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.
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
Associated acts	Robert Glasper

Ledisi Anibade Young (born March 28, 1972), known simply as Ledisi, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Her name means "to bring forth" or "to come here" in the Yoruba language.

Ledisi started her music journey in 1995 by forming a band. When she couldn't sign with a big record label, she created her own label, LeSun Music. Her first album, Soulsinger (2000), had a popular song called "Take Time". In 2002, her second album, Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue, won an award for "Outstanding Jazz Album".

In 2006, Ledisi signed with Verve Forecast, a major record label. She released her third album, Lost & Found (2007), which earned her two Grammy Award nominations. She went on to release six more albums with Verve. In 2020, Ledisi started her own record label, Listen Back Entertainment. Her song "Anything for You" from her album The Wild Card won a Grammy Award in 2021.

Besides music, Ledisi is also an actress. She has played famous singers like Mahalia Jackson in the films Selma (2014) and Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story (2022). She also appeared as Patti LaBelle in American Soul and Gladys Knight in Spinning Gold (2023).

Ledisi's Early Life and Talent

Ledisi was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and grew up in Oakland, California. She first performed publicly at age eight with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra.

She was shy about singing at first. But when she sang for her classmates, everyone was amazed by her voice. Her talent earned her a scholarship to study opera and piano at the University of California, Berkeley. After high school, she was nominated for an award for her role in the play The Wiz. This led her to join the San Francisco cabaret show, Beach Blanket Babylon.

While working at Beach Blanket Babylon, Ledisi also worked at a record shop and waited tables. She started performing in local clubs, which helped her become well-known in the Bay Area music scene.

Ledisi's Music Career Journey

Starting Her Music Path (1990s)

In 1990, Ledisi played the main character, Dorothy, in a play called The Wiz. Her performance earned her a Shellie Award nomination. She also joined the Beach Blanket Babylon show. She studied piano and opera at the University of California, Berkeley.

Ledisi formed her own funk band called Anibade. They performed around the San Francisco Bay Area, gaining popularity. When the band couldn't get a record deal, Ledisi and keyboardist Sundra Manning created their own label, LeSun Music.

First Albums and Awards (2000-2004)

In 2000, Ledisi released her first album, Soulsinger, with her band Anibade. The album was well-received and included the song "Take Time". In 2002, she released her second album, Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue. This album featured classic jazz songs. It won "Outstanding Jazz Album" at the California Music Awards in 2003.

Ledisi performed at the San Jose Jazz Festival in 2003. She also released a short album of live recordings. In 2004, Ledisi acted in the Broadway show Caroline, or Change.

Signing with Verve Records (2007-2010)

In 2006, Ledisi signed a big record deal with Verve Forecast. She released her third album, Lost & Found, in August 2007. This album reached number 10 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart. The song "Alright" became a hit.

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

In 2008, Ledisi's album Lost & Found earned her two nominations at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. She was nominated for Best R&B Album and Best New Artist. She also appeared in the movie Leatherheads as a blues singer. In September 2008, she released a Christmas album.

Her fifth album, Turn Me Loose, came out in August 2009. It reached the top of the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. This album also received two Grammy nominations.

Continued Success and New Ventures (2011-2019)

In June 2011, Ledisi released her sixth album, Pieces of Me. It was a big success, reaching number eight on the Billboard 200 chart. The title song, "Pieces of Me", became one of her most popular songs. Ledisi went on her first major tour, selling out many shows. The album earned her three Grammy nominations. In 2012, Ledisi released her first book, Better Than Alright: Finding Peace, Love & Power.

Her seventh album, The Truth, was released 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 April 2014, Ledisi played Mahalia Jackson in the film Selma. She sang "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" in the movie and on its soundtrack.

In May 2017, Ledisi released her eighth album, Let Love Rule. This album received three nominations at the 60th Grammy Awards. She also won a Soul Train Award. Ledisi performed tributes to famous singers like Anita Baker and Aretha Franklin. In 2019, she created her own one-woman show called The Legend of Little Girl Blue, which sold out in many cities.

