Leon and the Peoples
Encyclopedia
Leon & The Peoples is a ‘reggae-soul’ band. Lead vocals by actor and singer/songwriter Leon. They have performed live across the nation.
Leon
, actor and singer/songwriter, starred in the Disney film “Cool Runnings
.” Leon has also appeared on television with a re-occurring role on NBC
’s “Crossing Jordan
,” also on the HBO series “Oz
”. Leon’s passion for music was first seen with fans as he portrayed singer David Ruffin
in the award winning “The Temptations Mini-Series” and in both “The Little Richard Story” and “The Five Heartbeats
”. Leon made his singing debut playing a reggae singer in “The Price of Kissing” in which he sang a reggae rendition of “Daddy’s Home”. In 2008, Leon & The Peoples song, "Life Is A Funny Game" is featured as the closing credit song on the 20th Century Fox movie "Cover" directed by Bill Duke.
Leon & The Peoples has been on BET
’s “106 and Park” and have headlined the concert in Central Park celebrating the NYC AIDS WALK (2003–2009). Leon & The Peoples performed at NYC Summer Stage and The International Music and Arts Festival in New Orleans, LA. and other Reggae festivals from coast to coast. In 2007 was billed alongside reggae greats, Beres Hammond and Marcia Griffiths for the "For The Love of It Tour", playing many sold out dates including House of Blues in LA, San Diego and Atlantic City as well as the Roxy - Boston, BB Kings - NYC & Hard Rock Live in Orlando to name a few. When asked why he dubbed his music "Reggae-Soul" he stated “My music has soul influences, so just saying my music is straight up reggae wouldn’t be accurate,” Leon offers. “It’s basically music for everyone. One good thing with us is that people say it’s hard not to like the album because it doesn’t pinpoint any demographic, its just good music.” Leon doesn't have any direct Caribbean
roots. When asked how he got into reggae music he expressed that it is Reggae music that got into him. As a young boy at the age of 11, he heard Bob Marley
's “Natty Dread
” coming out of a friends window and Leon was hooked. He travels back and forth to Jamaica as an actor so it has become an adopted homeland. Even before he formed Leon & The Peoples, he was involved in reggae music for years, hosting almost every Reggae show imaginable, having friends in the Jamaican music industry, and portraying Jamaicans in some of his movie roles such as Derice Bannock in Cool Runnings . And taking an active role in issues affecting Jamaica. Leon has worked extensively with Upliftment Jamaica, which is a social service organization aimed at providing recreation
, education
, and health services for St. Thomas
.
is featured on the cover of the track “Bottles and Cans” which was originally sung by Angie Stone
. Numerous of people dedicated their time and talent to make this album something special. Including Beres Hammond
who produced the track “New Day.” Tony Rebel, also put his classic reggae style to the track “Working Man
” and Tanto Metro of the duo known as (Tanto Metro and Devante) offered his energy to the R&B classic "Second That Emotion" originally performed by Smokey Robinson
and The Miracles
. The track listing of the album "The Road Less Traveled" can be found here Track Listing. The album has 13 tracks which include the smooth sultry track "Will You Be My Wife" and another cover of the song "Lovely Day."
Leon
Leon Robinson
Leon Preston Robinson IV usually credited as simply Leon, is an American actor and singer, who began his professional career as an actor in 1981.-Personal life:...
, actor and singer/songwriter, starred in the Disney film “Cool Runnings
Cool Runnings
Cool Runnings is a 1993 comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub. It is loosely based on the true story of the Jamaica national bobsled team's debut in the bobsleigh competition of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta. It stars Leon Robinson, Doug E. Doug, Malik Yoba, and Rawle D...
.” Leon has also appeared on television with a re-occurring role on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
’s “Crossing Jordan
Crossing Jordan
Crossing Jordan is an American television crime/drama series that aired on NBC from September 24, 2001 to May 16, 2007. It stars Jill Hennessy as Jordan Cavanaugh, M.D., a crime-solving forensic pathologist employed in the Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Medical Examiner's Office...
,” also on the HBO series “Oz
Oz (TV series)
Oz is an American television drama series created by Tom Fontana, who also wrote or co-wrote all of the series' 56 episodes . It was the first one-hour dramatic television series to be produced by premium cable network HBO. Oz premiered on July 12, 1997 and ran for six seasons...
”. Leon’s passion for music was first seen with fans as he portrayed singer David Ruffin
David Ruffin
Davis Eli "David" Ruffin was an American soul singer and musician most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations from 1964 to 1968...
in the award winning “The Temptations Mini-Series” and in both “The Little Richard Story” and “The Five Heartbeats
The Five Heartbeats
The Five Heartbeats is a 1991 musical drama film directed by Robert Townsend, who co-wrote the script with Keenan Ivory Wayans. Distributed by 20th Century Fox, the film's main cast includes Townsend, Michael Wright, Leon Robinson, Harry J. Lennix, Tico Wells, Harold Nicholas of the Nicholas...
