Ledisi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ledisi
Ledisi in 2024
Background information
Birth name	Ledisi Anibade Young
Born	(1972-03-28) March 28, 1972 (age 53) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Origin	Oakland, California, U.S.
Genres	R&B jazz neo soul
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter actress author
Instruments	Vocals, piano
Years active	1990–present
Labels	Listen Back Entertainment BMG Verve LeSun Music

Ledisi Anibade Young (born March 28, 1972), 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 the Yoruba language.

In 1995, Ledisi started a band named Anibade. When they couldn't get a record deal with a big company, she created her own label, LeSun Music. She did this with musician Sundra Manning. Her first album, Soulsinger (2000), included the song "Take Time". This song was played a lot on radio stations in the San Francisco area.

In 2002, Ledisi released her second album, Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue. This album won "Outstanding Jazz Album" at the California Music Awards in 2003. In 2006, Ledisi signed with Verve Forecast records. She then released her third album, Lost & Found (2007). This album earned her two Grammy Award nominations, including one for Best New Artist.

She released six more albums with Verve Records. These included It's Christmas (2008) and Turn Me Loose (2009). Other albums were Pieces of Me (2011), The Truth (2014), The Intimate Truth (2015), and Let Love Rule (2017).

In 2020, Ledisi started her own record label, Listen Back Entertainment. She released her album The Wild Card on this label. The song "Anything for You" from the album won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance in 2021. She has released four more albums on her label. These are Ledisi Live at The Troubadour (2021), Ledisi Sings Nina (2021), Good Life (2024), and The Crown (2025).

Besides music, Ledisi has also worked as an actress in film and television. She played gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in the movies Selma (2014) and Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story (2022). She also appeared as Patti LaBelle in the TV show American Soul (2020). Ledisi had a small role as a choir member in the drama Pose (2020). She also co-starred as Gladys Knight in the film Spinning Gold (2023). In 2022, she starred in her first Hallmark movie, All Saints Christmas.

Early Life and Education

Ledisi Anibade Young was born on March 28, 1972, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her mother, Nyra Dynese Young, was a singer-songwriter. Her biological father, Larry Saunders, was also a musician. Ledisi's biological paternal grandfather, Johnny Ace, was a famous blues singer.

Ledisi was raised Catholic and went to churches in New Orleans. At age eight, she performed with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra. When she was thirteen, her family moved to Oakland, California. She attended Edna Brewer Middle School and later Skyline High School, graduating in 1990.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out (1990–1999)

In 1990, Ledisi played the main character, Dorothy, in a theater play called The Wiz. She also joined a cabaret show called Beach Blanket Babylon in San Francisco. She earned a scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley. There, she studied piano and opera.

Ledisi was briefly part of a group called Slide Five. She then formed her own funk band called Anibade. The band became well-known in the San Francisco Bay Area. When they couldn't get a record deal, Ledisi and keyboardist Sundra Manning started their own label, LeSun Music.

First Albums (2000–2004)

In 2000, Ledisi released her first album, Soulsinger, with her band Anibade. The album received good reviews. In 2002, she released her second album, Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue. This album included famous jazz songs like "'Round Midnight" and "Autumn Leaves". It won "Outstanding Jazz Album" at the California Music Awards in 2003.

In 2003, Ledisi performed at the San Jose Jazz Festival. She also re-released her first album as Soulsinger: The Revival. In May 2004, Ledisi acted in the Broadway show Caroline, or Change. She played two characters: The Washing Machine and The Radio.

Signing with Verve Records (2007–2010)

In 2006, Ledisi signed a big record deal with Verve Forecast. She released her third album, Lost & Found, on August 28, 2007. This album reached number 10 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart. It sold over 237,000 copies in the United States. The song "Alright" reached number 11 on the Adult R&B Songs chart.

