine's "Bruised Orange" was a big influence for me.

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 31 May 2017 5:48 am

Awesome player, and person, and he liked that Fender Twin right behind him in a chair.

Tiny Olson · Post by **Tiny Olson** » 31 May 2017 4:15 pm

I'm a big fan of Leo too. Like Stu, I was hooked after hearing Red's, "Roll Truck Roll."

Chris "Tiny" O.

Don Euton · Post by **Don Euton** » 1 Jun 2017 4:29 pm

Leo also played for George Jones. I saw him in Houston, TX at the Police & Fireman's Fun raiser in the 1960`s or early 1970`s. He had his name on the front of his steel. I don`t remember if George showed up or not.

Don Euton

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 2 Jun 2017 5:31 am

One of the first set of licks that I learned to play properly was Leo's backup on John Prine's "Your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore". Good stuff.

Darrell Criswell · Post by **Darrell Criswell** » 2 Jun 2017 5:56 am

Anyone know what happened to him? How did he pass away in 1995, and did he play until then?

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 2 Jun 2017 7:08 am

He played on this song by the Wallflowers released in '96:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLoc62pmFVk
The record from where this tune comes is dedicated to him.

Tim Fleming · Post by **Tim Fleming** » 2 Jun 2017 11:22 am

Through an unexpected turn of events, I've wound up with his Endecott guitar!
It was a real mess when I opened the case and I'm now in the (very slow) process of bringing it back to life.
It's a funky old beast which I don't know
if I'll ever want to play, but it's got some interesting features: no roller nuts, built-in ashtray, some very weird mechanics but it is a beautiful instrument to behold!

Tim Fleming · Post by **Tim Fleming** » 2 Jun 2017 11:25 am

A couple of pics from the day when I took her out of the case:

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 2 Jun 2017 3:24 pm

Totally cool barn find, would probably be best to just clean up and keep in its original state, but that's only my opinion.

Darrell Criswell · Post by **Darrell Criswell** » 2 Jun 2017 3:53 pm

"Tim Fleming"]Through an unexpected turn of events, I've wound up with his Endecott guitar!"

Do you mind tell us how you came about and got this guitar?