Lenny Breau (August 5, 1941–August 12, 1984) was a Canadian guitarist. He was known for blending many styles of music including: country, classical, flamenco and jazz guitar. Breau, inspired by country guitarists like Chet Atkins, used fingerstyle techniques not often used in jazz guitar.

Breau was born August 5, 1941, in Auburn, Maine. His francophone parents, Hal “Lone Pine” Breau and Betty Cody, were professional country and western musicians who performed and recorded from the mid 1930’s until the mid 1970’s. Their son began playing guitar at the age of eight, and by the age of fourteen he was the lead guitarist for his parents’ band, billed as “Lone Pine Junior”, playing Merle Travis and Chet Atkins instrumentals and occasionally singing. Breau made his first professional recording in Westbrook, Maine at the age of 15, appropriately titled Boy Wonder.Guitar Effects Pedals.

In 1963 and 1964 Lenny Breau appeared at David Ingram’s Fourth Dimension at 2,000 Pembina Highway in Fort Garry, a suburb of Winnipeg. Every Sunday night was a hootenany open to all. Another regular at the club on Sunday Nights at the same time was Neil Young and his band with Vancouver CKNW’s Rick Honey as his drummer.

Lenny’s fully matured technique was a combination of Atkins and Travis fingerpicking and Sabicas-influenced flamenco, highlighted by extraordinary right hand independence and flurries of artificial harmonics. His harmonic sensibilities were a combination of his country roots, classical, modal, Indian, and especially jazz, particularly the work of pianist Bill Evans.Guitar Effects Pedals.