It includes interviews with Chet Atkins, Ted Greene, Pat Metheny, George Benson, Leonard Cohen, and Randy Bachman, as well as family members. The ensuing friendship resulted in Breau's first two albums, Guitar Sounds from Lenny Breau and The Velvet Touch of Lenny Breau Live! LOS ANGELES -- Guitarist Lenny Breau, found dead in the swimming pool of his apartment building last Sunday, was strangled and his death has been ruled a homicide, the Coroner's Office disclosed . How is it then that such an enormously talented and innovative musician is only nowover thirty years after his mysterious death at the age of forty-threefinally beginning to receive the attention and acclaim that eluded him during his lifetime? [5] He sought out local jazz musicians, performing at Winnipeg venues Rando Manor and the Stage Door. Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. Son of the legendary Lenny Breau, (whom Chet Atkins had deemed the greatest guitar player in the world), Lenny Chet Breau Jr. began studying music under his father's guidance at just seven years of age. A revered cult figure in the world of jazz guitar, and a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Lenny Breau was a technical genius with a delicate, idiosyncratic style. He was so wrapped up in his legal battles, she recalled. She also wanted to honor his memory by helping others who face drug and alcohol addiction. Thanks I had always assumed it was a drug-related thing in some way, a la Chet Baker. My publisher told me about it and said I had a right to know what they are saying. It was narrated by Breau's son, Chet. They recorded a live album at the Village Vanguard in New York City and appeared on US-network television on the Jackie Gleason and Joey Bishop shows. Thats their dad.". Breau had problems with drugs beginning in the 1960s which he managed to control during the last years of his life. In 1995, Randy Bachman, a fellow Winnipegger and long-time fan of Lennys formed Guitarchives, a recording company devoted to finding, remastering and distributing Lenny Breaus unreleased or out-of-print recordings. He spent the next several years moving between Nashville, Maine, Stockton, California and New York City eventually settling in Los Angeles in 1983. When he wakes up the next day, hes combative and angry instead of grateful she peeled him off the pavement. Winnipeg The dazzling guitar style that so impressed Atkins was a unique synthesis of jazz, flamenco, country, classical and other musical genres that Lenny worked tirelessly to refine throughout his life. The one-hour feature was produced in Montreal by John Klepko. [11], Many live and "lost" recordings have been issued since Breau's death, and most of his previously released albums have also been reissued. In the years immediately following his death, aside from the memories of friends, family members and die-hard fans, Lenny Breaus contribution to jazz guitar was overlooked and largely forgotten. For the next five years Lenny moved sporadically from one Canadian city to another, playing small gigs where and when he could find them. Nearly 200 people were interviewed for the book which includes a thorough analysis of Breaus music and an extensive comprehensive discography of his recordings. His harmonic sensibilities were a combination of his country roots, classical music, modal music, Indian, and jazz, particularly the work of pianist Bill Evans. Tonalities per take? I remember getting to attend a Lenny clinic back in the late 70's. I don't know it if was Jewel, but it was a woman with Lenny who arranged with a local music store for a room for the clinic. The person I emailed was Joan A. Gallo, VP. [3] Many of these recordings were released posthumously on the album Boy Wonder. Jeannie Mills (39), was a female early defector from the Peoples Temple along with her husband and teenage daughter, who were all murdered on 26 February 1980 in front of their Berkeley, California home. I am familiar with the technique just didn't know it had a name. The most important of these in terms of Lennys musical growth was Bob Erlendson, an older, experienced jazz pianist who recognized Lennys talents and began to teach him jazz theory. A documentary titled The Genius of Lenny Breau was produced in 1999 by Breau's daughter, Emily Hughes. Tonalities per take? For a time, he renewed his relationship with Judi Singh in Edmonton but the relationship ended when he could not adhere to Singhs zero tolerance for drugs. Breau's wife, Jewel, was the chief suspect, but she was not charged. Chet Atkins called Lenny Breau (1941-1984) "the greatest guitarist who ever walked the face of the earth.". His wife