Ledisi
After a distinguished two-decade career, Ledisi earned her long overdue and first Grammy award in March 2021 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for her hit song, “Anything For You.” That year, during the pandemic, Ledisi launched her own label and released “The Wildcard” LP, which included her Grammy-winning song and her first Billboard Number 1 charting song in the Summer of 2020. By December 2020, she co-produced her very first PBS Special, “Ledisi Sings Nina Simone.” On the heels of the huge success of “The Wild Card,” Ledisi released “Ledisi Live at The Troubadour” in April 2021, accompanied by a pay-per-view virtual concert.
Growing up, Ledisi was heavily influenced by many soulful music icons, one of whom was Dr. Nina Simone. Ledisi finally completed and released her dream project on her label entitled, “Ledisi Sings Nina,” with the Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley and The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra conducted by Adonis Rose. The album also features vocalists Lizz Wright, Lisa Fischer, and Alice Smith. Ledisi’s tour de force jazz project has received rave reviews.
In November, the powerhouse performer received her 14th Grammy Nomination for “Ledisi Sings Nina” in the category of "Best Traditional Pop Album." Ledisi has been nominated for 14 Grammys (including one for Best New Artist), garnered 3 Soul Train Music Awards, 19 NAACP Image Award Nominations, and an NAACP Theatre Award. She also received two LA Alliance Ovation Award Nominations, one for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
Born in New Orleans and raised in Oakland, CA, Ledisi has wowed fans with her unparalleled vocals. She has truly earned a place in the pantheon of the greatest singers of her generation. Ledisi is a favorite of The Obamas and a long list of icons, including the late Prince, Patti LaBelle, Natalie Cole, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, and many more. She has headlined four nationally sold-out tours, performed alongside artists such as Dave Matthews, Gary Clark Jr., Vince Gill, Keb Mo, Maxwell, as well as jazz greats Herbie Hancock, Robert Glasper, and Patti Austin.
No stranger to the film and television world, Ledisi landed her first feature, singing in the George Clooney-directed film “Leatherheads.” In 2015, she landed a role in the Oscar-nominated movie, Selma, portraying the great Mahalia Jackson, and had a notable performance in Gabourney Sidibe’s Shatterbox Anthology film, “The Tale Of Four.” Ledisi also secured her first major television role, playing the legendary Patti LaBelle on the hit BET series American Soul, followed by a standout performance on the FX series “POSE.”
She can also be seen in "Twice Bitten" with her co-star Lisa Raye on BET Plus. Soon, Ledisi will be seen on screen again portraying the great Mahalia Jackson in "Remember Me," a biopic starring Columbus Short, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Janet Hubert, and Keith David. Finally, Ledisi will also be portraying the legendary Gladys Knight in the long-awaited biopic "Spinning Gold," a film about Casablanca Records Chief Neil Bogart.
Several years ago, Ledisi focused her energy in the theater world. She made her Broadway debut as a "Radio and Washing Machine" understudy in Tony Kushner’s "Caroline or Change," directed by George C. Wolfe. Ledisi helped workshop the Tony Award-winning musical, "The Color Purple," but decided to focus on her recording career when she signed a record deal with Verve Music Group/Universal as the show went on Broadway.
Ledisi officially returned to theater in 2019 as The Ancestor in the critically acclaimed off-Broadway musical, "Witness Uganda" by Griffith Matthews and Matt Gould, for which she received the LA Alliance Nomination. In 2019, she took a leap and co-wrote/co-produced her one-woman show, "The Legend of Little Girl Blue." The show premiered at the Wallis Theatre in Beverly Hills to 19 sold-out shows. Ledisi will return to the theater stage as a feature in the revised version of the musical "The Life," directed by Billy Porter, which will open in March 2022 at the New York City Center.
Ledisi is extremely passionate about being an advocate for the arts, lobbying for young musicians, and protecting the rights of creatives. She is currently the President of the Recording Academy, Los Angeles Chapter, focusing her efforts on increasing diversity and giving voice to underrepresented artists. In August 2021, Ledisi had the esteemed honor of becoming an Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. She is a part of "The Justice League" with her line-sisters Michelle J. Howard, Abby Phillip, Joy-Ann Reid, Ambassador Shabazz, Collette V. Smith, and Ledisi.
As an author, she released her first book, "Better Than Alright: Finding Peace, Love, and Power," in collaboration with Essence Magazine. Her latest book, "Don’t Ever Lose Your Walk: How to Embrace Your Journey," is released through her book publishing company, Chinweya (chinway-yah) Publishing.
