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LeToya Luckett

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LeToya Luckett

LeToya Nicole Luckett (born March 11, 1981 in Houston, Texas), known professionally as LeToya, is an American R&B and pop singer-songwriter and actress. She was a founding member of the R&B female group Destiny's Child, with whom she won two Grammy Awards and released many successful commercial recordings.[1][2][3]

After signing a record deal with Capitol Records, she pursued a successful solo career. Her solo debut album, LeToya (2006), topped the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart in July 2006 and was certified platinum by the RIAA in December 2006. The single, "Torn", achieved records on BET's top ten countdown show 106 & Park. She was also named "One of the Best New Artists of 2006" by AOL and the "Top Songwriter of 2006" by ASCAP.[4] Luckett is going to release a second album named " Lady Love" in 2009.

Early life

Luckett was born in Houston, Texas, and grew up singing in her local Brentwood Baptist Church where she had vocal lessons to become an opera singer. Her father, who was also a singer, was very proud of his daughter's vocal talents and tried to promote her into the music business. Luckett is the eldest of two children; she has a younger brother Gavin.[5] Luckett was given the opportunity to sing her first church solo at the age of five (5). "The lady just gave me the mic one Sunday and I sang", she recalls.[6] Shortly thereafter, she joined the children's choir and began performing in plays at her elementary school. One day, she walked to her desk in class to find a girl sitting in her seat. Luckett asked her teacher to remove the girl from her assigned seat, who turned out to be Beyoncé Knowles. Both girls later became friends, and she was invited to join Latavia's & Beyoncé's group.[7].

1993-2000: Destiny's Child

Main article: Destiny's Child

In 1993, LeToya Luckett joined Beyoncé Knowles, LaTavia Roberson, and Kelly Rowland to complete the Houston-based R&B group, Destiny's Child. After being signed and later dropped by Elektra Records, the group eventually signed with Columbia Records in 1997, but not before signing with Mathew Knowles as their official manager. According to the E! Television Special, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Knowles forced the girls to sign with him before they could sign with the label. LeToya's mother requested the contracts be reviewed by an attorney, but Knowles denied the request. However, Luckett eventually signed with him and joined the group.[8]

After graduating from the Houston club scene, the group began opening for acts such as Dru Hill, SWV, and Immature, and released their 1998 self-titled debut album Destiny's Child. The album spawned two singles: the platinum "No, No, No Part II" (featuring Wyclef Jean) and "With Me". The group was featured on the Why Do Fools Fall in Love soundtrack with the song "Get on the Bus" (featuring Timbaland), and later toured as an opening act on TLC's "Fanmail Tour" and Christina Aguilera's debut tour.

In 1999, the group released their second album, The Writing's on the Wall. The album became one of the biggest selling albums released by a female group, and was certified eight times platinum in the USA. The album spawned four hit singles: "Bills, Bills, Bills", "Bug a Boo", "Say My Name" and "Jumpin' Jumpin'". In late 1999, in the midst of the group's rising success, Luckett and Roberson sent a letter to their management stating they wanted their own manager because of the increasing lack of communication from the group's manager Mathew Knowles (who is also Beyoncé Knowles' father). The pair said they never wanted to fire Knowles, but they did want to secure outside management to represent them fairly. Soon after, Luckett and Roberson found themselves on the outs with Knowles family and the group they helped create.[9][10] When the "Say My Name" music video debuted in February 2000, they were shocked to find themselves replaced by two new members, Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin.