claimed that he drowned, but an autopsy determined that he had been strangled . Despite this recognition by his peers his audiences were relatively small. Do you constantly hear music playing in your head? But I'm astounded at the amount of info that came up when I 'Googled' him up. Breau made his first professional recordings in Westbrook, Maine at the age of 15 while working as a studio musician. The Breau family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1957 and their new band performed around the city and province as the CKY Caravan. NONE of the late Lenny Breaus immediate Winnipeg family will attend a performance of 5 OClock Bells. Incidentally, another mutual friend, the late Richard Cotten, did exactly that.recorded miles and miles of live performances, most of which Richard accompanied Lenny on bass. The pair had become romantically involved when Singh was a regular musician on The Lenny Breau Show. "The autopsy" proved that he was strangled????? He learned from Lenny and is quoted in the book. Bruce Weber's portrayal of Chet with his docu-drama about his life made Chet Baker suicidal. The couple had a daughter, Kitty, born in 1955 but the couple divorced in 1957. In 1980, documentary movie maker Lorenzo DiStefano asked Lenny to appear in his film about Tal Farlow. A documentary entitled The Genius of Lenny Breau was produced in 1999 by his daughter Emily Hughes. The studios owner, Al Hawkes, often recorded Lenny playing solo and with other musicians for his own enjoyment between sessions. From the mid to late 1940s they played summer engagements in southern New Brunswick, advertising their performances by playing free programs on radio station CKCW Moncton. I just ran into a guitar player here in Nashville (I'm a retired trumpet player) and we soon found that we both knew Lenny 'back in the day.' He now played full-time in his parents band under the stage name, Lone Pine Jr., astounding audiences with his fleet-fingered guitar work. "I want you to know that this play is nothing more than exploitation of Lenny and my children," says Valerie St. Germain, the Winnipeg guitar wizards first wife. Valerie, entertainer Ray St. Germains sister, is one of the characters portrayed onstage by Brault. . All rights reserved. Lenny incorporated both styles into his evolving approach to solo guitar playing. All rights reserved. Hal and Bettys guitarist, Ray Couture had worked with Atkins on recording sessions for RCA records and picked up the basics of the style, which he taught to Lenny, Lenny ran with these basics and by the time the family returned to Maine in 1955 he had mastered the Atkins style. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. "I feel bad about it because it leaves open season for people to dredge up all that stuff," she says. They recorded a live album at the Village Vanguard in New York City and appeared on the Jackie Gleason and Joey Bishop television shows.[3]. Lenny's francophone parents, Harold "Hal Lone Pine" Breau and Betty Cody (ne Cot), were professional country and western musicians who performed and recorded from the mid . Anyone's Daughter (23) Apocalyptica (17) Ara Ketu (14) . He was one of the most generous, kind, sweet people youd ever wanna meet, she shared via Medium. But he's such a tasty player too. Interesting. Chet Atkins once called Lenny the greatest guitar player in the world. At the time, no company made a string that could be tuned to the high B on his classical guitar. The trio toured Ontario and Quebec before relocating to New York City. Some of that material is available from Randy Bachman's site: Do you happen to know a guitarist named Raj Rathor than hung around Lenny at the time? Lenny connected deeply with Evans music and would spend the next several decades transposing Evans sophisticated modern harmonic and melodic concepts onto the fretboard. Within hours, however, the police determined that he had been strangled before being tossed into the pool. Where is the justice?? The Duke Photography Records include many of the original Three performed in Toronto, Ottawa, and New York City. His second album, a blues EP recorded with his newly formed band, The Lenny Chet Breau Band, was released in 2016. Lenny spent his last years in Los Angeles performing regularly at Dontes jazz club. He met pianist Bob Erlendson, who began teaching him more of the foundations of jazz. I had always assumed it was a drug-related thing in some way, a la Chet Baker. He was great looking. Another record label, Art of Life, founded by Lenny Breau fan Paul Kohler made available more unreleased and out of print recordings including The Hallmark Tapes, the earliest recorded