Ledisi Anibade Young (; born March 28, 1972), better known simply as Ledisi, is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, author, and actress. Her name means "to bring forth" or "to come here" in Yoruba. In 1995, Ledisi formed a band after her middle name Anibade. After unsuccessfully trying to get signed to a major label, she formed LeSun Music with musician Sundra Manning. She released her debut album '' Soulsinger'' (2000), which featured the single "Take Time", which gained substantial airplay from San Francisco area radio stations. In 2002, Ledisi released her second album, '' Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue'', which won "Outstanding Jazz Album" at the California Music Awards in 2003.Keepin’ the Booty Big
East Bay Express. Retrieved on July 18, 2024 In 2006, Ledisi signed a record deal with Verve Forecast and released her third album, titled '' Lost & Found'' (2007). The album earned her two Grammy nominations, including one for

Best New Artist The Grammy Award for Best New Artist has been awarded since the 2nd Annual Grammy Awards in 1960 (except in 1967) "for a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that ar ...

. She released six more albums on Verve: '' It's Christmas'' (2008), '' Turn Me Loose'' (2009), '' Pieces of Me'' (2011), ''

The Truth The Truth may refer to: Film * ''The Truth'' (1920 film) starring Madge Kennedy * ''The Truth'' (1960 film) or ''La Vérité'', a French film by Henri-Georges Clouzot starring Brigitte Bardot * ''The Truth'' (1988 film), a Hong Kong trial cri ...

'' (2014), '' The Intimate Truth'' (2015), and '' Let Love Rule'' (2017). In 2020, Ledisi formed her own record label Listen Back Entertainment and released her album '' The Wild Card''. The album's single " Anything for You" won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance at the

63rd Annual Grammy Awards The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held in and around the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles on March 14, 2021. It recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, running from September 1, 201 ...

. She released four more albums on her label including ''Ledisi Live at The Troubadour'' (2021), '' Ledisi Sings Nina'' (2021), '' Good Life'' (2024), and ''

The Crown The Crown is a political concept used in Commonwealth realms. Depending on the context used, it generally refers to the entirety of the State (polity), state (or in federal realms, the relevant level of government in that state), the executive ...

'' (2025). Aside from music, Ledisi has embarked a career in

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

and

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

as an actress. She portrayed

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

icon

Mahalia Jackson Mahalia Jackson ( ; born Mahala Jackson; October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972) was an American gospel music, gospel singer, widely considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. With a career spanning 40 years, Jackson was ...

in the films '' Selma'' (2014) and '' Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story'' (2022). Other roles include a guest appearance as

Patti LaBelle Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American Rhythm and blues, R&B singer and actress. She has been referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Godmother of Soul". LaBelle began ...

in the BET docudrama '' American Soul'', a

cameo appearance A cameo appearance, also called a cameo role and often shortened to just cameo (), is a brief guest appearance of a well-known person or character in a work of the performing arts. These roles are generally small, many of them non-speaking on ...

as a choir member in the FX drama '' Pose'' (both 2020), as well as co-starring as

Gladys Knight Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944) is an American singer and actress. Knight recorded hits through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with her family group Gladys Knight & the Pips, which included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and cousins Will ...

in the film '' Spinning Gold'' (2023). She is also starred in her first

Hallmark A hallmark is an official Mark (sign), mark or series of marks struck on items made of metal, mostly to certify the content of noble metals—such as platinum, gold, silver and in some nations, palladium. In a more general sense, the term ''Wikti ...

original movie ''All Saints Christmas'' (2022).

Early life

Ledisi Anibade Young was born on March 28, 1972, in

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

, Louisiana, to Nyra Dynese Young, a singer-songwriter in local band Coronava, and Larry Saunders, a 1970s singer and musician. Saunders departed from the family when Ledisi was a baby. Her mother remarried to a drummer named Joseph Pierce III, who adopted Ledisi after the marriage. She has an older sister Shannon, and a younger sister. Ledisi's biological paternal grandfather,

Johnny Ace John Marshall Alexander Jr. (June 9, 1929 – December 25, 1954), known by the stage name Johnny Ace, was an American rhythm-and-blues singer. He had a string of hit singles in the mid-1950s. He emerged as a prominent figure in postwar R&B an ...