Luckett and Roberson filed a lawsuit against Matthew Knowles, Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland, charging them with breach of partnership and fiduciary duties, and sought unspecified damages. Luckett and Roberson withdrew the case against Beyoncé and Kelly, but continued to sue Matthew Knowles. The case was eventually settled, with Luckett and Roberson continuing to receive royalties from their contributions as founding members of the group. When it seemed as if the drama had subsided, shortly following the release of Destiny's Child's, Survivor, Luckett and Roberson filed another lawsuit against the group in March 2002. They claimed that the album's lead single, "Survivor", violated their previous settlement due to its lyrics which they believed to reference the ugly split.[11]

2001-2002: Anjel

After several months of media speculation, it was announced via the MTV News website that Luckett and Roberson had created a new group called Anjel.[12] After several auditions, Naty Quinones and Tiffany Beaudoin were selected as members. The group recorded a twenty-two-song demo in Atlanta, Georgia, with the help of R&B group Jagged Edge. Their production company (581 Entertainment) which handled the group fell through, and all the members of Anjel went on to pursue solo projects. However, the recorded tracks were leaked onto the internet.

2003: Lady Elle Boutique

In 2003, Luckett opened a successful clothing boutique in the Uptown Park shopping center in her hometown of Houston, Texas called Lady Elle Boutique. The store is an upscale women's boutique featuring brands such as: Miss Me, Sky, Ed Hardy, and Joe Jeans. The store has been open for over five years, and there are rumors of a second location opening in Miami, Atlanta or another location in Houston.

2004-2005: Going solo

After the Anjel project fell through, Luckett joined with Noontime, an Atlanta-based management/production company. Along with Noontime, she recorded a five song demo and eventually signed with Capitol Records in 2003. Soon after, she began working on her debut solo album. The first promotional single, "You Got What I Need", was released in 2004, followed next year by "All Eyes on Me". She featured on "My Promise" with her label mate Houston on his debut album It's Already Written, "What Love Can Do" on the Coach Carter soundtrack, and on "This Is My Life" with former boyfriend and rapper Slim Thug on his album Already Platinum.

Over the next few months, several new LeToya records appeared online and on mixtapes and were even played on local radio stations in the USA and Europe. At the end of the year, Capitol Records released the What It Do! mixtape. It was hosted by LeToya, mixed by DJ Brandi Garcia, a Houston radio DJ, which included a few songs from her debut album, freestyles, and some of her favorite hip/hop records from Houston-based artists.

2006: LeToya era

LeToya's self-titled debut album, was released on July 2006 and debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, outselling the compilation Now That's What I Call Music! and Pharrell Williams's debut album. The album was certified gold after one month and as of December 2006, the album had been certified platinum. Luckett and Beyoncé Knowles are the only members of Destiny's Child to have an album debut at number one on the Billboard 200 and achieve platinum status.[13][14][15]

With LeToya being marketed as "The H-Town Chick", the album featured hip-hop inspired R&B production. Producers on the album included Jermaine Dupri, Scott Storch, Teddy Bishop, B. Cox, and musical guests Slim Thug, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, and Bun B. "All Eyes on Me" was originally chosen as LeToya's debut single, but she selected "Torn" instead. She stated she "had to go against the grain" to get that single released, but it proved to be a good move. The ballad (produced by Teddy Bishop and a personal favorite of LeToya's) was released March 2006 and became an R&B hit. The ballad has been compared to Natalie Imbruglia and Mary J. Blige's past hit singles. The song climbed the Billboard charts, peaking at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and became the number one song on urban radio. The video became the "official summer video" on BET's 106 & Park after spending a record breaking twenty-four days as the most requested video, making LeToya the first artist since 2003 (and first female since Aaliyah in 2001) to do so. The video was eventually retired from 106 & Park at number two.