In 2008, Ledisi performed in New York City and received great reviews. Her song "In the Morning" reached number fifteen on the Adult R&B Songs chart. Lost & Found earned Ledisi two nominations at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. She was nominated for Best R&B Album and Best New Artist. In April 2008, she appeared in the movie Leatherheads as a blues singer. In September 2008, she released her Christmas album It's Christmas.

Her fifth album, Turn Me Loose, was released in August 2009. It reached the top of the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The song "Goin' Thru Changes" reached number fifteen on the Adult R&B Songs chart. This album also received two nominations at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.

Continued Success (2011–2019)

Ledisi performing at Walmart Soundcheck in 2011

In June 2011, Ledisi released her sixth album, Pieces of Me. It debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200. The main song, "Pieces of Me", became very popular. It reached number two on the Adult R&B Songs chart and was certified gold. Ledisi went on her first big tour, the Pieces of Me Tour. The album earned three nominations at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.

In April 2012, she started her second tour, the B.G.T.Y. Tour. In June 2012, Ledisi released her first book, Better Than Alright: Finding Peace, Love & Power.

Her seventh album, The Truth, came out in March 2014. It included popular songs like "I Blame You" and "Like This". The song "Like This" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2015. In April 2014, Ledisi played Mahalia Jackson in the film Selma. This movie was about the 1965 marches for voting rights in Alabama. Ledisi sang "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" in the film. In January 2015, Ledisi released a live album called The Intimate Truth. She then went on The Intimate Truth Tour.

Ledisi performing at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial dedication concert in October 2011

In May 2017, Ledisi released the song "High". Her eighth album, Let Love Rule, was released on September 22, 2017. Let Love Rule received three nominations at the 60th Grammy Awards in 2018. She won a Soul Train Certified Award in 2018. In June 2018, she sang "Sweet Love" to honor Anita Baker. She also sang "Ain't No Way" to honor Aretha Franklin. In October 2018, Ledisi performed with Adam Lambert on a TV special. In 2019, she acted in the play Witness Uganda. She also created her own show, Ledisi: The Legend of Little Girl Blue, which sold out many times.

Recent Works (2020–Present)

In January 2020, Ledisi released her second book, Don't Ever Lose Your Walk: How to Embrace Your Journey. In June 2020, she announced her ninth album, The Wild Card. It was released on August 28, 2020. This was the first album released on her own label, Listen Back Entertainment. The song "Anything for You" became Ledisi's first number-one song on the Adult R&B Songs chart. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance in 2021. On April 30, 2021, Ledisi released a live album, Ledisi Live at The Troubadour.

On July 23, 2021, Ledisi released Ledisi Sings Nina. This album was a tribute to American singer Nina Simone. It was well-received by music critics. Ledisi Sings Nina reached number two on Billboard's Classical Crossover Albums chart. On March 1, 2023, Ledisi performed with Herbie Hancock to honor Joni Mitchell. In March 2024, she released her eleventh album, Good Life. The song "I Need to Know" became her second number-one on the US Adult R&B Songs chart.

On January 31, 2025, Ledisi released "Love You Too". This was the first song from her upcoming album. The song reached number 14 on the US Adult R&B chart. On February 9, 2025, Ledisi sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. The Love You Too Tour was announced on February 10, 2025. On April 25, 2025, Ledisi released her twelfth album, The Crown. In July 2025, Ledisi announced her thirteenth album, For Dinah. This album is a tribute to American singer Dinah Washington. It is set to be released on October 3, 2025. On July 18, 2025, she released the album's first song, "This Bitter Earth".

Musical Style and Influences

Voice and Sound

Ledisi has a powerful voice that can cover four octaves. She is known as a "vocal powerhouse" and one of the best voices in R&B music. Music critic Salamishah Tillet praised her voice for its "diversity and breathtaking range". Fellow musician John Legend said she is one of the greatest singers in the world. Ledisi is also known for scatting, which is singing with made-up sounds instead of words.

Her music combines different styles like R&B, jazz, funk, pop, and soul. Her first album, Soulsinger (2000), had a modern R&B sound. Her second album, Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue, featured a jazz sound. Ledisi has said she wants to be seen as more than just an R&B singer. She studied classical music and enjoys many different types of music.

