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Leela James

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Leela James
James live at Stockholm Jazz Festival.
James live at Stockholm Jazz Festival.
Background information
Birth nameAlechia Janeice Campbell[1]
Also known asAlechia James
BornMay 22, 1973
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Years active2000–present
Labels
Websitewww.leelajames.com

Aleicha Janeice Campbell (born May 22, 1973) known professionally as Leela James, is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter.

Music career

James made her debut on the soundtrack to the 2000 Jamie Foxx film Bait on The Roots song "Work", credited as Alechia James.

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".

James' debut 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.

In the lyrics to the album's lead single, "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.

James co-wrote most of the tracks on her debut album, two exceptions being her covers of the 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, Kanye West and Wyclef Jean.

Leela guested on Robert Randolph and the Family Band's 2006 album Colorblind, lending her vocals to "Stronger".

After parting ways with Warner Bros., James signed with the independent label Shanachie Records and released her second studio album on March 24, 2009, an all-cover set entitled Let's Do It Again (the title being a homage to the 1975 soundtrack album of the same name by The Staple Singers).

In June 2009, she appeared on the Moby album Wait for Me, performing the vocal on "Walk with Me".

James' third 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 No. 7. Speaking in May 2010 to UK soul writer Pete Lewis of 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."[2]

On July 31, 2012, Leela James released her fourth studio album , Loving You More….In the Spirit of Etta James. Originally the album was going to have a one song dedication to Etta James, but with her death it became a project to do a whole tribute album. It was released by Shanachie Records. [3]

On July 8, 2014, Leela James released her fifth studio album, Fall For You. The album's first two singles, "Say That" feat. Anthony Hamilton and "Fall For You" both reached Top 15 on the Billboard Urban AC charts, with "Fall For You" reaching No. 12. Ms. James supported her album with tours nationwide, including performances at Essence Music Festival, Arizona Jazz Fest, San Diego Jazz Fest, Capitol Jazz Fest, and more.

James' sixth album, Did It for Love was released on March 31, 2017, by Shesangz Music under license to BMG.[4] The album has the singles "Don't Want You Back" released on October 28, 2016,[5] "Hard for Me" released on February 25, 2017,[6] "Don't Mean a Thang" released on March 27, 2017,[7] and a video single "All Over Again" on May 4, 2017.[8] The single "Don't Want You Back" reached number 1 on Billboard' Adult R&B Songs chart on April 15, 2017, becoming her highest-charting single ever.[9][10]

In February 2021, James debuted the song "Complicated", the first single off her seventh studio album See Me. It peaked at No. 3 on Billboard' Adult R&B Songs chart on August 21, 2021.

Television appearances

In 2014 and 2015, she starred on seasons 2 and 3 of the TV One reality show R&B Divas: Los Angeles.[11]

Influences

James cites singers James Brown, Roberta Flack, Toni Braxton, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Gladys Knight, Mavis Staples, Etta James[12] and Stevie Wonder as her influences.

Discography

Main article: Leela James discography
Studio albums
EP albums
  • Are You Ready? (2019) (with The Truth Band)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2008 Soul Train Music Award[13] Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist "Music" Nominated
NAACP Image Award Outstanding New Artist Leela James Nominated[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "Leela James - Soul Food". umusicpub.com. Universal Music Publishing Group. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  2. ^ Leela James interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' June 2010
  3. ^ Loving You More...In the Spirit of Etta James - Leela James | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-04-05
  4. ^ "Leela James 2017 Audio Interview". Soulinterviews.com. May 1, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  5. ^ "New Music: Leela James - Don't Want You Back". ThisIsRnB. October 28, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  6. ^ "New Music: Leela James - Hard for Me". ThisIsRnB. October 28, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  7. ^ "New Music: Leela James - Don't Mean a Thang". ThisIsRnB. October 28, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  8. ^ "New Video: Leela James - All Over Again". ThisIsRnB. October 28, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  9. ^ "Leela James | Chart History | Adult R&B Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  10. ^ Leight, Elias (February 8, 2017). "Leela James Talks Upcoming 'Did It for Love' Album, Reveals Cover & Release Date: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  11. ^ "R&B Divas L.A. Returns with Chrisette Michelle, Leela James and Chante Moore |". www.myk104.com. 2015-01-26. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  12. ^ Sangweni, Yolanda (2012-08-16). "EXCLUSIVE: Leela James Talks New Album and Honoring Etta James". Essence.
  13. ^ "R. Kelly earns leading three Soul Train music award nominations". USA Today. February 2, 2006. Retrieved 2006-02-03.
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