Although Torn was still receiving major airplay, her second single, "She Don't", was released to radio and the video premiered on BET's Access Granted in July 2006 featuring LeToya's ex-boyfriend, Slim Thug. The single received moderate success, reaching number seventeen on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. In November 2006, "Obvious" was selected as the third single. According to Billboard, the song had a 94% chance of becoming a hit, but due to the merger of Capitol Records and Virgin Records, all promotion and money was frozen, therefore the single was never officially released.[16]

"Torn" (2006)
LeToya's most successful single to date.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

At the end of 2006, "Torn" was ranked as the number four video on BET's Notarized, which ranks the top 100 videos of the year. "She Don't" ranked at #74. LeToya was also named "One of the Best New Artists of 2006" by AOL Music, number two on Rap-Up magazines' Top 5 Breakthrough Artists of 2006, and had received multiple nominations from the NAACP, the Soul Train Music Awards, and the Teen Choice Awards.[17]

Promotion and tours

BET promoted LeToya heavily not only on 106 & Park, The Center, and The Black Carpet, but with a three-part reality series special called The H-Town Chick, which aired from May to July 2006. The series chronicled LeToya's experiences during her summer promotional tour and insight on her life since Destiny's Child. BET also hosted a contest that gave fans the opportunity to decide the final outcome of the "Torn" video. Cingular hosted a Lip-Sync contest that awarded those who best performed "Torn" best in an online submitted video.[18]

In addition to a nationwide radio tour, club performances, a brief European and Asian tour, LeToya was asked to participate in the 2006 Pantene Total You Tour, the Cingular Live in Concert series, and was personally invited by Mary J. Blige to join her summer tour, "The Breakthrough Experience Tour", as her opening act.[19][20][21]

2007-2008: Hiatus Status

In 2007 and 2008, after the success of her first solo album, LeToya remained busy by writing and recording for her second studio album as well as pursuing her acting career.

In March 2007, she hosted the 21st Annual Soul Train Music Awards with Omarion and signed a publishing deal with Warner-Chappell in April 2007.[22][23]

On July 13, she said in an interview for The Salinas Californian website, that her album will have a 1980's influence on her songs and during the event, LeToya announced that the album would officially going to be named Lady Love, then she introduced and performed two new songs "Lady Love" and "Don't Let Me Get Away".

On December 10, a buzz track, Swagger, that features rappers such as Slim Thug, Killa Kyleon and Bun B leaked onto internet through Luckett's official fansite, surprisingly the song makes a reference of Beyoncé's song, Upgrade U.

In 2008 she was featured on Webbie's single "I Miss You" which was a moderate success. She didn't appear in the video due to the fact that she was acting in the nationwide play "Rumors" and as a result wasn't able to make it to the shoot.

On September 15, another song called "Somebody Else" leaked onto the internet, the song features Avant and is a bonus track on his self-titled album.

Luckett featured on NBC Sounds Of The Season, a holiday album where she duets with Nat King Cole, also in the album are Ne-Yo, Faith Evans and others. [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43]

Guest appearances

LeToya has collaborated with several artists after the success of her first solo album. Those include Mims' "Without You", Gucci Mane's "G-Love (You Don't Love Me)", Mike Jones' "Bonnie & Clyde" and Avant's "Somebody Else".

Two songs that feature LeToya as guest artist were released as single, Ali & Gipp's "Almost Made Ya" in June 2007 and Webbie's "I Miss You" in 2008.

In 2009 LeToya will be featured on Mims' next album Guilt on the track "Love Rollercoaster" (which leaked december 2008).[44][45][46][47][48][49][50]

2009: Lady Love era

Main article: Lady Love (LeToya album)

LeToya's second solo album is schedueled to be released on May 19, 2009.[51]

The first single, "Not Anymore", was written by Ne-Yo and was produced by Bei Maejor. It was digitally released on February 3 and will be released to radio on March 24. The music video was released via Essence.com on March 10.

Some of the producers she collaborated with include Bryan Michael Cox, Rodney Jerkins, Bloodshy & Avant, Danja, Timbaland, Tricky Stewart & The-Dream, Raphael Saadiq, among others.[52][53]

Acting career

Luckett's first role on television was on the WB show "Smart Guy" in 1998 with Destiny's Child.[54][55][56] She also had an appearance in the movie "Beverly Hood" in 1999.[57]

Since 2008, Letoya has been acting in plays and movies. LeToya was part of the cast of JD Lawrence's stage play Rumors as the character Michelle. She hit the road from January 31, 2008 to March 2, 2008.[58]

LeToya will also star in two movies scheduled for release in 2009, titled "Preacher's Kid" and "Caramel". [59].