, was an American

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

singer who was known for his single " Pledging My Love". Ledisi was raised

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

and attended local churches in New Orleans. Her mother was raised

Baptist Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...

. At the age of eight, she performed publicly with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra. At age thirteen, her family relocated to

Oakland, California Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, California, Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major We ...

where she went to Edna Brewer Middle School, formerly McChesney Junior High School. She later enrolled in Skyline High School where she graduated in 1990.

Career

1990–1999: Career beginnings

In 1990, she starred as the lead character Dorothy in an Antioch Community Theater production of ''

The Wiz ''The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz"'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls (and others) and book by William F. Brown. It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's children's novel '' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' ...

'' in

Antioch, California Antioch is the third-most populous city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city is located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area along the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. The city's population was 115,29 ...

.Beth Peerless, Where it's at: Ledisi returns to Jazz Fest lineup
Monterey Herald. Retrieved on June 8, 2024 Her performance earned a Shellie Award nomination in the same year. She also joined a

cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, casino, hotel, restaurant, or nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, ...

production of Beach Blanket Babylon in

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

. She earned a scholarship and attended the

University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after t ...

, where she studied

piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...

and

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

. Ledisi was briefly part of an

acid jazz Acid jazz (also known as club jazz, psychedelic jazz, or groove jazz) is a music genre that combines elements of funk, soul music, soul, and hip hop music, hip hop, as well as jazz and disco. Acid jazz originated in clubs in London during the 1 ...

group called Slide Five. Ledisi formed her own funk band called Anibade. The band performed around the

San Francisco Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a List of regions of California, region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, California, S ...

, building notoriety in the area. After the group failed to secure a record deal, Ledisi and keyboardist Sundra Manning formed their own label LeSun Music.

2000–2004: ''Soulsinger'' and ''Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue''

In 2000, Ledisi released her first album '' Soulsinger'', which featured the band Anibade, on LeSun Music. The album featured the single "Take Time" and received positive reviews. In 2002, she released her second album '' Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue''. The album featured jazz standards " 'Round Midnight", " In a Sentimental Mood", and " Autumn Leaves (Les feuilles mortes)". The album won "Outstanding Jazz Album" at the California Music Awards in 2003. In August 2003, Ledisi and Anibade performed at the San Jose Jazz Festival. She also released a 4-track extended play titled ''Ledisi & Anibade – "Live" The Bootleg Recordings Vol. 1''. In the same year, she reissued her first album under the title ''Soulsinger: The Revival'', distributed by

Tommy Boy Records Tommy Boy Records is an American independent record label and multimedia brand founded in 1981 by Tom Silverman. The label is credited with helping and launching the music careers of Queen Latifah, Amber, Afrika Bambaataa, Stetsasonic, Digita ...

. In May 2004, Ledisi portrayed two characters, The Washing Machine and The Radio, in the Broadway production of '' Caroline, or Change''.Caroline, or Change opening night case
Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved on June 6, 2024

2007–2010: ''Lost & Found'' and Verve Records

In 2006, Ledisi secured a major record deal with Verve Forecast, a subsidiary of

Verve Records Verve Records is an active American record label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). Founded in 1956 by Norman Granz, the label is home to the world's largest jazz catalogue, which includes recordings by artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Ca ...

. Ledisi had been recording her third album '' Lost & Found'' prior to her record deal. The album was released on August 28, 2007. ''Lost & Found'' peaked at number 10 on ''Billboard'''s R&B Albums chart and sold over 237,000 copies in the United States.Ledisi Billboard Chart History
Billboard. Retrieved on June 6, 2024Soul singer Ledisi lets "Loose" on new album
Reuters. Retrieved on June 6, 2024 The album's lead single " Alright" peaked at number 11 on the

Adult R&B Songs The Adult R&B Songs chart (formerly called Adult R&B Airplay) is an airplay chart that is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. The chart tracks and measures the airplay of songs played on urban adult contemporary radio stations, whose playl ...

