Leo LeBlanc..Gone but Not Forgotten

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 3 Jun 2017 6:21 am

There it is!!

Curt Trisko · Post by **Curt Trisko** » 3 Jun 2017 8:23 am

His ride from this song is a part of my warmup routine:

https://youtu.be/Zl8mOT07T90?t=2m27s

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 3 Jun 2017 11:28 am

Tim, Leo got a very unique and wonderful tone, some of which could be attributed to that guitar. So when you're restoring it, you should keep that in mind. Don't do anything dramatic like adding rollers, etc. But you probably figured that out already.

Joe

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 3 Jun 2017 12:34 pm

My first steel lesson was with Leo, and I learned a cool break to Jambalaya in 1975.

Tim Fleming · Post by **Tim Fleming** » 4 Jun 2017 10:13 am

I have done a few gigs over the past few years with Thomas LeBlanc, a fine drummer and son of Leo.
One night he asked if I'd be interested in the guitar - Dude, you don't have to ask me twice.

As far as the restoring goes, I really just want to clean it up and get it working. I have no intention of modifying it at all. Then, I'll most likely give it back to Thomas, as it's way too short (24.5" floor to bottom skirt) for me to play.
I have full respect for it's provenance and won't do anything to alter its appearance or mechanics.

Egil Skjelnes · Post by **Egil Skjelnes** » 12 Jun 2017 11:35 am

Hi
Got an old 45 record of him
"Roll steel roll/ Boil them cabbage down" on the old Mosrite label.

Jeremy Reeves · Post by **Jeremy Reeves** » 29 Jan 2024 12:19 pm

bump - anyone have knowledge/pics of a custom made fuzzbox Leo LeBlanc used in the mid/late 60s?

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 22 Feb 2024 8:55 pm

My friend Gary Kaye just sent me this video of John Prine live with Leo playing the Endicott steel. It’s from 1980.
https://youtu.be/1HSm3a6YnO4?si=pPsJK8XNrMLOLl7n

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 23 Feb 2024 7:36 am

Great video Dave, it's a gem, I got to meet John years ago, what a nice and humble guy. Got to see him many times live.

Also a big fan of Leo, especially on the things he played on with Jerry Jeff.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 23 Feb 2024 5:36 pm

That Endicott guitar was a Sho~Bud knock-off, pull release guitar, much like an early Marlen, a Miller, and a couple others; in 1960, a steel guitar looked like a Bigsby, Fender, or Sho~Bud, so that's what builders built. That combination of design characteristics gave those guitars that delicious "transparent" sound on the first 5 strings. Very sought-after guitars here in TX.

I knew Rex Endicott because we played some of the same joints in LA during the late 60's early 70's. Rex was somewhat older than me, and was a great guy. I don't believe he made many guitars; Leo's and Rex's own guitar are the only Endicotts I've personally seen.

I believe he moved back to Oklahoma around the same time I moved to Texas. I lost track of him at that time, and I'm almost certain he's passed on. If some Oklahoma players remember Rex, please chime in.

The commercial recordings posted here feature some excellent examples of Leo's skill. But call me a curmudgeon; the posted live video, IMHO, completely underutilizes his playing. I was hoping to hear Leo's cool stuff on that cool old horn. I was watching the show and kept thinking "when are they gonna let Leo play?" I mean, TWO lead guitar solos and a fiddle solo on a song but no steel solo? What, steel can't play blues? And on one song the brilliant decision was made to have B-3 organ playing whole note chords in the exact register of Leo's only meaningful solo of the night, completely obliterating the steel. Who thought up THAT arrangement?

Prine was a great songwriter, no dispute. But like many singer/songwriters in that era, steel frequently was wasted on them, with some exceptions, of course.

The above IMHO only, your mileage may vary.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 23 Feb 2024 5:48 pm

I really liked Leo’s playing a lot with Red Simpson. He and Gene Moles played so seamlessly together.

Michael Mirabal · Post by **Michael Mirabal** » 13 Jan 2025 6:46 pm

I had posted elsewhere in the forum about my friendship with Leo. I am glad his memory is being kept alive. He was a great guy. Years ago, I had just gotten out of a bad funk and started to play and write again. I had run into him a couple of times without knowing who he was. A friend of mine had started playing bass. Leo was playing in her band. She asked if I could record a demo for them and I agreed. That started the relationship.

Leo ended up playing in a country band I was lead guitarist for. We had a great time playing together. He was such an amazing guitarist. The band was country, just a little hard to tell which country it came from. I was mainly a jazz fusion and rock guitarist but have always been an old country fan and had been influenced by players like James Burton when I was young. The bass player was a friend of mine who was all styles, the drummer was a metal guy, the lead singer was an ex-punk rocker and the other guitarist was a Beatle type guy and Leo was Leo. How we ever got together to make this band still amazes me. The shows we played were phenomenal.

We had a few offers but I was having issues with other band members. I had been recording a few records on the side and was planning to release them. Leo was a driving force for me. His passing was hard. He is the reason I decided to play steel, as his playing was just amazing. It's good to see him pop up. Makes me think he is passing by to say hi once in a while.

Tommy Cass · Post by **Tommy Cass** » 14 Jan 2025 2:56 am

Leo was my first introduction into steel guitar. He lived in Waltham, MA. and played in my brothers' band. He purchased a Fender 1000 when they first came out and sold me his Fender D-8, which I played until I talked my Dad into buying me a Fender 1000. Here's a picture of Leo in the day and his wife Ginny next to him.