Discography

Main article: LeToya Luckett discography

Albums

Mixtapes

  • 2004: What It Do!
  • 2005: R&B Deluxe

Awards and nominations

1998

2000

  • Artist Direct Awards
    • Favorite Group: Urban/Hip-Hop: "The Writing's on the Wall"
  • Billboard Music Awards
    • Top Pop Artist: "The Writing's on the Wall"
    • Top Pop Artist - Duo/Group: "The Writing's on the Wall"
    • Top Hot 100 Artist: "The Writing's on the Wall"
    • Top Hot 100 Artist-Duo/Group: "The Writing's on the Wall"
    • Top Hot Dance Maxi-Single Sales Artist: "The Writing's on the Wall"
    • Top Hot Dance Maxi-Single Sales Artist-Duo/Group: "The Writing's on the Wall"
  • Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards
    • Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo: "Say My Name"
    • Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year: "The Writing's on the Wall"

2001

  • BMI Pop Awards
    • Most Performed Song of the Year: "Bills, Bills, Bills"
    • Most Performed Song of the Year by Duo or Group: "Say My Name"
  • Grammy Awards
    • Record of the Year: "Say My Name" (nominated)
    • Song of the Year: "Say My Name" (nominated)
    • Best R&B Song: "Say My Name" (won)
    • Best R&B Vocal by Duo or Group: "Say My Name" (won)

2006

  • Celebrities' Choice Award
    • Best Music Video: "Torn" (nominated)
  • Groovevolt Music Awards
    • Best R&B Female Performance: "Torn"

2007

  • Urban Music Awards
    • Best Music Video: "Torn"

