The Early Life of Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis was born in Highbury, in the London borough of Islington, to parents Aural Josiah, an Afro-Caribbean Guyanese youth worker, and Maria Lewis, a social worker of Welsh descent. At the age of five, she attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School, and later the Italia Conti Academy and the BRIT School.
Lewis wrote her first song at the age of twelve, and won a number of talent competitions. After leaving school, Lewis took a number of jobs to pay to get into a recording studio, including waitressing and several receptionist jobs.
She wrote and recorded a number of songs including a demo album of her own songs called Twilight, but the album was never released.
When she was fifteen years old, she recorded a version of Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You" with music producer Marley J. Wills, after which Lewis and Wills were invited to the U.S. by Sony.
Wills commented that "Leona could hit the notes and I think she did it better than the original."
When her career seemed to be going nowhere, she was considering quitting the music industry until her boyfriend persuaded her to enter The X Factor.
After The X Factor Show From The UK
A four-track download EP, "It's All for You", that she recorded before entering The X Factor was released digitally on 18 December 2006, through The Schizofreniks record label. However, the single did not chart.
In February 2007, Lewis signed a £5 million ($9.7 million) five album contract in the United States with Clive Davis's record label, J Records, and showcased for several American music executives at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
On 16 January 2007, "A Moment like This" was shortlisted for the British Single award at the 2007 BRIT Awards. It made it to the second round but was eliminated and did not make it to the final selection. In May, it was awarded the Ivor Novello Award for Best Selling British Single.
Leona Lewis Videos
Great Leona Lewis stuff on Amazon
Spirit
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/02/2008) 
Spirit (Deluxe Edition) (Incl. Bonus Tracks and Bonus DVD) (PAL Version)
Amazon Price: $26.99 (as of 12/02/2008)
Bleeding Love
Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2008)
Best Kept Secret
Amazon Price: $43.98 (as of 12/02/2008)
Bleeding Love
Amazon Price: $11.98 (as of 12/02/2008)
Leona Lewis Buzz
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byYour Feedback
Like this lens? Want to share your feedback, or just give a thumbs up? Be the first to submit a blurb!
Leona Lewis Videos
15 year old Leona Lewis singing - Loving You (old recording)
NOTE: This is an audio recording that leona did when she was 15 years old, the video was made by ME and shows her on the x-factor when she was 21. Not my best video, but I wanted to share the song more than anything. Its an amazing find. -----News Article with Marley about this track-------- When former Brit School pupil Leona takes to the stage for Saturday's The X Factor final, a music producer from Upper Norwood will be dreaming of what might have been. Marley J Wills, a 32-year-old father of four, told the Croydon Guardian how he recorded several tracks with Leona when she was just 15-years-old. Together, Marley said they generated interest from record producers overseas. However, shortly before the pair were due to travel to the US, Marley was told Leona would instead be going with her dad and he never saw her again. Speaking about the first time they met, Marley, a teaching assistant at Cypress Infant School, said: "I was singing in a studio in Tooting, putting material together because there was a showcase coming up, and Leona came through the door. According to Marley, an American record company contacted him after seeing them perform together. "For someone so young it was going to be mega," Marley added, "We started putting more material together and they met with us and said they wanted Leona to sing a version of Minnie Ripperton's Loving You. "She was young and innocent but very much able. Even then she had a very good voice. We started putting tracks together straight away." "Leona could hit the notes and I think she did it better than the original. We were very excited about it and then time passed and we got a phone call saying they would send tickets. "But Leona's dad decided he was going to America beforehand and that he would take her with him. I never saw her again until I saw her on the television." Marley insists he is not bitter and said he was happy to help Leona in some small way. "I was born to sing so I would just help everybody," he said. "I always try to take negative and put positive there. I was disappointed at the time but it put me into another situation and now I have a new producer." Marley, who also once sang in a group with another X Factor finalist, Robert Allen, said he will be voting for Leona to win the popular contest on Saturday night. "Leona's great. I'd love her to win if just for the fact that I knew her. Leona has got what it takes to become phenomenal." http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/search/display.var.1070167.0.happy_times_recording_track_with_x_factor_finalist_leona.php Leona Lewis
Runtime: 5:10 | 1125790 views | 1656 Comments
