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Lenny White is a jazz funk drummer from New York who in 1968 at age 18 got hired to play in Jackie Mclean’s hard bop band. In 1970 he made his professional recording debut on Miles Davis’s highly contested fusion supreme Bitches’ Brew. During this time in the ’70’s he worked on Freddie Hubbard’s seminal Red Clay album and then he joined Chick Corea’s premier fusion band Return To Forever. When Return To Forever dissolved in 1977 White started recording as a leader. In 1979 he formed the group Twennynine that included Don Blackman and they recorded the album Best Of Friends. “Peanut Butter” is one of the vital tracks from the project that he co-produced with Earth Wind & Fire’s Larry Dunn. “Morning Sunrise” and “Best Of Friends” were two other songs from that project that became popular. By the late ’80’s he was working with the three piece outfit The Jamaica Boys that included Marcus Miller and Dinky Bigham. White co-produced the music for House Party and “Shake It Up” by The Jamaica Boys from the soundtrack became a hit. Spike Lee’s School Daze also benefitted from White’s input. White produced the Grammy nominated Echoes Of An Era project that featured Chaka Khan’s vocals and worked with a long list of people. Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, Patrice Rushen, Big Daddy Kane, Rachelle Ferrell, Wayne Shorter, Dianne Reeves are a handful of the many artists that he has worked with. White continues to tour and he is currently creating a documentary on jazz rock.