References

  1. ^ "Destiny's Child Named The World's Best Selling Female Group of All Time!". Sony BMG Australia. September 2, 2005. Retrieved 2006-12-28.
  2. ^ "Destiny's World Domination". Yahoo! Music. September 1, 2005. Retrieved 2006-12-28.
  3. ^ "Destiny's Child Ruled At World Music Awards". Softpedia. September 3, 2005. Retrieved 2006-12-28.
  4. ^ "Awards: ASCAP'S Rhythm & Soul Awards". Concrete Loop. June 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
  5. ^ "LeToya interview for E! Television series, Boulevard of Broken Dreams part referring to the Luckett's family". E!. January 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
  6. ^ "LeToya interview for E! Television series, Boulevard of Broken Dreams part referring to her first experience with a microphone". E!. January 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
  7. ^ "LeToya interview for E! Television series, Boulevard of Broken Dreams". E!. January 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
  8. ^ "LeToya interview for E! Television series, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, part referring to the Pam Luckett reviewing contracts". E!. January 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
  9. ^ "The Song Isn't Called 'Survivor' For Nothing". MTV News. June 13, 2005. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  10. ^ "Where did it all go wrong?". MTV News. September 22, 2000. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  11. ^ "Destiny's Child Settle With Ex-Members Over 'Survivor' Dis". MTV News. July 25, 2002. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  12. ^ "Ex-Destiny's Child Members Say Their Name Is Angel". MTV News. March 5 2001. Retrieved 2007-04-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "LeToya Rolls With Houston Hip-Hoppers". MTV. March 21, 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  14. ^ "For The Record: Quick News On". MTV. March 21, 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  15. ^ "News Room". Billboard. December 22, 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  16. ^ "Capitol Music Group Formed". hitsdailydouble. January 25, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  17. ^ "LeToya No Longer Destiny's Step-Child". TMZ. August 2, 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  18. ^ "AllAccess". BET. June 30, 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
  19. ^ Pantene Total You Tour. [1]
  20. ^ "LeToya Continues Summer Tour With Mary J. Blige". EMI. August 2, 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  21. ^ "LeToya's 'Torn' No More: Singer Unleashes Second Single, Tours With Mary J." MTV. July 18, 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  22. ^ "LeToya host Soul Train Music Awards". Billboard. March 12, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  23. ^ "Warner Music & LeToya hook up". LeToyaOnline.com. May 14, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-14.
  24. ^ "LeToya Update". California Online. July 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
  25. ^ "LETOYA SET FOR JUNE RELEASE". ConcreteLoop. January 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  26. ^ "LeToya reveals more details for her second effort". WDMK FM. February 19, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  27. ^ "'MAKING SURE THE SONGS ARE RIGHT'". Billboard. June 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-11. (PAY SITE)
  28. ^ "LeToya Luckett Update". Rap-Up. June 23, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-23.
  29. ^ "Ne-Yo Talks About New Usher Tracks, Says He Wouldn't Take A Swing At R. Kelly". WDMK FM. February 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  30. ^ "Terry "TR" Ross answers the fans questions". Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  31. ^ "Teedra Moses interview by Concreteloop". ConcreteLoop. October 7, 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  32. ^ "New Song: LeToya - 'Somebody Else (ft. Avant)'". That Grape Juice. September 15, 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  33. ^ "Capitol and Universal stars join Nat King Cole in his new christmas album". J Entertainment. September 25, 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  34. ^ "LeToya in the studio with the Underdogs". Youtube. October 4, 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  35. ^ "LeToya Talks About Her Career on V-103". Youtube. September 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  36. ^ "Jim Beanz, on his official site list LeToya as an artist whom he is working with". August 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  37. ^ "Toby Gad, on his official site list LeToya as an artist whom he is working with". August 14, 2008.
  38. ^ "Claude Kelly songwritter reveals through her blog in myspace that she is working with LeToya". August 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  39. ^ "LeToya SayNow message about her upcoming about, and who is working with her". September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  40. ^ "LeToya working with Rodney Jerkins and D'Mille". MonicaMania. May 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  41. ^ "Interview with Torica". MonicaMania. , 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ "Garibay, Taio Cruz, Lady GaGa working with Letoya Luckett!". MonicaMania. August 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  43. ^ http://monicamania.blogdrive.com/comments?id=3464
  44. ^ "LeToya on Gucci Mane's New Album". MTV.com. December 2, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-05.
  45. ^ "Video for the song "Almost Made Ya"". CastingAudition. April 1, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-27.
  46. ^ "XXL Magazine Mike's Interview". XXLMag.com. April 1, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-27.
  47. ^ "C-Murder - Surviving The Times". SixShot.com. November 12, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-05.
  48. ^ "That Is Hip Hop". ThatsHipHop.com. April 17, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-27.
  49. ^ "LeToya featured on new Webbie's single". ThatsHipHop.com. February 5, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  50. ^ "SOHH Exclusive: TI Associate Alfamega Plots Collabo Album W/ Busta ... - SOHH". PerfectPeople. September 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  51. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2009/02/21/letoya-lucketts-lady-love-moved-to-may/
  52. ^ "'MAKING SURE THE SONGS ARE RIGHT'". Billboard. June 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
  53. ^ "LeToya Luckett Update". Rap-Up. June 23, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-23.
  54. ^ "Destiny's Child On Smart Guy Part 1". Disney Channel. July 8, 1998. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  55. ^ "Destiny's Child On Smart Guy Part 2". Disney Channel. July 8, 1998. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  56. ^ "Destiny's Child On Smart Guy Part 3". Disney Channel. July 8, 1998. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  57. ^ "LeToya appearance on movie". IMDB. June 20, 1999. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  58. ^ "The Rumors Are True". Rumors stage play. January 16, 2008.
  59. ^ "Letoya Luckett". December 29, 2008.
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