Musical Inspirations

Ledisi's major influences include Nina Simone (left) and Curtis Mayfield (right).

Ledisi says Nina Simone is her biggest musical inspiration. Ledisi once went through a difficult time in her late twenties. She was feeling very sad until she heard Simone's song "Trouble in Mind" on the radio. This song helped Ledisi feel better and continue her music career. In July 2021, she released a tribute album called Ledisi Sings Nina. This album features popular songs by Nina Simone.

Ledisi was also greatly influenced by Curtis Mayfield. In February 2020, Ledisi performed a tribute concert for Mayfield. She also mentioned Dinah Washington as a major influence and recorded a tribute album for her.

Other musical influences for Ledisi include Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Deniece Williams, Leontyne Price, Aretha Franklin, Patsy Cline, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, and Stevie Wonder. Ledisi said that Diana Ross's performance in the movie The Wiz made her want to act. She also said that Prince encouraged her to leave her record label.

Personal Life

Marriage

Ledisi performing at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington, D.C. in 2023

In the early 2000s, Ledisi was married, but she divorced in 2003. In 2018, she married director and actor Ronald T. Young. The couple appeared on a TV show called Black Love.

Community Involvement

On November 6, 2011, Ledisi performed at a fundraiser for the 2012 United States presidential election. In March 2012, First Lady Michelle Obama invited her to the White House. Ledisi performed at the Democratic National Convention on September 4, 2012. She also sang at a church service before President Barack Obama's 2013 inauguration. Her song "Raise Up" was even on President Obama's campaign playlist. In June 2023, Ledisi was invited to perform at the Juneteenth Concert at the White House.

In September 2017, Ledisi was a main performer at the Black AIDS Institute's Heroes Gala. In November 2017, she became an ambassador for the Black AIDS Institute. She wants to help educate people about HIV and AIDS and stop negative ideas about them. She also met with health departments to discuss how HIV affects African American women.

In August 2018, Ledisi spoke about how important music education is. She supported a bill called the Arts for Every Student Act. This bill helps schools offer more art and music classes. Ledisi believes her own experience shows how valuable arts education can be.

In 2022, Ledisi became a professor and the first artist-in-residence at Berklee College of Music. She teaches students and creates workshops there.

Awards and Achievements

Ledisi has received many awards and honors. These include one Grammy Award and two Soul Train Music Awards. She has also been honored by groups like Americans for the Arts and the Los Angeles Jazz Society. In December 2018, the Black AIDS Institute honored her for her work. In August 2021, she became an honorary member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. In May 2024, she received an honorary doctorate degree from the Berklee College of Music. In June 2025, Billboard magazine ranked her among the 75 Best R&B Artists of All Time.

Business Ventures

LeSun Music and Listen Back Entertainment

In 1999, Ledisi co-founded the independent record label LeSun Music with Sundra Manning. The label released three albums, including Soulsinger (2000). The label stopped operating in 2006. In January 2019, Ledisi started another independent record label called Listen Back Entertainment. This company has released several of Ledisi's albums. These include The Wild Card (2020), Ledisi Live at the Troubadour (2021), Ledisi Sings Nina (2021), Good Life (2024), and The Crown (2025).

Production Companies

In 2014, Ledisi started a production company called Ledhead Productions. In September 2016, she started another company called Fig Street Films. In 2019, this company produced Ledisi: The Legend of Little Girl Blue, a stage show about Ledisi and Nina Simone. In November 2020, Fig Street Films produced a live concert special for PBS. In 2020, Ledisi also co-founded Chinweya Publishing Company. This company published Ledisi's second book, Don't Ever Lose Your Walk: How to Embrace Your Journey.

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)
• The Truth (2014)
• Let Love Rule (2017)
• The Wild Card (2020)
• Ledisi Sings Nina (2021)
• Good Life (2024)
• The Crown (2025)

Tours

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Theatre and Musical Roles