Biography
During the early days of Jovem Guarda, when the Beatles dominated the tastes of Brazilian youth, Leno shrewdly acquired copies of the British band’s LPs and fashioned Portuguese-language adaptations ahead of their official arrival in the country, as with his take on “Help” for the Youngsters. Following the 1968 breakup of the Leno e Lilian duo, his debut solo single “A Pobreza” (Renato Barros) became a nationwide success and propelled the album Leno to the summit of the charts; “Papel Picado,” also written by Renato Barros, added further momentum.
In 1969 he issued A Festa Dos Seus Quinze Anos, whose title track by Ed Wilson and the song “E Quando Você Me Deixou” (Pedro Paulo/Getúlio Cortes) both registered as hits. The following year he performed “A Última Vez Que Vi Rosane” at the V FIC. That same year he and Raul Seixas completed the unconventional project Vida y Obra de Johnny McCartney, which was banned and never issued until its accidental rediscovery in the Sony Music vaults led to a 1995 release.
Leno e Lilian reunited briefly in 1972 and 1973. Thereafter Leno turned to production, overseeing sessions for Matéria Prima, Impacto V, and Flor de Cactus, whose percussionist Laudir DeOliveira later joined the internationally renowned Chicago. He also released additional well-received solo albums, among them Meu Nome É Gileno, and cut a version of the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday” in Los Angeles, California, backed by drummer Jim Keltner. Leno died on December 8, 2022, at age 73 while undergoing treatment for cancer.
In 1969 he issued A Festa Dos Seus Quinze Anos, whose title track by Ed Wilson and the song “E Quando Você Me Deixou” (Pedro Paulo/Getúlio Cortes) both registered as hits. The following year he performed “A Última Vez Que Vi Rosane” at the V FIC. That same year he and Raul Seixas completed the unconventional project Vida y Obra de Johnny McCartney, which was banned and never issued until its accidental rediscovery in the Sony Music vaults led to a 1995 release.
Leno e Lilian reunited briefly in 1972 and 1973. Thereafter Leno turned to production, overseeing sessions for Matéria Prima, Impacto V, and Flor de Cactus, whose percussionist Laudir DeOliveira later joined the internationally renowned Chicago. He also released additional well-received solo albums, among them Meu Nome É Gileno, and cut a version of the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday” in Los Angeles, California, backed by drummer Jim Keltner. Leno died on December 8, 2022, at age 73 while undergoing treatment for cancer.
Albums