chart. During her tour in February 2008, she performed at the Highline Ballroom in New York City.Ledisi / February 15, 2008 / New York (Highline Ballroom)
Billboard. Retrieved on June 6, 2024 She received positive feedback from critics for her emotional performance, which was described as a "religious experience". In March 2008, " In the Morning" was released as the second single and peaked at number fifteen on the Adult R&B Songs chart. The album earned Ledisi two nominations at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, for Best R&B Album and

. She made a cameo appearance in the

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

'' Leatherheads'' as a blues singer who performed the pop standard " The Man I Love" in April 2008. In September 2008, she released her Christmas album titled '' It's Christmas''. Her fifth album '' Turn Me Loose'' was released in August 2009, peaking atop of the ''Billboard'' Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. To promote the album, she joined with multi-cultural cosmetic brand Carol's Daughter, with whom she ran an advertising promotion that included a brand sampler. The album's first single " Goin' Thru Changes" peaked at number forty-three on the

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

chart and number fifteen on the Adult R&B Songs chart. The follow-up single " Higher Than This" peaked at number twenty-two on the Adult R&B Songs chart. The album earned two nominations at the

52nd Annual Grammy Awards The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards took place on January 31, 2010, at Staples Center in Los Angeles honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009. Neil Young was honored as the 2010 MusiCares P ...

, for Best R&B Album and " Goin' Thru Changes" earning a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

2011–2019: ''Pieces of Me'' and subsequent releases

In June 2011, Ledisi released her sixth album '' Pieces of Me''. The album debuted at number eight on the ''Billboard'' 200 and peaked at number two on the ''Billboards R&B Albums. The album's lead single " Pieces of Me" became one of her most successful songs on the Billboard chart, peaking at number two on the Adult R&B Songs and number nineteen on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. " Pieces of Me" also earned a

gold certification Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type (such as album, single, music video) and by nation or territory (see ...

by the

RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

. She headlined her first major tour called the Pieces of Me Tour, which went on to play to over twenty-two sold-out shows. The success of the album earned three nominations at the

54th Annual Grammy Awards The 54th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 12, 2012, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles being broadcast on CBS honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. LL Cool J hosted ...

, including Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song (for the song "Pieces of Me"), and Best R&B Performance (for the song "Pieces of Me"). In April 2012, she headlined her second tour called the B.G.T.Y. Tour. In June 2012, Ledisi released her first book titled ''Better Than Alright: Finding Peace, Love & Power'', on Time Home Entertainment, Inc. Her seventh album ''

'' was released in March 2014. The album spawned the top-ten ''Billboard'' Adult R&B Songs " I Blame You" and "Like This". The song "Like This" received a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Performance in 2015. In April 2014, Ledisi portrayed American singer

in the American historical drama film, '' Selma''. It is based on the 1965

Selma to Montgomery marches The Selma to Montgomery marches were three Demonstration (protest), protest marches, held in 1965, along the highway from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery. The marches were organized by Nonviolence, nonvi ...

for voting rights in Alabama, led by

James Bevel James Luther Bevel (October 19, 1936 – December 19, 2008) was an American minister and a leader and major strategist of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. As a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and then as its direct ...

Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister, civil and political rights, civil rights activist and political philosopher who was a leader of the civil rights move ...

, and

Hosea Williams Hosea Lorenzo Williams (January 5, 1926 – November 16, 2000) was an American American civil rights movement, civil rights leader, activist, ordained minister, businessman, philanthropist, scientist, and politician. He was considered a member ...

. In the film and on the film's soundtrack, Ledisi performed " Take My Hand, Precious Lord". In January 2015, Ledisi released a studio live extended play titled '' The Intimate Truth''. A month later, she embarked on The Intimate Truth Tour. 20111016 Ledisi at the MLK Memorial dedication concert

20111016 Ledisi at the MLK Memorial dedication concert

In May 2017, Ledisi released a single titled "High". She released her eighth studio album titled ''Let Love Rule'' on September 22, 2017. ''Let Love Rule'' received three nominations at the 60th Grammy Awards in January 2018 including Best R&B Album, Best R&B Performance and Best Traditional R&B Performance. She won a Soul Train Certified Award at the 2018 Soul Train Music Awards. In June 2018, she performed " Sweet Love" in tribute to Anita Baker. In the same year, she performed " Ain't No Way" in tribute to

