Biography

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 #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. She also starred on Season 2 of TV One's R&B Divas: Los Angeles.

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.

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.

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, 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 Moby's new 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 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."

In Summer 2010, she appeared on the BET 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
2005	A Change Is Gonna Come	148	42	97	26	43	52
2009	Let's Do It Again	84	11	—	—	—	—
2010	My Soul	37	7	—	—	—	—
2012	Loving You More... In The Spirit Of Etta James	—	44	—	—	—	—
2014	Fall For You	69	12	—	—	—	—

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions			Album
2005	"Music"	121	—	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
	"Baby, I'm Scared of You"	—	—	—
2010	"Tell Me You Love Me"	94	18	—	My Soul
	"So Cold"	—	—	—
2012	"Something's Got a Hold on Me"	—	—	—	Loving You More... In The Spirit Of Etta James
	"I'm Loving You More Every Day"	—	—	—
2013	"Say That"	—	15	—	Fall for You
2014	"Fall for You"	—	12	—
2015	"Set Me Free"	—	7	—

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Awards and nominations

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

[ Source: Wikipedia ]