Leee John facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leee John
|
|
|---|---|
John performing in Olonne-sur-Mer
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Leslie McGregor John |
| Born | 23 June 1957 Hackney, London, England |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Labels |
|
| Associated acts | Imagination, Byron Stingily, Junior Giscombe Noel McKoy, Don-E |
Leee John, born Leslie McGregor John on June 23, 1957, is an English musician, singer, and actor. His family comes from Saint Lucia. He became famous as the lead singer of the soul band Imagination. This band had three songs reach the top 10 in the UK in the early 1980s. Leee John is known for his unique high-pitched voice and his exciting stage outfits.
Early Life and Beginnings
Leee John was born in Hackney, London. He later moved to New York City for his education. He also studied acting at the Anna Scher Theatre School.
His mother, Jessie Stevens, was born in 1927. She moved from Saint Lucia to Britain in 1955 with her husband. She was the first Black woman to work at Companies House. Jessie Stevens is part of the "Windrush Generation." This name refers to people who came to the UK from Caribbean countries after World War II.
She is well-known in the St Lucian community. In 1982, Queen Elizabeth gave her an award called an MBE. This was for her work with the Haringey Police Liaison Group. This group helped improve relationships between the police and the community.
When Leee was a young child, he moved to New York City with his father. His parents had divorced. At age 10 or 11, he signed with a record label. He worked as a background singer for famous groups like The Delfonics.
His father wanted him to focus on studying, not music. As a teenager, Leee moved back to England to live with his mother. While in college, he recorded an album with a family friend. However, it did not become very successful.
Music Career and Acting
Leee John was still a background singer when he met Ashley Ingram. Ashley was a guitarist and bassist. They started writing songs together. They formed a short-lived band called Fizzz.
Later, Leee, Ashley, and Errol Kennedy formed the band Imagination. This three-person soul music band started in the early 1980s. They named the band after the John Lennon song "Imagine." John Lennon had passed away a year before.
The band worked with famous producer Trevor Horn. They were then discovered by the production team Jolley & Swain. This team produced their first hit song, "Body Talk." It reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1981. Their biggest hit was "Just an Illusion." It reached number 2 in March 1982.
Imagination often appeared on TV shows like Top of the Pops. The band released seven albums in total. The most famous ones were Body Talk (1981), In the Heat of the Night (1982), and Scandalous (1983).
In 1983, Leee John made a guest appearance in the TV show Doctor Who. He played a character named Mansell. He took over the role at the last minute. The band continued to perform and record until the early 1990s.
Leee John went back to acting for a while. In 2003, he appeared on the reality TV show Reborn in the USA. Other singers like Elkie Brooks were also on the show.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he released several dance songs. These included "Your Mind, Your Body, Your Soul." He also worked with Byron Stingily on "U Turn Me." In 2005, Leee John released a jazz album called Feel My Soul. It had both jazz classics and new songs. Since then, he has toured with his jazz band. He also still performs with Imagination.
Leee John is an ambassador for SOS Children's Villages. This is a charity that helps children who have lost their parents. It provides homes and care for them. He supports their yearly World Orphan Week campaign. In 2012, he performed at the Leicester Square Theatre.
In 2020, Leee John was featured on the song "The Lost Chord" by the band Gorillaz. This song was part of their Song Machine project.
In 2023, Leee John and his mother, Jessie Stephens, were invited to a special birthday celebration. It was for King Charles at his Highgrove House in Gloucestershire.
Discography
- Feel My Soul (2005)
- Live in Paris at the New Morning (2007)
- The Voice of Illusion Vol. 1 (2008)
- Now Is the Time (2008)
- Intimate Glow, with Bill Sharpe (2024)