Utilizing and developing her versatile skills as a communicator, advocate, singer/songwriter, music producer, author, playwright, film producer, and now CEO of her record label Listen Back Entertainment/BMG, Ledisi is excited about launching more projects in the future for herself and others.
When you speak of women in entertainment, Ledisi has brazenly put herself square at the head of the conversation. "I am finally owning my lane as a creative, while understanding what it means to be me… Ledisi, a Black woman, a wife, a bonus mom, a daughter, a sister, a professional storyteller, passionate advocate, and a stronger businesswoman. All of this... right? It feels good."
She can also be seen in "Twice Bitten" with her co-star Lisa Raye on BET Plus. Soon, Ledisi will be seen on screen again portraying the great Mahalia Jackson in "Remember Me," a biopic starring Columbus Short, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Janet Hubert, and Keith David. Finally, Ledisi will also be portraying the legendary Gladys Knight in the long-awaited biopic "Spinning Gold," a film about Casablanca Records Chief Neil Bogart.
Several years ago, Ledisi focused her energy in the theater world. She made her Broadway debut as a "Radio and Washing Machine" understudy in Tony Kushner’s "Caroline or Change," directed by George C. Wolfe. Ledisi helped workshop the Tony Award-winning musical, "The Color Purple," but decided to focus on her recording career when she signed a record deal with Verve Music Group/Universal as the show went on Broadway.
Ledisi officially returned to theater in 2019 as The Ancestor in the critically acclaimed off-Broadway musical, "Witness Uganda" by Griffith Matthews and Matt Gould, for which she received the LA Alliance Nomination. In 2019, she took a leap and co-wrote/co-produced her one-woman show, "The Legend of Little Girl Blue." The show premiered at the Wallis Theatre in Beverly Hills to 19 sold-out shows. Ledisi will return to the theater stage as a feature in the revised version of the musical "The Life," directed by Billy Porter, which will open in March 2022 at the New York City Center.
Ledisi is extremely passionate about being an advocate for the arts, lobbying for young musicians, and protecting the rights of creatives. She is currently the President of the Recording Academy, Los Angeles Chapter, focusing her efforts on increasing diversity and giving voice to underrepresented artists. In August 2021, Ledisi had the esteemed honor of becoming an Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. She is a part of "The Justice League" with her line-sisters Michelle J. Howard, Abby Phillip, Joy-Ann Reid, Ambassador Shabazz, Collette V. Smith, and Ledisi.
As an author, she released her first book, "Better Than Alright: Finding Peace, Love, and Power," in collaboration with Essence Magazine. Her latest book, "Don’t Ever Lose Your Walk: How to Embrace Your Journey," is released through her book publishing company, Chinweya (chinway-yah) Publishing.
Utilizing and developing her versatile skills as a communicator, advocate, singer/songwriter, music producer, author, playwright, film producer, and now CEO of her record label Listen Back Entertainment/BMG, Ledisi is excited about launching more projects in the future for herself and others.
When you speak of women in entertainment, Ledisi has brazenly put herself square at the head of the conversation. "I am finally owning my lane as a creative, while understanding what it means to be me… Ledisi, a Black woman, a wife, a bonus mom, a daughter, a sister, a professional storyteller, passionate advocate, and a stronger businesswoman. All of this... right? It feels good."
Ledisi Sings Nina - 2021
Ledisi Live at the Troubadour - 2021
The Wild Card - 2020
The Intimate Truth - 2015
The Truth - 2014
Let Love Rule - 2017
Pieces of Me - 2011
It's Christmas - 2008
Lost & Found - 2007
Ledisi and Anibade Live Recordings Vol. 1 - 2007
Soulsinger: The Revival - 2002
“Her vocal performance is the picture of bravura self-assurance, bounding across her range with a declaratory power.” - Nate Chinen, WBGO Radio.
“As a contemporary vocalist, there’s almost no one I can think of in the world that sings as skillfully as she does. In terms of her range, dexterity, clarity, versatility, she can do anything she wants. She’s one of the great singers in the world, period.” - John Legend
“Ledisi Sings Nina,” an album that features seven of Simone’s most popular songs redone in orchestral, jazz, and pop arrangements, showcases both the diversity and depth of Simone’s musicianship and the breathtaking range and reach of Ledisi’s own voice." - Salamishah Tillet, New York Times
"Ledisi Sings Nina" - A tribute to Nina Simone
Ledisi -vocals
Antone “Chooky” Caldwell - bass
DR Brandon Waddels - keys
Greg Clark– drums
1-2 Background vocalists – TBC
"GoodLife" - Ledisi presents her latest album
Ledisi -vocals
Antone “Chooky” Caldwell - bass
DR Brandon Waddels - keys
Greg Clark– drums
1-2 Background vocalists – TBC