Lenny White


Leonard White III is an American jazz fusion drummer who was a member of the band Return to Forever led by Chick Corea in the 1970s. White has been called "one of the founding fathers of jazz fusion".
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 education

Born in Queens, 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. He has expressed admiration for drummers Kenny Clarke, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, and Tony Williams, all of whom he dedicated a piece he titled "Magnificent Seven" to.
It was at The Gold Lounge where he had his first gig with saxophonist Jackie McLean. During the late 1960s he began performing with McLean around Queens. Through this, White was recommended to play on Miles Davis' landmark 1969 LP Bitches Brew and feature on Freddie Hubbard's 1970 LP Red Clay. During 1972, White joined Return to Forever.

Career

In 1975 White released his debut solo album entitled ‘’Venusian Summer,’’which featured guitarists Al DiMeola and fusion guitar pioneer, Larry Coryell. His second solo album, Big City, was released in 1977. During 1978 he released his Space opera inspired The Adventures of Astral Pirates and his third solo album Streamline. He eventually formed the jazz/soul group Twennynine who went on to issue three studio albums, 1979's Best of Friends, Twennynine with Lenny White in 1980, and 1981's Just Like Dreamin'.
White then made a guest appearance on Chick Corea's 1982 album Touchstone and produced Chaka Khan's 1982 LP Echoes of an Era. He also co-produced, with EW&F's Maurice White, Pieces of a Dream's 1986 LP Joyride and later released his 1995 album Present Tense. White now teaches at NYU Steinhardt where he has an ensemble as well as a lecture class on Bitches Brew called “The Miles Davis Aesthetic.”

Personal life

White has been a longtime resident of Teaneck, New Jersey. He endorses Vic Firth drum sticks and only plays his own signature epoch cymbals sponsored by Istanbul Agop.

Awards and honors

Grammy Awards
White has earned two sole Grammy Award nominations, while winning a total of three.
! scope="row" | 1975
! scope="row" | 2010
! scope="row" | 2011
Latin Grammy Awards
White has been nominated for and won one Latin Grammy Award.
! scope="row" | 2011
Cannes World Film Festival 2023
Best Song Winner with ''Algorithm Takedown''

Discography

As leader or co-leader

  • Venusian Summer
  • Big City
  • The Adventures of Astral Pirates
  • Streamline
  • Best of Friends - with Twennynine
  • Twennynine with Lenny White
  • Just Like Dreamin' - with Twennynine
  • Attitude
  • In Clinic
  • Present Tense
  • Renderers of Spirit
  • Edge
  • Collection
  • The Love Has Never Gone: Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire
  • Hancock Island
  • Anomaly
  • ''Lenny White Live''

    As [Return to Forever]

With Chick Corea, Bill Connors and Stanley Clarke
  • Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy
With Chick Corea, Al Di Meola and Stanley Clarke
  • Where Have I Known You Before
  • No Mystery
  • Romantic Warrior
  • Returns
As Corea, Clarke & White
  • Forever
With Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Jean-Luc Ponty, Frank Gambale
  • ''The Mothership Returns''

    As producer

  • Sylvia St. James – Magic
  • Chaka Khan – Echoes of an Era
  • Tina Harris – I must not be kinky
  • Nicki Richards – Naked
  • Letizia Gambi - Introducing Letizia Gambi
  • Letizia Gambi - ''Blue Monday''

    As sideman

With Geri Allen
  • Some Aspects of Water
  • The Gathering
With Azteca
With Cyrus Chestnut
  • Natural Essence
  • There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit
With Stanley Clarke
With Larry Coryell & Victor Bailey
  • Electric
  • Traffic
With Letizia Gambi
  • Introducing Letizia Gambi
  • Blue Monday
With Chaka Khan, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea & Stanley Clarke
  • Echoes of an Era
  • Echoes of an Era 2 – The Concert
With Al Di Meola
With Wallace Roney
  • Village
  • No Room for Argument
  • A Place in Time
With Buster Williams
  • Houdini – rec. 2000
  • Griot Libertè
  • 65 Roses – rec. 2006
With others