Leona Lewis

by itemvn  |  December 09, 2007 [Edit]

Leona Louise Lewis (born 3 April 1985) is an English singer-songwriter and winner of the third series of the popular television talent show The X Factor.
Her debut single, "A Moment like This", was released in December 2006, breaking a world record after it was downloaded fifty thousand times within thirty minutes.

Her debut album, Spirit, was released in November 2007, and became the fastest selling debut album ever in both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It is claimed Lewis will be the first winner of a major television talent show in either the UK or U.S. to be given a major global launch with the release of the album.

Lewis always wanted to get into music and at the age of five her parents sent her to the Sylvia Young Theatre School, despite fearing it would cripple them financially. She also attended performing arts academy Italia Conti in Goswell Road, Islington and the BRIT School.

Lewis wrote her first song at the age of twelve, and at the age of thirteen she won the Lady D under-eighteen talent show at the Hackney Empire. In 2004 she won the Yates's Wannabe Talent Contest, singing Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby".

She 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 US by Sony.

In the 30 November 2007 edition of American magazine Entertainment Weekly, Lewis was included among "8 to Watch in '08" in their 2007 "Entertainer of the Year" issue. The list of entertainers expected to become household names in the coming year describes Lewis as "the next Mariah Carey".

(Last edited by pididdy)