Maysa Leak
Encyclopedia
Maysa Leak is an American jazz
singer better known by her mononym Maysa. She is well known by fans of smooth jazz
both for her solo work and for her work with the British band Incognito
.
in Baltimore City and graduated with a degree in classical performance. There she performed as a member of the world famous Morgan State University Choir under the direction of the late Nathan Carter, Maysa met performer Stevie Wonder
during a college performance.
, Maysa headed to Southern California
to perform with Stevie Wonder
’s female backup group Wonderlove, While with Wonder, Maysa was a vocalist on the Jungle Fever soundtrack and performed on numerous television shows including The Arsenio Hall Show, Oprah
and The Tonight Show
.
It was during an over-the-telephone audition in the early 90s, that Maysa become a member of the acclaimed British jazz/funk/R&B band Incognito
and in 1992 she relocated to London
and recorded Tribes, Vibes & Scribes, featuring the hit single "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing." Since then, Maysa has appeared on over seven Incognito recordings.
Maysa recorded her self-titled debut in 1995, followed by her second album All My Life in 2000, Out of The Blue in 2002, Smooth Sailing in 2004, Sweet Classic Soul in 2006, and now Feel The Fire, 2007. In 2008, Metamorphosis peaked at No.1 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz top 100 chart and no.13 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. In 2010, "A Woman in Love", Maysa 7th Solo cd Debut at No.1 on the Contemporary Jazz Charts.
Maysa has also collaborated with well-known jazz performers like Gerald Veasley, Rick Braun, Will Downing, Jason Miles' Soul Summit, Rhythm Logic, Jonathan Butler and Pieces of a Dream.
Maysa Leak is a spokesperson for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a disease that can be fatal to premature babies. She appears in RSV PSA
commercials, with her son Jazz, sponsored for the March of Dimes
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
singer better known by her mononym Maysa. She is well known by fans of smooth jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
both for her solo work and for her work with the British band Incognito
Incognito (band)
Incognito is a British band, as well as one of the members of the United Kingdom's acid jazz movement. Their debut album, Jazz Funk, was released in 1981, with thirteen more albums following, the last of which, Transatlantic RPM, was released in 2010....
.
Biographical sketch
Maysa continues to live in Baltimore, Maryland. She has a son named Jazz.Education
She attended Milford Mill High School in western Baltimore County. After high school she studied music at Morgan State UniversityMorgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
in Baltimore City and graduated with a degree in classical performance. There she performed as a member of the world famous Morgan State University Choir under the direction of the late Nathan Carter, Maysa met performer Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
during a college performance.
Career
After receiving her degree from Morgan State UniversityMorgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
, Maysa headed to Southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to perform with Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
’s female backup group Wonderlove, While with Wonder, Maysa was a vocalist on the Jungle Fever soundtrack and performed on numerous television shows including The Arsenio Hall Show, Oprah
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
and The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
.
It was during an over-the-telephone audition in the early 90s, that Maysa become a member of the acclaimed British jazz/funk/R&B band Incognito
Incognito (band)
Incognito is a British band, as well as one of the members of the United Kingdom's acid jazz movement. Their debut album, Jazz Funk, was released in 1981, with thirteen more albums following, the last of which, Transatlantic RPM, was released in 2010....
and in 1992 she relocated to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and recorded Tribes, Vibes & Scribes, featuring the hit single "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing." Since then, Maysa has appeared on over seven Incognito recordings.
Maysa recorded her self-titled debut in 1995, followed by her second album All My Life in 2000, Out of The Blue in 2002, Smooth Sailing in 2004, Sweet Classic Soul in 2006, and now Feel The Fire, 2007. In 2008, Metamorphosis peaked at No.1 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz top 100 chart and no.13 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. In 2010, "A Woman in Love", Maysa 7th Solo cd Debut at No.1 on the Contemporary Jazz Charts.
Maysa has also collaborated with well-known jazz performers like Gerald Veasley, Rick Braun, Will Downing, Jason Miles' Soul Summit, Rhythm Logic, Jonathan Butler and Pieces of a Dream.
Maysa Leak is a spokesperson for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a disease that can be fatal to premature babies. She appears in RSV PSA
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
commercials, with her son Jazz, sponsored for the March of Dimes
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
.
Maysa (1995)
- Prelude
- What About Our Love?
- Black Heaven
- Sexy
- More Than You Know
- Can We Change the World?
- Goodbye Manhattan
- J.F.S.
- Let It Go
- Alone at Last
- Rain Drops
- Peace of Mind
- Goodbye
- Shelley Estt Bellee
All My Life (2000)
- Got to Be Strong
- Mirrors
- The BottleThe Bottle"The Bottle" is a song by American soul artist Gil Scott-Heron and musician Brian Jackson, released in 1974 on Strata-East Records in the United States. It was later reissued during the mid-1980s on Champagne Records in the United Kingdom. "The Bottle" was written by Scott-Heron and produced by...
- Aria de la Mia Vita
- All My Life
- Pressure
- Sunshine
- Blue Light
- Shadows and the Light
- Hooked on Your Love
- Earth Child
- Compliments
- Closure
- Untitled
Out of the Blue (2002)
- Friendly Pressure
- Out of the Blue
- Spirit (Interlude)
- Head to the Sky
- Simple Life
- Right Here Right Now
- MSDF (Interlude)
- Mr. So Damn Fine (written by Maysa Leak and Kimberly Brewer)
- I Want You (Interlude)
- Blue Horizon
- Osaka
- Everything
- Tailor Made Love (written by Robbie Nevil and Kimberly Brewer)
- If It's Love
- Thank You (Interlude)
- Family Affair
Smooth Sailing (2004)
- Hypnotic Love
- Smooth Sailing
- Soul Child
- Scat World
- Where Do You Go?
