{{Short description|American Singer}} {{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}} '''Len Boone''' (a.k.a. '''Leonard Boone C Coleman II''') is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was a singer/songwriter for Chrysalis Records and Love-Zager Productions and many of his songs charted on ''Billboard''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/196192-Len-Boone|title=Len Boone|website=Discogs.com|language=en|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref> While still an intern at Chrysalis, he wrote the international hit single "You Made Me Believe in Magic" (Arista Records) for the album ''It’s a Game'' by the Scottish Pop band, the Bay City Rollers.<ref name=":1" /> In 1977, the song reached number 10 on the US Hot 100 in ''Billboard'' magazine and number 7 on the ''Cash Box'' Top 100 charts.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/bay-city-rollers/chart-history/hsi/|title=Bay City Rollers You Made Me Believe In Magic Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19770827.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 8/27/77|website=tropicalglen.com|access-date=2018-08-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020124229/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19770827.html|archive-date=2018-10-20|url-status=dead}}</ref> In Canada, “You Made Me Believe in Magic” peaked at number 5, and still ranks as their 68th greatest hit of 1977.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://musiccanada.wordpress.com/2015/10/08/top-100-singles-of-1977-in-canada/|title=Top 100 Singles of 1977 in Canada|date=2015-10-09|work=Canadian Music Blog|access-date=2018-08-27|language=en-US}}</ref> The song also charted in Germany, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17062/bay-city-rollers/|title=Bay City Rollers {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|language=en|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref> "You Made Me Believe in Magic" also won Boone a plaque from ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers).<ref name=":1" />
==Early years== Boone grew up in Fieldsboro, New Jersey and attended Bordentown Regional High School.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/181368916/ "Rutgers Honors Defender Boone"], ''Courier-Post'', November 29, 1972. Accessed February 14, 2020. "Len Boone, Rutgers junior defensive halfback from Fieldsboro last night received the George C. Cronin Class of 1931 award as the Scarlet football team's 'most improved player' for the 1972 season. Boone, a 5-10, 175 pound Political Science major from Bordentown High School played little as a sophomore, but won a starting position early this season."</ref> He was a standout athlete for both his track and football teams and received several mentions in the local newspapers.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Cherry East Posts First Track Win|date=May 10, 1968|work=Courier-Post|page=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Blome, Chapman Track Standouts|date=May 15, 1968|work=Courier-Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Bordentown Trips Allentown|date=November 1968|work=Asbury Park Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Booone Scores 2 for Bordentown|date=October 27, 1968|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|page=73}}</ref> While in high school, Boone started taking drum lessons and joined a musical group called Inturnal Revenue. He continued to perform and compose music with this band through his sophomore year in college. Inturnal Revenue found local success and recorded an original song called, “Love Theme For” which received air time from Len Murray, a disc jockey at WTTM radio in New Jersey.<ref name=":1" /> Later in college, he headed the band, Piecemeal, a four-piece musical group for which he composed and played piano and drums.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|title=Boone Thrives on Competition|date=August 3, 1973|work=The Central New Jersey Home News|page=24}}</ref>
Boone attended Rutgers University and majored in political science and history. He played cornerback and defensive halfback for the Rutgers football team, the Scarlet Knights and local newspapers regularly reported his success. .<ref>{{Cite news|title=Tighe, Hall, Boone Sparkle in Rutgers' Winning Season|last=Schuman|first=Walt|date=November 14, 1973|work=The Central New Jersey Home News|page=59}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Award Winners: Boone, Rinehimer, Tighe, Lipscomb|date=November 7, 1972|work=The Central New Jersey Home News|page=14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Rutgers Football: Switched to Receiver, Oldt Battles To Start|date=August 11, 1973|work=The Central New Jersey Home News|page=5}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Sophomores Gain Prominence In Rutgers Football Picture|date=October 14, 1971|work=The Central New Jersey Home News|page=34}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=For Scarlet: List of Injuries Reduced to Two|date=September 22, 1971|work=The Central New Jersey Home News|page=17}}</ref> In 1972 he won The George T. Cronin Trophy<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scarletknights.com/sports/2017/6/11/sports-m-footbl-spec-rel-awards-ru-html.aspx|title=Rutgers Football Award Winners|website=scarletknights.com|language=en|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref> for most improved player. As a student he was passionate about the needs of inner city kids and pushed for Rutgers to participate in the Urban Classic Benefit game to raise money for underprivileged youth.<ref name=":2" />
After college, Boone worked as a substitute teacher at Franklin High School in New Jersey and had offers to teach history. He played rugby with an alumni squad from Rutgers called "The Old Boys" and coached the newly-established Rutgers women's rugby team.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Hang On, It's Women's Rugby! They Play for Keeps on Rutgers Club|last=Carroll|first=Dan|date=April 6, 1980|work=The Central New Jersey Home News|page=20}}</ref> However, his goal was to work in the music business.