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Soul", she was twice named by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine as the Roll ...

at Black Girls Rock!. In October 2018, Ledisi performed " As Long as You're Mine" with

Adam Lambert Adam Mitchel Lambert (born January 29, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter and actor. He is known for his dynamic vocal performances that combine his theatrical training with modern and classic genres. Lambert rose to fame in 2009 after ...

in an NBC broadcast, '' A Very ''Wicked'' Halloween: Celebrating 15 Years on Broadway''. In 2019, she portrayed the Ancestor in the

Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

theatre production of ''Witness Uganda''."Ledisi, Hamilton Alum Amber Iman, More Set for ''Witness Uganda''s Los Angeles Bow"
by Ryan McPhee, ''

Playbill ''Playbill'' is an American monthly magazine for Audience, theatergoers. Although there is a subscription issue available for home delivery, most copies of ''Playbill'' are printed for particular productions and distributed at the door as the ...

'', January 7, 2019. In the same year, she co-wrote and co-produced her residency show titled '' Ledisi: The Legend of Little Girl Blue'', which sold out in nineteen shows.Ledisi Named Artist in Residence at Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice
Berklee. Retrieved on June 6, 2024

2020–2024: ''The Wild Card'' and ''Good Life''

In January 2020, Ledisi released her second book, ''Don't Ever Lose Your Walk: How to Embrace Your Journey''. In June 2020, Ledisi announced the title of her ninth studio album, '' The Wild Card''. The album was released on August 28, 2020, exactly thirteen years after her major label debut, ''Lost & Found''. ''The Wild Card'' was the first album to be released on Ledisi's independent label Listen Back Entertainment, distributed by BMG. The album's lead single " Anything for You" became Ledisi's first number-one song on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs chart, remaining in the top position for two weeks. The song also won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance in 2021, marking her first Grammy Award win. On April 30, 2021, Ledisi released a live album, ''Ledisi Live at The Troubadour''. Having previously appeared live on August 21, 2019, at the BBC Prom 45 ''Mississippi Goddam (A Homage to Nina Simone)'', on July 23, 2021, Ledisi released '' Ledisi Sings Nina'', a tribute album to American singer

Nina Simone Nina Simone ( ; born Eunice Kathleen Waymon; February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003) was an American singer, pianist, songwriter, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and po ...

. On March 1, 2023, Ledisi performed "

River A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...

" with

Herbie Hancock Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz musician, bandleader, and composer. He started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. Hancock soon joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he helped to redefine the role of ...

in honor of

Joni Mitchell Roberta Joan Mitchell (née Anderson; born November 7, 1943) is a Canadian and American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and painter. As one of the most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the 1960s folk music circuit, Mitch ...

at the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...

Gershwin Prize The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song is an award given to a composer or performer for their lifetime contributions to popular music. Created in 2007 by the United States Library of Congress, the prize is named after brothers ...

concert. In March 2024, she released her eleventh studio album '' Good Life''. The album's first single " I Need to Know" became her second number-one on the US Adult R&B Songs chart.

2025–present: ''The Crown''

On January 31, 2025, Ledisi released "Love You Too"; the lead single from her forthcoming album. On February 9, 2025, Ledisi performed the " Lift Every Voice and Sing" at

Super Bowl LIX Super Bowl LIX was an American football championship game played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2024 NFL season, 2024 season. In a rematch of Super Bowl LVII two years prior, the National Football Conf ...

, at the

Caesars Superdome Caesars Superdome (originally Louisiana Superdome and formerly Mercedes-Benz Superdome), commonly known as the Superdome, is a domed multi-purpose stadium in the Southern United States, southern United States, located in New Orleans, Louisiana. ...

in New Orleans, Louisiana.Ledisi Delivers Stirring Performance of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ for Super Bowl Pre-Game Show
Billboard. Retrieved on February 13, 2025 The '' Love You Too Tour'' was announced on February 10, 2025. On April 25, 2025, Ledisi released her twelfth studio album ''

''.

