Music Journalist Larry LeBlanc Honored By Canadian Academy Of Recording Arts & Sciences

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences announced that Canadian music journalist Larry LeBlanc will be the recipient of the 2013 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award. The award recognizes individuals who have made an impact on the Canadian music industry and will be presented at the 2013 JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards on Saturday, April 20 in Regina, SK.

"I'm proud to be honoured with the 2013 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award," LeBlanc says. "Walt Grealis gave me my start as a music industry journalist at RPM Music Weekly in the '60s. From those roots of Canadian music being a cottage enterprise, I've witnessed our domestic music industry being able to develop global superstars. I'm appreciative to have been along for the journey."

LeBlanc has been covering the Canadian music scene for more than five decades, serving as the Canadian bureau chief of Billboard magazine (1991-2007), the Canadian editor of Record World (1970-1980) and the co-founder of the late Canadian music trade, The Record (1981-1991).

LeBlanc has also written in numerous other publications, including Rolling Stone, Melody Maker, Crawdaddy, Zoo World, Circus, Guitar Player, and Zigzag, as well as the Muntz Tape Guide, Maclean's, and the Toronto Star and he has been quoted in hundreds of publications, including Time, Forbes, the London Times, and the New York Times.

And it isn't just print. LeBlanc has hosted radio shows on Q107, CKFM, and CJCL in Toronto, and worked extensively with CBC Radio, including a tenure as a music producer for the "Morningside" and "Dayshift" shows.

LeBlanc was the associate producer of the 1996 CARAS four-CD box set "Oh What A Feeling," and co-executive producer of its follow-up "Oh What A Feeling 2" in 2001. He is also the co-author of the 2011 CARAS book "Music From Far And Wide: Celebrating 40 Years Of The JUNO Awards."

Since 2008, LeBlanc has been a senior writer at CelebrityAccess and the man behind the In The Hot seat interview series, which has featured some in-depth conversations with some of the leading figures in the music industry today. (via CelebrityAccess)