==Music career== In 1975, his musical talents caught the attention of Wes Ferrell and he was hired as an intern songwriter for the Wes Ferrell organization. One year later, he signed a contract with Chrysalis Music Inc. headed by Marv Goodman. Boone was an intern when he wrote the international hit, “You Made Me Believe in Magic” (Arista Records AS0256) recorded by the Bay City Rollers.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title=Gridiron Star Now Tackles the Keyboards|last=Ledesma|first=Ann|date=October 14, 1978|work=The Central New Jersey Home News|page=21}}</ref> During this same period, he also wrote Maxine Nightingale’s song “You Got To Me” (United Artists 36460)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Maxine-Nightingale-You-Got-To-Me/release/11780882|title=Maxine Nightingale - You Got To Me|website=Discogs.com|date=1978 |language=en|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref>
In 1977, Boone's success turned into an exclusive recording contract with Chrysalis Records.<ref name=":1" /> The same year, he wrote “You’re the One” for Rory Block which peaked at No. 77 on the US Billboard dance chart. (Chrysalis 2356)<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/rory-block/chart-history/dsi/|title=Rory Block YOU'rE THE ONE Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref>
In 1978 Boone's song “Love Won’t Be Denied” (Chrysalis CDS-2229) spent 10 weeks on the Billboard Dance Club Song chart and peaked at number 20 on September 9, 1978.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/len-boone/chart-history/dsi/|title=Len Boone LOVE WON't BE DENIED Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref>
In 1980, after four years with Chrysalis, Boone joined Love-Zager Productions as a staff writer. He teamed with songwriter Larry LaFalce for several songs.<ref name=":0" /> In 1980 they wrote “Baby, This Time” for Dee Edwards for her album ''Two Hearts Are Better Than One'' (Cotillion SD5223) and in 1981 they wrote Amii Stewart’s song, “Why’d Ya Have To Be So Sexy” (Handshake Records and Tapes 4W9-02438)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Amii-Stewart-Whyd-You-Have-To-Be-So-Sexy/release/1099601|title=Amii Stewart - Why'd You Have To Be So Sexy|website=Discogs.com|date=1981 |language=en|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref>
In 1982, Boone, LaFalce, and Michael Zager wrote “Lay Back in the Groove” for the album ''Show and Tell'' by the band Elusion Featuring Limon Wilson (Cotillion 5235). The same year, Boone and LaFalce wrote the song “Everything and More” for the Italian/U.S. ensemble Change. The song was included on the album ''Sharing Your Love'', which reached No. 66 on the US Billboard Album Chart and No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard Black Albums chart.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/change-mn0000165624/biography|title=Change {{!}} Biography & History {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref>
In 1983, Boone and LaFalce wrote the songs “This is Your Time” (RFC/Atlantic 89883) and “Magical Night” (Atlantic/RFC Records DMD 631) for the album ''This is Your Time'' by Change. The album made it to No. 161 on the US Billboard Albums chart and No. 34 on the US Billboard Black Albums chart.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/change-mn0000165624|title=Change {{!}} Biography, Albums, Streaming Links {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/change/chart-history/blp/|title=Change This Is Your Time Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref> Their song “This is Your Time” reached No. 39 on the US dance charts and number No. 33 on the US R&B chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/change/chart-history/dsi/|title=Change This Is Your Time Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref>
In 1995, "You Made Me Believe in Magic" was covered by Bed & Breakfast, a boy band from Hamburg, Germany (Maad Records 4509-99533-2).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Bed-Breakfast-You-Made-Me-Believe-In-Magic/release/166045|title=Bed & Breakfast - You Made Me Believe In Magic|website=Discogs.com|date=1995 |language=en|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref>
In 2013, Boone released the EP ''Do Whatcha Feel'' (Fervor Records).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Len-Boone-Do-Whatcha-Feel/release/12429997|title=Len Boone - Do Whatcha Feel|website=Discogs.com|language=en|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref>
Boone owns Rock Your Socks Music, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.<ref name=":0" />
==TV and movie placements== In 1979, Boone's song "There’s No Me Without You" was featured in the Thorn EMI film ''The Bitch'' starring Joan Collins.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Bitch-20-Smash-Disco-Hits-Including-The-Original-Soundtrack/release/1117763|title=Various - The Bitch (20 Smash Disco Hits Including The Original Soundtrack)|website=Discogs.com|language=en|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref>
Boone's song "You Made Me Believe in Magic" was played on season 2, episode 7 of ''October Road'' (ABC Studios).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tunefind.com/artist/bay-city-rollers|title=Music by Bay City Rollers|website=Tunefind|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref>) His song “Do Whatcha Feel” is played in season 1, episode 6 of ''The Mayor'' (ABC); season 5, episode 20 of ''Haven'' (Syfy, Showcase); season 1, episode 5 of ''Red Oaks'' (Amazon Studios); season 1, episode 6 of ''Bojack Horseman'' (Netflix), and the independent film ''Love After Love'' (2017). His song “Another Lonely Night” is played in the independent films ''My Friend Dahmer'' (2017) and ''Humor Me'' (2017).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tunefind.com/artist/len-boone|title=Music by Len Boone|website=Tunefind|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1147938/|title=Len Boone|website=IMDb|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref> His song, “I’ve Got to Have You” performed by Julian,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tunefind.com/artist/julian|title=Music by Julian|website=Tunefind|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref> is played in season 1, episode 4 of ''Insatiable'' (Netflix).
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boone, Len}} Category:Living people Category:African-American songwriters Category:Bordentown Regional High School alumni Category:People from Fieldsboro, New Jersey Category:Rutgers University alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century African-American musicians