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Leela James
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Leela James | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Leela James | |
| Born | June 26, 1983 (age 23) | |
| Genre(s) | R&B, Soul | |
| Years active | 2005 — Present | |
| Label(s) | Warner Bros. | |
| Website | LeelaJames.com | |
Leela James is an African American soul singer who was born in Los Angeles on June 26, 1983. James cites legendary singers James Brown, Roberta Flack, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Gladys Knight, Mavis Staples and Stevie Wonder as influences. Her deep, rich and gritty vocals have drawn comparisons to Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and Tina Turner.
Contents |
James’ debut album, entitled 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.
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 songs while pleading for the return of the artistry, dedication, and sincerity displayed by musicians of earlier decades.
Leela co-wrote most of the tracks on her debut album, two notable exceptions being her covers of pop/rock band No Doubt's 1996 hit "Don't Speak" and the 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! Toni! Tone!, hip hop producer and emcee Kanye West and former Fugees member Wyclef Jean.
Musically, she is comparable to other African American female soul music artists who began to emerge on the scene in the mid-1990s, such as Erykah Badu, Angie Stone, and Jill Scott. In 2004, she toured as an opening act for popular rap quartet Black Eyed Peas and the famously eccentric and raspy-voiced singer Macy Gray. That same year, she was featured on hip hop producer, DJ and emcee Pete Rock's album entitled "Soul Survivor II," adding her vocals to the soulful track "No Tears". In 2005, she lent her voice to the posthumously-released Ray Charles album Genius & Friends, duetting with the legendary singer on the song "Compared to What."
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Soul Train Music Award nomination for Best R&B-soul or rap new artist for "Music" [1] |