- Fred LeBlanc
Fred LeBlanc is currently the lead singer/drummer for the
New Orleans based rock bandCowboy Mouth , as well as a freelance songwriter, record producer, short story author, and acoustic performer.After graduating from
Jesuit High School (New Orleans) , LeBlanc began his career in the early 80's with the Backbeats, also from New Orleans which featured many future members ofCowboy Mouth . His tenure with this group was mostly relegated to background drummer.A year after the Backbeats disbanded in the mid 80's, LeBlanc joined Baton Rouge power trio
Dash Rip Rock , not only as drummer but also as contributing songwriter and co-lead singer. The band was heavily influenced by the American roots music movement of the time, as well as the frenzied punk and rock stylings of both theSex Pistols andJerry Lee Lewis . To this mix, LeBlanc's songs usually had a very strong melodic component, "Operator", "Blue Moon At Midnight", and "Go Home Little Girl" being some of his more popular songs with the group. He also arranged and sang lead upon Dash'scowpunk version of theHank Williams standard "I Saw The Light," which became a live Dash staple, even after LeBlanc left the band in 1989.Frustrated with the band's focus on maintaining a bar band focus at the expense of songwriting, LeBlanc left Dash Rip Rock in mid '89 and signed a deal as a solo artist with EMI Records. Although no recordings were ever released from his tenure with the label, Leblanc has said that the year off from the road "gave me a chance to focus on my songwriting," writing many songs during that time that would appear on various
Cowboy Mouth recordings later on.LeBlanc formed
Cowboy Mouth in late 1990 with a lineup that has changed variously throughout the years, the main constants being both LeBlanc, as well asJohn Thomas Griffith on guitar and vocals.Jonathan Pretus andRegina Zernay are the other current members. The band has maintained a steady touring schedule since their formation, gaining in popularity steadily throughout the years through the notoriety of their barn burning live shows. LeBlanc has written many ofCowboy Mouth 's noteworthy songs such as "How Do You Tell Someone", "Love Of My Life", "Disconnected", "Take Me Back To New Orleans", "Easy", "Tell The Girl", "So Sad About Me", "The Avenue", as well as the band's signature song "Jenny Says ".In addition to performing and recording with
Cowboy Mouth , LeBlanc has mixed a few of their early independent label albums. He also produced an album called 'A Different Story' by New Orleans based popstersDeadeye Dick . The album featured the song "New Age Girl" which won the band and LeBlanc a gold record in the early '90's and was included in theJim Carrey movie 'Dumb And Dumber'.LeBlanc has also produced material for
Mark Bryan ofHootie & The Blowfish fame, as well as albums forDash Rip Rock (long after he left the band), The Bingemen and The Garden District - both from New Orleans. He also released solo CD's 'Here On Earth', 'Shiver', Double Dammit', and 'Playing The Game Of My Life', as well as an album of spoken word short stories called 'Always Give Thanks'.Discography
Cowboy Mouth studio albums
* "Word of Mouth" • 1992
* "It Means Escape" • 1994
* "Are You with Me?" • 1996
* "Word of Mouth (Remix1)" • 1996
* "Mercyland" • 1998
* "Easy" • 2000
* "Uh Oh" • 2003
* "Voodoo Shoppe " • 2006
* "Fearless" * 2008Cowboy Mouth live albums and EPs
* "Mouthin' Off (Live & More)" • 1993
* "Mouthin' Off (Live & More) (Remastered)" • 1997
* "Cowboy Mouth LIVE! (limited edition 5-song EP issued with Mercyland)" • 1998
* "Live in the X Lounge " "Jenny Says" • 1998 & 2001
* "All You Need Is Live" • 2000
* "Live in the X Lounge " "Easy" • 2000
* "Uh Oh (5-song Preview EP)" • 2003
* "Live at the Zoo" • 2004Cowboy Mouth live DVD
* "
The Name of the Band is Cowboy Mouth " • 2007Dash Rip Rock Albums featuring Fred LeBlanc
* "Paydirt" (1998) (producer only)
* "Ace of Clubs" (1989) (drummer/singer/songwriter)
* "Dash Rip Rock" (1987) (drummer/singer/songwriter)External links
* [http://www.cowboymouth.com Cowboy Mouth website]
* [http://www.fredleblanc.com Fred LeBlanc website]
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