- So Very Hot
- All Day Long
- Time for Love
- Where Have You Been?
- One More Chance
- Unexpectedly
Sweet Classic Soul (2006)
- Wishing on a StarWishing on a Star"Wishing on a Star" is a 1978 hit single by Rose Royce for Whitfield Records.-Background:Included on their second album, Rose Royce II: In Full Bloom, "Wishing on a Star" is a slow ballad written by Billie Rae Calvin and produced by Norman Whitfield. The lyrics concern a woman longing for the...
- Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love)Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love)"Don't Say Goodnight " is a 1980 quiet storm soul record by The Isley Brothers, released on their T-Neck imprint. The song, which was released as an answer of sorts to Teddy Pendergrass' hit, "Turn Off the Lights", was an ode to love sung by Ronald Isley who begs his lady in his trademark falsetto...
- All I Do
- Love Won't Let Me WaitLove Won't Let Me Wait"Love Won't Let Me Wait" is a 1975 single by Major Harris, a former member of R&B/soul group The Delfonics. Written by Vinnie Barrett and Bobby Eli, the single is considered to be a staple of classic soul playlists and was Harris' only entry into the top five on both the soul and pop charts...
- Come Go With Me
- Betcha by Golly, Wow
- Playing Your Game, Baby
- Love Comes Easy
- Any LoveMasterjamMasterjam is the eighth studio album by funk band Rufus , their debut on the MCA Records label following their purchase and dissolution of ABC Records, released in 1979.-History:...
- The First Time (Ever I Saw Your Face)The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a 1957 folk song written by British political singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger, who was later to become his wife. At the time the couple were lovers, although MacColl was married to someone else. MacColl and Seeger included the song in their...
Feel the Fire (2007)
- I Can't Help ItOff the Wall (album)Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by the American recording artist Michael Jackson, released August 10, 1979 on Epic Records, after Jackson's critically well received film performance in The Wiz. While working on that project, Jackson and Quincy Jones had become friends, and Jones agreed to...
- You Are My Starship
- Happy Feeling
- I Don't Want To Lose Your Love
- Feel The Fire
- ZoomCommodores (album)Commodores is a self-titled album released in 1977 by the Commodores. The album spent eight weeks atop the R&B/Soul Albums chart as their second album to do so, and was their first Top 5 Pop Album.-Reception:...
- Send For Me
- I'm In Love
- This Time I'll Be SweeterThis Time I'll Be SweeterThis Time I'll Be Sweeter is a soul ballad written by Haras Fyre and Gwen Guthrie.In her autobiography Dancing in the Street Martha Reeves states she made the first recording of the song but the first evident release was a version by Linda Lewis which appeared on the 1975 album Not a Little Girl...
- Ain't No Sunshine
Metamorphosis (2008)
- Simpatico
- My Destiny
- Never Really Ever
- Let's Figure It Out (A Song for Bluey)
- I Need a Man
- Higher Love
- Take Me Away
- Happy Feelings
- Love So True
- Walk Away
- Grateful
- A Conversation with the Universe
A Woman in Love (2010)
- Am I Wrong (For Lovin You)
- Love Theory (ft Will DowningWill DowningWill Downing , is an American singer-songwriter and producer. Downing is known in the contemporary jazz and R&B music genres for his rich baritone vocals, and his interpretations of R&B and pop classics that stretch back to the early 1980s...
) - Round Midnight'Round Midnight (song)Round Midnight" is a 1944 jazz standard by pianist Thelonious Monk. Jazz artists Cootie Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Pepper, and Miles Davis have further embellished the song, with songwriter Bernie Hanighen adding lyrics...
- Spend Some Time
- What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?"What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" is a song with lyrics written by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman and original music written by Michel Legrand for the 1969 film The Happy Ending in which Bill Eaton sings it under the opening credits...
- Woman in Love
- The Lady in My LifeThriller (album)Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on November 30, 1982, by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall...
- Willow Weep for MeWillow Weep for Me"Willow Weep for Me" is a popular song composed in 1932 by Ann Ronell, who also wrote the lyrics. It is mostly known as a jazz standard, but it was a Top 40 hit for the British duo Chad & Jeremy in 1964.-Notable recordings:...
- Honey Bee
- I Put a Spell on YouI Put a Spell on You"I Put a Spell on You" is a 1956 song written by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, whose recording was selected as one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It was also ranked #320 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.Although Hawkins'...
- When I Fall in LoveWhen I Fall in Love"When I Fall in Love" is a 1952 popular song recorded by many artists.When I Fall in Love may also refer to:* When I Fall in Love , an album by Chris Botti, with a version of the 1952 song...
Motions of Love (2011)
- To be released November 8, 2011
- Get Wit Me
- Come Dance With Me
- Day N Night
- Flower Girl (feat. DweleDweleAndwele Gardner , better known by his stage name Dwele is a soul singer, songwriter and record producer from Detroit, Michigan.-Biography:...
) - Have Sweet Dreams (written by Stevie Wonder and Kimberly Brewer)
- Motions Of Love
- You Won't Find Your Way
- When It's Over
- Love Sweet Love (LSL)
- Hold On
- I Try
- When It's Over (Reprise)
- Your Name's Not On The List
- Special Place