Leonard Rountree
Author, Illustrator | Cheverly, Maryland USA |
Website
Lenny Rountree is a professional musician, author, and educator, who founded Washentertainment as a means to distribute and market original works of music and art. His parents, Lawrence Rountree and Joyce Howard encouraged him to pursue a career in music. He was born in Washington, D. C, and raised in Prince George’s County Maryland. He gr.... more
Lenny Rountree is a professional musician, author, and educator, who founded Washentertainment as a means to distribute and market original works of music and art. His parents, Lawrence Rountree and Joyce Howard encouraged him to pursue a career in music. He was born in Washington, D. C, and raised in Prince George’s County Maryland. He graduated from Northwestern Senior High School and accepted a talent scholarship to attend Bucknell University to study music theory and composition. He earned his Bachelor of Music Composition degree from Howard University in Washington, D. C. He has spent considerable time teaching music and performing in various musical roles as an instrumentalist and singer-songwriter. He is principally a composer, arranger, pianist, and guitarist. He sings and plays a number of other instruments as well. Being an experienced educator, Lenny offers ideas, perspectives, and resources to all teachers, administrators, parents, and students who have a keen interest in arts integration.
Lenny has authored, illustrated, and published a children's storybook called The Notable Characters, as well as a musical, Swirl, based partially on that book. The book teaches kids musical terms and practices. Kids who are participating in music at the elementary/middle school level would enjoy The Notable Characters. The illustrations present personalities of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The lessons for readers are not only music theory-related, but also, how important it is to recognize ways to live in peace and harmony despite the challenges that diverse communities and traditions can pose. The notion of empathy looms large in this tale. The audiobook version includes recordings of the songs mentioned in the story as well as voice characterizations by Lenny Rountree and Rachael Byrd.