More Info on Leela JamesSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = Leela James| image = Leela James - Jazz Festival 2009 (1).jpg| caption = Leela James live at Stockholm Jazz Festival .| image_size =| landscape = yes| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Leela James| alias =| birth_date = birth date and age|1983|6|2|birth_place = Los Angeles , California , United States| death_date =| origin =| genre = Soul music|Soul , contemporary R& B|R& B , blues music|blues | occupation = Singer-songwriter | years_active = 2005present| label = Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros. , Shanachie Records|Shanachie , Stax Records|Stax | associated_acts =| website = http://www.leelajames.com/ www.leelajames.com Leela James (born June 2, 1983 in Los Angeles , California )cite web |url= http://randb.about.com/od/gm/p/LeelaJames.htm |title=Profile: Leela James |accessdate=2008-09-06 |last=Nero |first=Mark Edward |work= About.com cite web |url= http://www.villagevoice.com/events/leela-james-595066/ |title=New York Leela James@S.O.B.'s Events |accessdate=2008-09-06 |last=Burrell |first=Jalylah |work= The Village Voice is an American contemporary R& B|R& B and soul music|soul singer-songwriter . James cites singers James Brown , Roberta Flack , Marvin Gaye , Donny Hathaway , Gladys Knight , Mavis Staples , and Stevie Wonder as her influences. Her deep, rich, gritty vocals have drawn comparisons to Aretha Franklin , Chaka Khan , and Tina Turner .
Biography
James' debut album, entitled A Change Is Gonna Come (album)|A Change Is Gonna Come , was released on June 21, 2005. The album was conceived as a throwback to an earlier era of American soul music, building upon the legacy of 1960s and 1970s soul singers while incorporating elements of contemporary R& B , funk , and gospel music|gospel .
In the lyrics to the album's lead single, entitled "Music", James laments the current state of contemporary popular music . She condemns the glorification of materialism and misogyny that has often been attributed to the lyrical content of contemporary R& B and hip hop music|hip hop songs while pleading for the return of the artistry, dedication, and sincerity displayed by musicians of earlier decades.
James co-wrote most of the tracks on her debut album, two exceptions being her cover version|covers of the pop rock band No Doubt 's 1996 hit " Don't Speak " and the A Change Is Gonna Come (song)|classic title song by Sam Cooke , for which the album is named. Notable collaborators on the album include Raphael Saadiq of the 1990s R& B group Tony& #33; Toni& #33; Tonι! , Kanye West , and former Fugees member Wyclef Jean .
In 2004, James toured as an opening act for The Black Eyed Peas and Macy Gray . That same year, she was featured on hip hop producer, DJ, and emcee Pete Rock 's album Soul Survivor II , providing vocals to the track "No Tears". In 2005, she lent her voice to the posthumously released Ray Charles album Genius & Friends , duetting with the singer on the song "Compared to What". Leela also guested on Robert Randolph and the Family Band 's 2006 album Colorblind (Robert Randolph album)|Colorblind , lending her vocals to "Stronger".
After parting ways with Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros. , James signed with the independent label Shanachie Records and released her second studio album on March 24, 2009, an all- cover version|cover set entitled '' Let's Do It Again (Leela James album)|Let's Do It Again '' (the title being a homage to the Let's Do It Again (soundtrack)|1975 soundtrack album of the same name by The Staple Singers ).
In June 2009, she appeared on Moby's new album "Wait for Me", performing the vocal on "Walk with Me".
James' third album My Soul (Leela James album)|My Soul - her debut release for the Stax label - was released on May 24, 2010, and debuted on the US Hip Hop/R& B chart at Number Seven. Speaking exclusively in May 2010 to noted UK soul writer Pete Lewis - Deputy Editor of the award-winning Blues & Soul - she stated: "With this album I wanted to make sure that I showed all sides of me - in terms of variety in the music and in my vocal range - while at the same time making it clear that every song deeply came from my soul. Plus I also wanted to incorporate a little more hip hop this time, and infuse it with my traditional R& B - because I felt that. By making my beats edgier and harder-hitting, I'd show there was more to me than just doing ballads and things of that sort." http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/544/leela_james_irresistible/ Leela James interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' June 2010
In Summer 2010, she appeared on BET's television series "My Black is Beautiful" as a co-host alongside of Tasha Smith, Kim Coles and Alesha Renee.
Discography
Albums
Year
Album
Chart positions
U.S.
U.S. R& B
FRA
NL
BEL
SWE
2005
A Change Is Gonna Come (album)
148
42
97
26
43
52
2009
'' Let's Do It Again (Leela James album)
84
11
2010
My Soul (Leela James album)
37
7
Singles
Year
Single
Chart positions
Album
U.S. R& B
U.S. adult R& B
U.S. dance
2005
"Music"
121
align="center"
33
A Change Is Gonna Come
" Don't Speak "
2006
"Good Time"
54 1
33
"My Joy"
109
27
2007
"When You Love Somebody"
2008
" It's a Man's Man's Man's World "
''Let's Do It Again
2010
"Tell Me You Love Me"
94
My Soul
1 Position refers to the Hot R& B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales
Awards and nominations
Year
Award
Category
Nominated work
Result
2008
cite web >url=http:/ / www.usatoday.com/ life/ music/ news/ 2006-02-02-soul-train-awards_x.htm
Best R& B/ Soul or Rap New Artist
"Music"
nom
NAACP Image Award
Outstanding New Artist
Leela James
nom
References
reflist
External links
Commons category
http://www.leelajames.com Official website
Allmusic|class=artist|id=p628096
IMDb name|1995511
Stax Records Persondata | NAME = James, Leela | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = June 2, 1983 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Los Angeles , California , United States | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:James, Leela Category:1983 births Category:African American female singer-songwriters Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters Category:American soul singers Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Los Angeles, California Category:Neo soul singers Category:Warner Bros. Records artists
de:Leela James es:Leela James fr:Leela James nl:Leela James ru:??????, ???? fi:Leela James
Copyright Citations
This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Leela James
