Biography

Leona Lewis rightfully deserves to be dubbed the next Amy Winehouse for the British singer is getting closer to breaking the States market. Her single "Bleeding Love" has become popular in the U.S. and claimed the 21st spot on Billboard Hot Singles chart in only four weeks after its release. "Spirit", her album that had gained novelty success in her home country, is slated to take impact in the States on April 8 with Americanizing approach taken through the assistance of Akon. The renown R'n'B singer has revealed that he produces the track "Forgive Me" for Lewis. With sterling cast behind the set, Lewis is giving the music industry the re-shakeup its been dying for. Furthermore, behind all the glamor and the success, Lewis spent a piece of her time to give back to the community by lending her single "Footprints on the Sand" as the official theme song for the 2008 Sports Relief. She also donated her designer dress for the campaign so that the proceed can aid vulnerable people in both the U.K. and the world's poorest countries. Like many hopefuls in U.K., Leona Louise Lewis were among those who lined up to get a chance for their talent to be recognized worldwide through "The X Factor". However, unlike just anybody, Lewis has cultivated her talent since she was very young. Having born on April 3, 1985 in Islington, North London, Lewis was used to art performances. Her social workers parents, Aural Josia and Marie Lewis let her enrolled education in Sylvia Young Theater School when she was only five. She then got a chance to continue the study to Italia Conti Academy which then had shaped her to become a songwriter. At the age of 13, Lewis has scribbled some notes and won local talent shows, shortly before graduating from BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology. Once setting foot on music, Lewis went full throttle in nabbing a chance to get a recording deal. She worked as a receptionist and pizza waitress to pay for recording sessions. Together with producer Marley J. Wills, she recorded a cover of Minnie Ripperton's "Loving You" that quickly gained interest from Sony. Although she was later on invited to have a meeting, Lewis' opportunity to showcase what she got did not come until she submitted her name to audition on an ITV reality show called "The X Factor". Shy in nature, it needed her boyfriend to persuade her to enter the competition in 2006. Singing "Over the Rainbow" she went through the first round and consequently, climbed her way up to the finals. Mentored by Simon Cowell, Lewis has gained popularity even before the show announced its winner. Her rendition of Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This" was pre-ordered by stores and when she finally came up as the winner of the talent show in December 2006, the song was downloaded in more than a million times within 30 minutes only. On December 24 that year, the single was officially announced as Christmas Number One. In fact, so popular was the song that it was submitted in the shortlist of Singles at 2007 BRIT Awards although in the end it failed to pass the final cut. However, Ivor Novello Awards honored the song as Best Selling British Single in 2007. As the winner of the show, Lewis was entitled to a one million pound worth of recording contract plus priceless opportunity to spread her wings. Her popularity soon spread to the States with producer Clive Davis claiming the right to sign her under J Records with five million pounds for five albums. Backed by David and Cowell in the production panel and Salaam Reimi as well as Kara DioGuardi in the songwriting credit, Lewis began working on her debut album, "Spirit". Released in November 2007 in Ireland and U.K., the album spawned "A Moment Like This" as the first single and "Bleeding Love" as the next one. The second single that was written by OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder and Jesse McCartney soon blew up to major success. It was sold 66,000 copies in the first week of its release and went on sitting at #1 on the U.K. Singles chart for seven consecutive weeks. Her venture in the U.S. was soon prepared the end of 2007. Her management team deliberately emptied any kind of tour from her schedule in order that she can concentrate making an album that will suit American market. R'n'B singer Akon was brought up as a collaborator in the album which was released in U.S. on April 18. Her second album meanwhile, has been planned to take impact in 2009. [h/t: aceshowbiz]