By 1967, the atmosphere was conducive to high-energy rock music, a springboard for the MC5 and the early Stooges, seminal bands that thrived on a diet of dope, LSD, politics and electrified amplifier feedback. The White Panther Party grew out of this radicalized high-decibel soundscape. Later, the group mellowed into the more inclusive Rainbow Peoples Party, which organized the legendary "Free John Now" concert to help spring John, at the time serving 10 years in prison for possession of two joints.
During these happening times, Leni's photo album reads like a who's who of music legends: Jimi Hendrix, Iggy Pop, Marvin Gaye, Sun Ra, The Grateful Dead, John Lennon and Yoko Ono (during their appearance at the Free John Now Rally), plus lesser-known, but still influential, bands like The Frut and The Up.
Her intense love for music led her to photograph literally thousands of musicians over the next 40 years, covering jazz, blues, rock, reggae, African music and more. Her photographs have appeared in countless newspapers, magazines, and books, as well as on flyers, posters, and LP and CD covers. In 1984, with author and jazz historian Herb Boyd, she published the Detroit Jazz Who's Who, featuring nearly 400 of her photographs of Detroit-area jazz musicians. Her music photographs are currently on display in Michigan at the Flipside Gallery in Kalamazoo, and at the Bookbeat in Royal Oak, and in New Orleans at the Louisiana Music Factory.