examples of Lennys jazz guitar playing. The hum was so bad a low B would beat against it. His parents were country singer Hal "Lone Pine" Breau and yodeler Betty Cody (Cot). Son of the legendary Lenny Breau, (whom Chet Atkins had deemed the greatest guitar player in the world), Lenny Chet Breau Jr. "[citation needed], He had two custom seven-string guitars made, one classical and one electric. They include 1999's The Genius of Lenny Breau , which received a Gemini Award from the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and was in recently remastered and reissued; and Hughes' 2018 follow-up, The . Inspired by country guitarists like Chet Atkins, Breau used fingerstyle techniques not often used in jazz guitar. A question music fans frequently ask when they encounter Lenny Breaus virtuosic fingerstyle jazz guitar playing for the first time is How is it possible Ive never heard of this guy?. Breau used fishing line of the correct gauge[8] until the La Bella company began making a string for him. This conundrum is perhaps best understood by looking at the life, times and character of Lenny Breau, who at an early age dedicated himself to the passionate pursuit of a unique musical voice. The Genius of Lenny Breau (1999) is a captivating documentary on one of the greatest yet largely unknown guitarists ever to pick up the instrument. Initially it appeared that Lenny had drowned after a night of binge drinking, an activity in which he indulged occasionally since getting off drugs a few years earlier. While living in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan where they performed on radio station CHAB, Lenny and his father had a falling out when Lenny injected jazz riffs into Hals country routine. While he may never become a household name, fewer and fewer people are now asking How is it possible Ive never heard of this guy?. Around 1959 Lenny Breau left his parents country band after his father slapped him in the face for using jazz improvisations on stage, and sought out local jazz musicians, performing at Winnipeg venues including Rando Manor and the Stage Door. Only a few more solo albums and albums recorded with fiddler Buddy Spicher and pedal steel guitarist Buddy Emmons were issued during his lifetime. Would you trust a rather unknown luthier who How many tonalities or colors do you try to utilize in a tune? Thats the definition of obscenity.. Lenny was tempted but turned the offer down and instead formed a trio called Three with bassist Eon Henstridge and singer/actor Don Francks whose novel arrangements of jazz standards formed much of the groups material. His mother worked at a music store and his father was an electrician. He was a very loving father, she told NPR. It took a lot of guts for him to play that way. The most enigmatic, innovative and inspired guitarist to ever pick up the instrument. After clearing up legal hurdles with help from his old friend Don Francks, Lenny returned to Toronto to play a string of successful dates at the Bourbon Street jazz club. In later years, Lennys inability to look after himself would be a burden for him, particularly when his personal problems sometimes alienated those he relied on for help. Meeting Lenny Breau was a most important milestone for Anderson. He also played with his own trio, fronted by singer Don Franks, in Toronto in the mid '60s. Performing alongside many of Canadas finest musicians over the years, he has also had the opportunity to play with the likes of Randy Bachman and Joe Pass. This included two excellent albums recorded in Chet Atkins home studio The Legendary Lenny Breau: Live and Standard Brands, a duet album with Atkins. . At 602 . Is someone asleep at the wheel or something? "To open up the paper and to see the picture of the water and the guitar is very, very painful," says St. Germain, 67, during a telephone interview. As the saying goes, "like father like son". [15], Breau was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1997. Kitty described childhood as a lonely time. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. In 1961, Lenny was twenty-years old. Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies. Doug. He immersed himself in the citys thriving jazz scene, jamming at various clubs with Winnipegs best jazz musicians. In 2006 he released a full-length album, Lone Pine III, to critical acclaim, receiving four out of five stars from the Winnipeg Free Press. [3] On August 12, 1984, his body was found in a swimming pool at his apartment complex in Los Angeles, California. Who killed Lenny Breau? After a stint at Bourbon Street in 1980, Lenny flew to Winnipeg to kick off a five-city Canadian tour in large, soft-seat venues. . Randolph Charles Bachman OC OM FRCMT() (/ b k m n /; born September 27, 1943) is a Canadian guitarist, singer, and songwriter.He was a founding member of the bands The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive.Bachman recorded as a solo artist and was part of a number of short-lived bands such as Brave Belt, Union and Ironhorse.He was a national radio personality on CBC Radio, hosting . But in the early days of his career there was no shortage of people who were delighted to offer guidance and support to the personable and winning young creative artist. He did have a daughter, who revealed later in life that she wished her dad had a regular job. 5:21. . limCRMZD1Ec TZKUcGTmvos&feature=related This is an excerpt from the. Thanks also for the contact names. wistful waltz that Anderson wrote for Melody Breau (Lenny's daughter). The couple had a daughter, Lenny's third, whom they named Dawn Marie. Lenny Chet Breau is a virtuoso of the guitar, and a veteran of the Manitoban music scene. She gets him into her cab and takes him back to her apartment where he sleeps off his intoxication in her childrens bedroom. :nonchalance: This was my experience with the 1979 175/CC also. No progress in 80 years of jazz guitar building? One of the most heartfelt, touching scenes I've ever witnessed..from "The Genius of Lenny Breau" documentary, which I HIGHLY recommend. Emily Hughes is the daughter of the late guitar virtuoso Lenny Breau, and jazz-singer, Judi Singh. The trio recorded two albums for RCA: Guitar Sounds of Lenny Breau, which Chet Atkins produced in 1968, and its follow-up, The Velvet Touch of Lenny Breau Live! Click here to learn more about the project. Both albums are now considered quintessential classics of the fingerstyle jazz genre. Lenny Breau was a guitarist with staggering technique and a mind for innovation; he played with an evocative style that effortlessly jumped between genres. Check out our collection of limited edition Lenny Breau merchandise: shirts, books and more. After graduating from the Los Angeles . Lenny Breau achieved what many, including Canadian jazz critic and guitarist Gene Lees, thought was "virtually impossible" by adapting Evans's style for the guitar. Having never been pressed to take on any responsibilities beyond practicing and performing, his basic life skills were underdeveloped and as an adult he tended to depend on friends and acquaintances to handle the mundane demands of his day to day and professional life. He is buried in an unmarked grave in Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles. True to form, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel writers knitted Lennys real-life into fiction. Kitty wished her father wasnt in the entertainment business and had a regular job. He was inebriated when he took the stage and delivered a disastrous performance. It may be tempting to view Lenny Breaus career as a series of missed opportunities and lament his lack of commercial success. . He's a buddy and mentor of mine here in Vegas. One of their regular listeners was Randy Bachman, who was sixteen years of age at the time. [17], "Lenny Breau Jazz Guitar Lenny Breau Documentary The Genius of Lenny Breau DVD", "Lenny Breau Canadian Music Hall Of Fame", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lenny_Breau&oldid=1134064264, Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), Deaths by strangulation in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2020, Pages using Sister project links with default search, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 January 2023, at 21:12. Lenny Breau is one of the true geniuses of the guitar. More than a dozen Mexican musicians were murdered between 2006 and 2008; motives are shadowy, but it's suspected that some were killed for what they sang. Born in 1941 in Maine, USA, Lenny's parents were Harold "Hal Lone Pine" Breau and Betty Cody: professional country and western musicians. 'I guess what made Lenny so great was that he played flamenco very well, jazz very, very well, and he could play country because that was his roots. Thanks, guys. A documentary entitled The Genius of Lenny Breau was produced in 1999 by Breau's daughter Emily Hughes. He made little progress unravelling the mysteries of Atkins playing until he and his parents, who had recently signed with RCA records, moved to Wheeling, West Virginia to perform on WWVA Jamboree, a nationally broadcast country music radio show. Pop audiences found his music too jazz-oriented and his musical eclecticism was off-putting for many old-school jazz purists. 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