Leandro Lehart was born in 1972, and started his musical career at the age of 14 in São Paulo. Raised in samba schools, but with great influence from American black music, he created unique beats and rhythms from a very young age, getting space and support to experiment with music. In 1990 he founded Art Popular, one of the most popular samba groups ever in Brazil, selling over 7 million albums in 10 years. In the year 2000, he recorded “MTV Brazil Unplugged - Art Popular”, the most expensive of MTV Brazil’s history.
Leandro was dubbed the best Brazilian songwriter of the decade by critics and songwriters in 1998 in Veja Magazine (a high-profile Brazilian magazine). He has recorded over 300 songs, including three at the top five of 1997, and 10 songs at the top 50 of 2000, according to official figures.
In 1999, he released a video clip with Ronaldo, the famous soccer player, which was first aired live on Fantástico (top ratings entertainment show in Brazil) on Globo TV (Brazil’s most important TV channel and media conglomerate).
As a producer, Leandro Lehart recorded albums featuring artists like Billy Paul, Jorge BenJor, Take 6, Eliana and Olodum, and won the Latin Grammy, in 2002. Leandro has 2 studios, where he supports and nurtures new stars, and where he also works on his own projects, producing beats for other artists.
In his most recent international work (2009), “Let me fight for my Right”, Leandro Lehart played most of the instruments, and all the music was mixed and mastered in his studios. Mixing Brazilian rhythm with world music and influences from Soul, R&B & Funk and Pop Music, Leandro Lehart has been acclaimed by critics and public alike. With this work Leandro have a contract with New Music International, one of the most important Italian record companies, to launch and promote his international career in Europe this summer.
Leandro Lehart also has social projects such as “O SAMBA CURA O CANCER”, (Samba cures cancer) in partnership with the Cancer Hospital in Sao Paulo, recognized by the UN as an innovative social project.
Leandro recorded his first DVD, named “SambaPopBrazilMestizo” including his biggest success and special gests like Seu Jorge, Jorge Aragão, Alcione, Jair Rodrigues, MV Bill, The Old School of Vai-Vai and the South African rapper MXO. This DVD, released at December 2008, is a huge success in Brazil.
“I have been in the music industry for over 40 years and I find Leandro Lehart’s music uplifting and moving. His rhythms are infectious and when you hear his music, you have only one thing to do and this to move with the beat.”
BILL CHERRY (Worked with Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Prince and Earth Wind and Fire).
“Leandro Lehart is a one of a kind international star with a new rhythm and meaning for soul music which comes from the R&B music of the world.”
ROY CICALA (Worked with John Lennon, Jimmy Hendrix, Frank Sinatra, Tom Jobim, Elvis Presley, Mick Jagger and Cindy Lauper).