”. Leon made his singing debut playing a reggae singer in “The Price of Kissing” in which he sang a reggae rendition of “Daddy’s Home”. In 2008, Leon & The Peoples song, "Life Is A Funny Game" is featured as the closing credit song on the 20th Century Fox movie "Cover" directed by Bill Duke.
Leon & The Peoples has been on BET
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
’s “106 and Park” and have headlined the concert in Central Park celebrating the NYC AIDS WALK (2003–2009). Leon & The Peoples performed at NYC Summer Stage and The International Music and Arts Festival in New Orleans, LA. and other Reggae festivals from coast to coast. In 2007 was billed alongside reggae greats, Beres Hammond and Marcia Griffiths for the "For The Love of It Tour", playing many sold out dates including House of Blues in LA, San Diego and Atlantic City as well as the Roxy - Boston, BB Kings - NYC & Hard Rock Live in Orlando to name a few. When asked why he dubbed his music "Reggae-Soul" he stated “My music has soul influences, so just saying my music is straight up reggae wouldn’t be accurate,” Leon offers. “It’s basically music for everyone. One good thing with us is that people say it’s hard not to like the album because it doesn’t pinpoint any demographic, its just good music.” Leon doesn't have any direct Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
roots. When asked how he got into reggae music he expressed that it is Reggae music that got into him. As a young boy at the age of 11, he heard Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
's “Natty Dread
Natty Dread
Natty Dread is a 1974 reggae album by Bob Marley & The Wailers. An important transition in Marley's discography, Natty Dread was the first album released as Bob Marley & the Wailers and the first recorded without former bandmates Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer...
” coming out of a friends window and Leon was hooked. He travels back and forth to Jamaica as an actor so it has become an adopted homeland. Even before he formed Leon & The Peoples, he was involved in reggae music for years, hosting almost every Reggae show imaginable, having friends in the Jamaican music industry, and portraying Jamaicans in some of his movie roles such as Derice Bannock in Cool Runnings . And taking an active role in issues affecting Jamaica. Leon has worked extensively with Upliftment Jamaica, which is a social service organization aimed at providing recreation
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, and health services for St. Thomas
Saint Thomas Parish, Jamaica
Saint Thomas is a suburban parish that is situated at the south eastern end of Jamaica, in the county of Surrey. It is the birth place of The right Honorable Paul Bogle, one of Jamaica's seven National Heroes...
.
The Road Less Traveled
The Road Less Traveled is The Peoples' debut album. Leon has stated that “It was important that we took the time to nurture our sound and perform live as much as possible before recording our first album. The Road Less Traveled is the culmination of years of hard work and harnessing the energy and creative vision of a great team. We put together something very special to share.” The album was produced at Pulse Studios in New York City. Syleena JohnsonSyleena Johnson
Syleena Johnson is a Grammy award-nominated American R&B and soul singer-songwriter and actress.-Biography:...
is featured on the cover of the track “Bottles and Cans” which was originally sung by Angie Stone
Angie Stone
Angie Stone is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She has been nominated for three Grammy Award. She is more successful on the charts R&B charts, with four Top 10 albums, forms including a number one album and 10 singles on the R&B chart,...
. Numerous of people dedicated their time and talent to make this album something special. Including Beres Hammond
Beres Hammond
Beres Hammond is a reggae singer known in particular for his romantic lovers rock and soulful voice...
who produced the track “New Day.” Tony Rebel, also put his classic reggae style to the track “Working Man
Working Man
"Working Man" is a song by rock band Rush from its debut album, Rush. On the live album All the World's a Stage, the song segues directly into "Finding My Way" and one of Neil Peart's drum solos....
” and Tanto Metro of the duo known as (Tanto Metro and Devante) offered his energy to the R&B classic "Second That Emotion" originally performed by Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
and The Miracles
The Miracles
The Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
. The track listing of the album "The Road Less Traveled" can be found here Track Listing. The album has 13 tracks which include the smooth sultry track "Will You Be My Wife" and another cover of the song "Lovely Day."
Personnel
- LeonLeon RobinsonLeon Preston Robinson IV usually credited as simply Leon, is an American actor and singer, who began his professional career as an actor in 1981.-Personal life:...
(Lead Vocals) - Rupert McKenzie (Bass)
- Gary ‘Ruben’ Steel (Drums)
- Ctarino ‘Eugene’ Medina (Key Board)
- Antonio ‘Alex’ Solynn (Guitar)
- Curtis Bailey (Electric Sax)
- Patrice Anthony (Background Vocals)
- Cathy ‘Alexis’ Layne (Background Vocals)
- Leslie Rochelle (Background Vocals)
- Rohan ‘MixRoh’ Dyer (Engineer/Roadie)
- Victor E. Lewis (Manager)