Recent Albums and Grammy Win (2020-Present)

In January 2020, Ledisi released her second book, Don't Ever Lose Your Walk: How to Embrace Your Journey. Her ninth album, The Wild Card, was released in August 2020. This was the first album released on her own label, Listen Back Entertainment. The song "Anything for You" became her 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, which was her first Grammy win!

In 2021, Ledisi released a live album. She also released Ledisi Sings Nina in 2021, a tribute to Nina Simone. In March 2024, she released her eleventh album, Good Life. Its first song, "I Need to Know", also reached number one on the US Adult R&B Songs chart.

Ledisi's Amazing Voice and Music Style

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. Critics praise her voice for its wide range and clarity. 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 sounds instead of words.

Her music mixes different styles like R&B, jazz, funk, pop, and soul. Her first album was R&B, while her second album was more jazz. Ledisi wants people to see her as more than just an R&B singer. She studied classical music and loves to explore different musical worlds.

Who Inspired Ledisi?

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

Ledisi says Nina Simone is her biggest musical inspiration. Nina Simone's music helped Ledisi through tough times in her late twenties. In 2021, Ledisi released a tribute album called Ledisi Sings Nina, featuring songs by Simone. Ledisi was also greatly influenced by Curtis Mayfield. She performed a tribute concert for him in 2020.

Other singers who inspired Ledisi include Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Deniece Williams, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder. Ledisi also credits Diana Ross's performance in the movie The Wiz for inspiring her acting career. She also shared that Prince encouraged her to leave her record label.

Ledisi's Life and Community Work

Family Life

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

Ledisi was married earlier in her life. In 2018, she married director and actor Ronald T. Young. They appeared together on a TV show called Black Love.

Involvement in Politics

Ledisi has performed at events for Barack Obama, including a fundraiser in 2011 and the Democratic National Convention in 2012. In 2012, she was invited to the White House by First Lady Michelle Obama for a Women's History Month event. She also performed at a church service before President Obama's inauguration in 2013. Her song "Raise Up" was even on President Obama's campaign playlist. In 2023, Ledisi performed at the Juneteenth Concert at the White House.

Helping the Community

Ledisi is also an activist, working to help others. In 2017, she became an ambassador for the Black AIDS Institute. She wants to help educate people about HIV and AIDS and stop the negative ideas associated with them. She has spoken about how HIV affects African American women more than other groups.

In 2018, Ledisi spoke about the importance of music education. She supports laws that help schools offer more arts instruction, including music, dance, and theater. She believes that arts education is very valuable. In 2022, Ledisi became a professor and the first artist-in-residence at Berklee College of Music. She teaches students and creates workshops there.

Ledisi's Awards and Achievements

Ledisi has received many awards and honors throughout her career. 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 Black AIDS Institute for her work. In 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.

Ledisi's Business Ventures

Music Labels

In 1999, Ledisi co-founded her first independent record label, LeSun Music, with Sundra Manning. This label released three of her early albums. In 2019, Ledisi started another independent record label called Listen Back Entertainment. This company has released her recent albums, including her Grammy-winning album The Wild Card.

Production Companies

In 2014, Ledisi started a production company called Ledhead Productions. In 2016, she launched another company, Fig Street Films. This company produced her stage show Ledisi: The Legend of Little Girl Blue, which was about her life and Nina Simone's. In 2020, Fig Street Films also produced a live concert special for PBS. Ledisi also co-founded Chinweya Publishing Company, which published her second book.

Ledisi's Music Albums

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)

Ledisi's Concert Tours

Ledisi in Movies and TV Shows

Film Roles

Key

Denotes films that have not yet been released

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2008	Leatherheads	Blues Singer
2011	Leave It on the Floor	Princess' Mother
2014	Selma	Mahalia Jackson
2016	The Tale Of Four	Aunt Sara	Short film
2021	Twice Bitten	Jessica
	B-Boy Blues	Ann Walker
2022	Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story	Mahalia Jackson
	2023	Spinning Gold	Gladys Knight
TBA	Verona	Vesante	Post-production

Television Appearances

Ledisi's Theatre and Musical Roles