Leyla McCalla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leyla McCalla
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Leyla McCalla in concert with the Carolina Chocolate Drops in September 2012
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Leyla Sarah McCalla
October 3, 1985 New York City, United States
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Leyla Sarah McCalla, born on October 3, 1985, is a talented American musician. She plays classical and folk music. She used to be the cellist for the Carolina Chocolate Drops, a band that won a Grammy Award. Later, she decided to focus on her own music career.
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About Leyla McCalla's Life
Her Family and Roots
Leyla McCalla's parents were both born in Haiti. Her father, Jocelyn McCalla, worked for a group called the National Coalition for Haitian Rights. He helped translate songs for one of Leyla's albums.
Her mother, Régine Dupuy, moved to the United States when she was five years old. Régine's father, Ben Dupuy, ran a Haitian newspaper in New York called Haïti Progrès. Leyla's mother also started an organization called Dwa Fanm, which helps people who have experienced domestic violence. Leyla's younger sister, Sabine McCalla, is also a musician in New Orleans.
Growing Up and Learning Music
Leyla McCalla was born in Queens, New York City. She grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, and went to Columbia High School. When she was a teenager, she lived in Accra, Ghana for two years.
After high school, she studied at Smith College for a year. Then, she moved to New York University to study how to play the cello and chamber music. In 2010, she moved to New Orleans. There, she practiced her music by playing on the streets of the French Quarter. Besides the cello, she also plays the banjo and guitar.
Leyla McCalla's Music Career
Playing in Bands
From 2011 to 2013, Leyla McCalla was a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. This was a popular string band. As of 2019, she is also a member of a group called Our Native Daughters.
Touring with Her Groups
In 2017, Leyla McCalla toured with her trio from New Orleans. This group included Daniel Tremblay, who played guitar, banjo, and a musical iron triangle. Free Feral also joined them, singing and playing guitar.
From 2019 to 2020, Leyla McCalla toured with her Leyla McCalla Quartet. This group featured other musicians from New Orleans. Dave Hammer played electric guitar, Shawn Myers played drums and percussion, and Pete Olynciw played electric and acoustic bass.
Her First Album: Vari-Colored Songs
Leyla McCalla's first album, Vari-Colored Songs, received great reviews. It was a special tribute to the famous poet Langston Hughes. The album included songs based on his poems, Haitian folk songs sung in Haitian Creole, and new songs she wrote herself.
McCalla shared that the first song she wrote for the album was "Heart of Gold." She felt it helped her understand Hughes's thoughts. She chose to dedicate the album to Hughes because reading his work inspired her to become an artist. She worked on this album for five years before it was released.
People who listened to the album noticed influences from Louisiana music. These included old Cajun fiddle tunes and traditional jazz banjo sounds. Members of the Carolina Chocolate Drops also played on the album. Leyla McCalla helped fund the album through a crowdfunding campaign. She aimed to raise $5,000 but ended up raising $20,000!
Leyla McCalla's Albums
- Vari-Colored Songs: A Tribute to Langston Hughes (Released February 4, 2014, by Music Maker)
- A Day for the Hunter, A Day for the Prey (Released May 20, 2016, by Jazz Village/Harmonia Mundi)
- Capitalist Blues (Released January 25, 2019, by Jazz Village/PIAS)
- Breaking the Thermometer (Released May 6, 2022, by Anti-)
- Sun Without the Heat (Released April 12, 2024, by Anti-)
Albums with Other Artists
- Carolina Chocolate Drops: Leaving Eden (Released February 24, 2012, by Nonesuch)
- Our Native Daughters: Songs of Our Native Daughters (Released February 22, 2019, by Smithsonian Folkways)
See also
In Spanish: Leyla McCalla para niños