Artistry

Voice and musical style

Ledisi's voice is classified as a four-octave mezzo-soprano. She has been described as a "vocal powerhouse" and "one of the most distinctive voices of 21st century rhythm and blues". Music critic Salamishah Tillet of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' praised her voice for its "diversity and breathtaking range". Fellow musician

John Legend John Roger Stephens (born December 28, 1978), known professionally as John Legend, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He began his musical career working behind the scenes for other artists, playing piano on Lauryn Hill's " Every ...

commented "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". She is also known for scatting. Her music includes various styles of musical genres such as contemporary R&B,

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...

, pop, and

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

. Her debut album '' Soulsinger'' (2000) followed a contemporary R&B sound, while her second album '' Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue'' featured a jazz sound. In an interview with ''

DownBeat ''DownBeat'' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm that it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1 ...

'', Ledisi expressed wanting to be viewed as more than a R&B singer after the release of her album '' Ledisi Sings Nina'' (2021). "I’m not your boxed R&B singer. I’m more than that. I studied classical. It just so happens that I’m loved for R&B, but my home base goes over into all these other worlds".

Influences

Ledisi names

as her major musical influence. Ledisi recalled going through a depression and divorce during her late twenties. She even contemplated

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Risk factors for suicide include mental disorders, physical disorders, and substance abuse. Some suicides are impulsive acts driven by stress (such as from financial or ac ...

until hearing Simone's cover of " Trouble in Mind" on the radio, leading Ledisi to repudiate her thoughts of suicide and revived her career.Column: Finding salvation from dark places through Ledisi and Nina Simone
. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on June 15, 2024 In July 2021, she released a

tribute album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track or cassette), or digital. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century a ...

titled '' Ledisi Sings Nina'', which features popular songs written or covered by Simone. Ledisi was also heavily influenced by

Curtis Mayfield Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Dubbed the " Gentle Genius", he is considered one of the most influential musicians of soul and socially conscious Afric ...

.Ledisi & Bilal – A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield , WDR BIG BAND
Routes Magazine. Retrieved on June 17, 2024 On February 7, 2020, Ledisi paid homage to Mayfield doing a tribute concert alongside

Bilal __NOTOC__ Bilal may refer to: People * Bilal (name), or Belal or Bilel, including a list of people with the name * Bilal ibn Rabah, a companion of Muhammad, made calls for prayers * Bilal (American singer) * Bilal (Lebanese singer) Places * Bi ...

and the WDR Big Band. Her musical influences also include

Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan ( ), is an American singer. Known as the " Queen of Funk", her career has spanned more than five decades beginning in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of ...

,Ledisi embraces the 'Good Life' and her latest album proves just that
Ebony Magazine. Retrieved on June 17, 2024

Deniece Williams June Deniece Williams (née Chandler; born June 3, 1950) is an American singer. She has been described as "one of the great Soul music, soul voices" by the BBC. She is best known for the songs "Free (Deniece Williams song), Free", "Silly (song ...

Leontyne Price Leontyne Price ( born Mary Violet Leontine Price February 10, 1927) is an American spinto soprano who was the first African-American soprano to receive international acclaim. From 1961 she began a long association with the Metropolitan Opera. ...

,Interview: Ledisi Channels & Honors Nina Simone in LEDISI: THE LEGEND OF LITTLE GIRL BLUE
Broadway World. Retrieved on June 27, 2024

Dinah Washington Dinah Washington (; born Ruth Lee Jones; August 29, 1924 – December 14, 1963) was an American singer and pianist, one of the most popular black female recording artists of the 1950s. Primarily a jazz vocalist, she performed and recorded in a ...

Patsy Cline Patsy Cline (born Virginia Patterson Hensley; September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American singer. One of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century, she was known as one of the first country music artists to successfully Cross ...

, Sarah Vaughn,

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April25, 1917June15, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter and composer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phra ...

, and

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris (; Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American and Ghanaian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th c ...

.Bay Area African American Women in Music: Ledisi Counts Stevie Wonder, Prince & the Obamas among Her Fans
Post News Group. Retrieved on June 17, 2024 Ledisi credited

Diana Ross Diana Ross (born Diane Ernestine Earle Ross March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. Known as the "Queen of Motown Records", she was the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown#Major divisions, Motown's most suc ...

