Maysa Leak

Maysa Leak
Birth name Maysa Leak
Also known as Maysa
Born August 16, 1966 (1966-08-16) (age 45)
Origin Baltimore, Maryland,
United States
Genres Jazz, R&B/Soul
Occupations Singer, record producer
Years active 1991-present
Labels Blue Note, Dome, Warlock, N-Coded, Expansion Records, Shanachie
Website http://www.maysa.com

Maysa Leak (born August 16, 1966) 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.

Contents

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.[1] After high school she studied music at Morgan State University 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.

Career

After receiving her degree from Morgan State University, 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.

Discography

Maysa (1995)

  1. Prelude
  2. What About Our Love?
  3. Black Heaven
  4. Sexy
  5. More Than You Know
  6. Can We Change the World?
  7. Goodbye Manhattan
  8. J.F.S.
  9. Let It Go
  10. Alone at Last
  11. Rain Drops
  12. Peace of Mind
  13. Goodbye
  14. Shelley Estt Bellee

All My Life (2000)

  1. Got to Be Strong
  2. Mirrors
  3. The Bottle
  4. Aria de la Mia Vita
  5. All My Life
  6. Pressure
  7. Sunshine
  8. Blue Light
  9. Shadows and the Light
  10. Hooked on Your Love
  11. Earth Child
  12. Compliments
  13. Closure
  14. Untitled

Out of the Blue (2002)

  1. Friendly Pressure
  2. Out of the Blue
  3. Spirit (Interlude)
  4. Head to the Sky
  5. Simple Life
  6. Right Here Right Now
  7. MSDF (Interlude)
  8. Mr. So Damn Fine (written by Maysa Leak and Kimberly Brewer)
  9. I Want You (Interlude)
  10. Blue Horizon
  11. Osaka
  12. Everything
  13. Tailor Made Love (written by Robbie Nevil and Kimberly Brewer)
  14. If It's Love
  15. Thank You (Interlude)
  16. Family Affair

Smooth Sailing (2004)

  1. Hypnotic Love
  2. Smooth Sailing
  3. Soul Child
  4. Scat World
  5. Where Do You Go?
  6. So Very Hot
  7. All Day Long
  8. Time for Love
  9. Where Have You Been?
  10. One More Chance
  11. Unexpectedly

Sweet Classic Soul (2006)

  1. Wishing on a Star
  2. Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love)
  3. All I Do
  4. Love Won't Let Me Wait
  5. Come Go With Me
  6. Betcha by Golly, Wow
  7. Playing Your Game, Baby
  8. Love Comes Easy
  9. Any Love
  10. The First Time (Ever I Saw Your Face)

Feel the Fire (2007)

  1. I Can't Help It
  2. You Are My Starship
  3. Happy Feeling
  4. I Don't Want To Lose Your Love
  5. Feel The Fire
  6. Zoom
  7. Send For Me
  8. I'm In Love
  9. This Time I'll Be Sweeter
  10. Ain't No Sunshine

Metamorphosis (2008)

  1. Simpatico
  2. My Destiny
  3. Never Really Ever
  4. Let's Figure It Out (A Song for Bluey)
  5. I Need a Man
  6. Higher Love
  7. Take Me Away
  8. Happy Feelings
  9. Love So True
  10. Walk Away
  11. Grateful
  12. A Conversation with the Universe

A Woman in Love (2010)

  1. Am I Wrong (For Lovin You)
  2. Love Theory (ft Will Downing)
  3. Round Midnight
  4. Spend Some Time
  5. What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?
  6. Woman in Love
  7. The Lady in My Life
  8. Willow Weep for Me
  9. Honey Bee
  10. I Put a Spell on You
  11. When I Fall in Love

Motions of Love (2011)

  1. Get Wit Me
  2. Come Dance With Me
  3. Day N Night
  4. Flower Girl (feat. Dwele)
  5. Have Sweet Dreams (written by Stevie Wonder and Kimberly Brewer)
  6. Motions Of Love
  7. You Won't Find Your Way
  8. When It's Over
  9. Love Sweet Love (LSL)
  10. Hold On
  11. I Try
  12. When It's Over (Reprise)
  13. Your Name's Not On The List
  14. Special Place

Live at the Birchmere (2011)

  1. Maysa Live 2010 Opening
  2. A Woman In Love
  3. Let's Figure It Out / The Bottle
  4. Hooked On Your Love
  5. Sexy
  6. Hypnotic Love
  7. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
  8. Round Midnight
  9. I Put A Spell On You
  10. Honeybee
  11. Never Really Ever
  12. Grateful
  13. Out Of The Blue
  14. Don't Wanna Lose Your Love
  15. What About Your Love
  16. Soul Child
  17. Can We Change The World
  18. You Are My Starship
  19. Mr. So Damn Fine

References and notes

  1. ^ Baltimore County Public Schools Famous Alumni

External links