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Leona Lewis Profile |
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Birth Date: April 3, 1985
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Birth Place: Islington, London, England, UK
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Birth Name: Leona Louise Lewis
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Height: 5'7"
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Biography |
Leona Lewis is an English
singer and songwriter, and winner of the third series of The
X Factor UK television talent show. Her UK debut single, "A
Moment like This," was released in December 2006, breaking a
world record after it was downloaded over 50,000 times
within 30 minutes.
Her second single, "Bleeding Love," was the biggest-selling
single of 2007 in the United Kingdom, topped several other
national singles charts and became a US number one single on
April 5, 2008.
Her debut album, Spirit, was released in Europe in November
2007, and became the fastest-selling debut album ever in
both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
Released in North America in April 2008, Spirit debuted at
number one in the US Billboard 200 chart and made Lewis the
first British female solo artist to reach the top of the
chart with a debut album.
It is claimed that Lewis is the first winner to be given a
major global launch with the release of her debut album.
Leona Lewis was born in the London borough of Islington to
parents Aural Josiah, an Afro-Caribbean Guyanese youth
worker, and Maria Lewis, a social worker of Anglo-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 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 music career seemed to be going nowhere, she
decided to finally give up, until her boyfriend persuaded
her to enter The X Factor. |
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Other
Information |
Auditioned for "The X Factor" (2004) in London, where she
sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". All the judges were
impressed and put her through.
Made music history when her debut single was downloaded
50,000 times in just 30 minutes.
Her debut single "A Moment like This" became the 2006 UK
Christmas number-one single (December 2006).
First female and first mixed-race winner of "The X Factor"
(2004).
Won "The X Factor" (2004) in 2006. The runner-up was Ray
Quinn.
Born to Aural Josiah Lewis, a Guyanese Afro-Carribean youth
worker, and his wife Marie Lewis, a social worker. Her
parents shared the same surname before marrying.
Worked as a receptionist and as a waitress for Pizza Hut.
Is a vegetarian.
Plays the guitar and piano.
Owns a Rottweiler named Rome.
Lives in Hackney with her longtime companion Lou Al-Chamaa,
an electrician.
Has two brothers, Bradley and Kyle.
Was a classmate of Katie Melua at the BRIT School. |
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since April 28, 2008