's performance as

Dorothy Gale Dorothy Gale is a fictional character created by the American author L. Frank Baum as the protagonist in many of his ''Oz'' novels. She first appears in Baum's classic 1900 children's novel '' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' and reappears in most o ...

in ''

'' for giving her the "acting bug". In an interview with ''

People The term "the people" refers to the public or Common people, common mass of people of a polity. As such it is a concept of human rights law, international law as well as constitutional law, particularly used for claims of popular sovereignty. I ...

'' magazine, Ledisi cited

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

as a musical influence and that he encouraged her to leave her record label.

Personal life

Marriage

In the early 2000s, Ledisi was married to a man whose name was not publicly disclosed. They divorced in 2003. In 2018, she married director and actor Ronald T. Young. The couple appeared on the docu-series '' Black Love''.

Politics

On November 6, 2011, Ledisi performed at the Obama 2012 Fundraiser. In March 2012, she was invited to the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...

by First Lady

Michelle Obama Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama ( Robinson; born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, being married to Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United Stat ...

for the Women's History Month Mentoring Series. On September 4, 2012, Ledisi performed at the

Democratic National Convention The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 18 ...

. She performed the gospel song "I Feel Like Goin' On" for the church service at St. John's Episcopal Church in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

on January 21, 2013, at

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...

's 2013 presidential pre-inauguration. Her song "Raise Up" from her album '' Pieces of Me'' was included on President Obama's Campaign Playlist. On January 19, 2017, Ledisi posted a picture of Obama, thanking him for his presidential term. In June 2023, Ledisi was invited to perform during the Juneteenth Concert at the

South Lawn The South Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., is directly south of the house and is bordered on the east by East Executive Drive and the Treasury Building, on the west by West Executive Drive and the Old Executive Office Building, and ...

Activism

In September 2017, Ledisi headlined the Black AIDS Institute's Heroes Gala. In November 2017, Ledisi became an ambassador for the Black AIDS Institute. She stated, "I want to work with everybody that's involved that are dealing with AIDS and HIV and AIDS/HIV prevention, anything just to spread the word about that and stop all the stigmas. I'm hoping through my voice and my platform to educate people." She also met with the Black Treatment Advocates Network (BTAN) and the Detroit Health Department to express concern about the disparate number of African American women with

HIV The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of '' Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the im ...

compared to other demographics. In August 2018, Ledisi spoke out about the importance of

music education Music education is a field of practice in which educators are trained for careers as primary education, elementary or secondary education, secondary music teachers, school or music conservatory ensemble directors. Music education is also a rese ...

. She stood in support of the Arts for Every Student Act.Music stardom starts in the classroom. I should know
The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved on June 18, 2024 The legislation bill establishes an incentive grant program for school districts to expand access to visual and performing arts instruction, including music, dance, theatre, media arts and visual arts. She also emphasized herself as an example of the value of arts education, and called on both the public and lawmakers to support the bill. The legislation was signed by Senator Ben Allen. In 2021, she was elected president of the Los Angeles Chapter. In 2022, Ledisi became a professor and first

artist-in-residence Artist-in-residence (also Writer-in-residence), or artist residencies, encompass a wide spectrum of artistic programs that involve a collaboration between artists and hosting organisations, institutions, or communities. They are programs that pr ...

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music () is a Private university, private music college in Boston, Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern Music of the United ...

, starting at the academic year of 2022–2023. Under Berklee's Jazz and Gender Justice Program, she educated academic students and created workshops.

Awards and achievements

Ledisi has earned an array of awards, honors, and nominations. These include one

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

and two

Soul Train Music Awards The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards ceremony which honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the production company of '' Soul Train'', the program from which it takes its name, and ...

. She has been the honorary musical receiptant of Americans for the Arts, EmpowHer, and Los Angeles Jazz Society. In December 2018, she was honored by the Black AIDS Institute for her work and advocacy. In August 2021, she became an honorary member of

Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. () is a List of African-American fraternities, historically African American Fraternities and sororities, sorority. The organization was founded by college-educated women dedicated to public service with an emp ...

sorority. In May 2024, she received an honorary doctorate degree from the

Business and ventures

LeSun Music and Listen Back Entertainment

In 1999, Ledisi co-founded the

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small and medium-sized enterprise, small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels ...

LeSun Music with musician Sundra Manning. The name is derived from the first names of Ledisi and Sundra. The record label distributed a total of three albums: '' Soulsinger'' (2000), '' Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue'', '' Ledisi and Anibade Live Recordings Vol. 1'' (2003), and reissue edition titled ''Soulsinger: The Revival'' (2003). The label became defunct in 2006. In January 2019, Ledisi founded another independent record label called Listen Back Entertainment. The label's distributor is

BMG Rights Management BMG Rights Management GmbH (also known simply as BMG) is an international music company based in Berlin, Germany. It combines the activities of a music publisher and a record label. BMG was formed in October 2008 after Bertelsmann sold its st ...

. The company has distributed Ledisi's albums including '' The Wild Card'' (2020), ''Ledisi Live at the Troubadour'' (2021), '' Ledisi Sings Nina'' (2021), '' Good Life'' (2024), and ''

'' (2025).

Production companies

In 2014, Ledisi founded a production company called Ledhead Productions. In September 2016, Ledisi started another production company called Fig Street Films. In 2019, the company produced '' Ledisi: The Legend of Little Girl Blue'', a stage production about the lives of Ledisi and

.Eight Performances Added For LEDISI: THE LEGEND OF LITTLE GIRL BLUE
Broadway World. Retrieved on June 18, 2024 On November 28, 2020, Fig Street Films produced a live concert special titled ''Ledisi Live: A Tribute to Nina Simone'', which aired on American television network

PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...

.Ledisi Live: A Tribute to Nina Simone
. PBS. Retrieved on June 15, 2024 In 2020, Ledisi co-founded Chinweya Publishing Company. The company published Ledisi's second book ''Don't Ever Lose Your Walk: How to Embrace Your Journey'', which was released in January 2020.

Discography

Studio albums *'' Soulsinger'' (2000) *'' Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue'' (2002) *'' Lost & Found'' (2007) *'' It's Christmas'' (2008) *'' Turn Me Loose'' (2009) *'' Pieces of Me'' (2011) *''

'' (2014) *'' Let Love Rule'' (2017) *'' The Wild Card'' (2020) *'' Ledisi Sings Nina'' (2021) *'' Good Life'' (2024) *''

'' (2025)

Tours

Headlining tours * Pieces of Me Tour (2011) * B.G.T.Y. Tour (2012) * The Truth Tour (2014) * The Intimate Truth Tour (2015) * Let Love Rule Tour (2018) * Ledisi Live UK Tour (2019) * Nina and Me Tour (2019) * The Wild Card Tour (2021) * Ledisi Sings Nina Tour (2021–2023) * The Good Life Tour (2024) * Love You Too Tour (2025) Co-headlining tours * The Rebel, The Soul & The Saint Tour (2017; with

Kirk Franklin Kirk Dewayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970) is an American Gospel music, gospel musician. One of the List of best-selling gospel music artists, best-selling gospel music artists, his accolades include 20 Grammy Awards. ''Variety (magazine), Var ...

) * The Soul II Soul Tour (2023; with Kem) Residencies * Ledisi: The Legend of Little Girl Blue (2019) Opening act * Intimacy Tour (Kem) (2011)

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre and musical

Bibliography

* ''Better Than Alright: Finding Peace, Love & Power'' (2012) * ''Don't Ever Lose Your Walk: How to Embrace Your Journey'' (2020)

References

External links

* * * {{Authority control 1972 births Living people 20th-century African-American actresses 20th-century American actresses 20th-century African-American women singers 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singers 21st-century African-American actresses 21st-century American actresses 21st-century African-American women singers 21st-century American women singers Actresses from Louisiana African-American Catholics African-American women singer-songwriters American women singer-songwriters American ballad musicians American contemporary R&B singers American film actresses American gospel singers American jazz singers American mezzo-sopranos American neo soul singers American women jazz singers Berklee College of Music faculty Bertelsmann Music Group artists Grammy Award winners Jazz musicians from Louisiana Singers with a four-octave vocal range Singer-songwriters from Louisiana University of California, Berkeley alumni Verve Records artists