Wikipedia:

LeToya Luckett

LeToya
LeToya.jpg
Background information
Birth name LeToya Nicole Luckett
Born March 11 1981 (1981--) (age 26)
Origin Houston, Texas
Genre(s) R&B, pop, soul, hip hop
Years active 1993 – present
Label(s) Capitol/Capitol Music Group
Associated
acts		 Destiny's Child, Anjel, Mims
Website www.letoya.net

LeToya Nicole Luckett (born in March 11 1981), known professionally as LeToya, is an American R&B singer, songwriter. She is a founding member of the R&B and world's best-selling female group of all time, Destiny's Child with whom she won two Grammy Awards and after prompting commercially successful releases with the group, she was forced to leave.[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's second album, Lady Love, is scheduled for a February 2008 release.[5]

Early life

Luckett was born and raised 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.[6] Luckett was given the opportunity to sing her first church solo at the age of five. "The lady just gave me the mic one Sunday and I sang", she recalls.[7] 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 on her seat. Luckett asked her teacher to remove the girl from her assigned seat, who turned out to be Beyoncé Knowles. Knowles and Luckett later became best friends and was invited to join Beyoncé's group.[8].

Destiny's Child

Main article: Destiny's Child

Lady L Boutique

In 2003, Luckett opened a successful clothing boutique in the Uptown Park shopping center in Houston, Texas called Lady L Boutique. The store is an upscale women's boutique featuring brands such as: Sky, Ed Hardy, Joe Jean's, and even Beyonce's clothing line, House of Dereon. The store has been open for over five years, and there are rumors of a second location opening in either Houston, Miami, or Atlanta. LeToya recently said through her official MySpace that she is thinking about starting her own clothing line.

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.

LeToya era

LeToya's self-titled debut album (2006)
Enlarge
LeToya's self-titled debut album (2006)

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 Pharrel Williams's debut album. The album was certified gold after one month and as of December 2006, the album had been certified platinum. Luckett is the first member of Destiny's Child after Beyoncé Knowles to have an album debut at number one on the Billboard 200 and achieve platinum status.[9][10][11]

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 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.[12]

Audio samples:
  • "Torn" (2006)
    noicon
    LeToya's most successful single to date.
    "She Don't" (2006)
    noicon
    LeToya's second single from her self-titled debut album LeToya.
  • Problems playing the files? See media help.

At the end of 2006, "Torn" was ranked as the number four video on BET's Notorized, which ranks the top 100 videos of the year. "She Don't" ranked at number seventy-four. 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 Nickelodeon's Teen Choice Awards.[13]

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.[14]

In addition to a nationwide radio tour, club performances, a brief European and Asia 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.[15][16][17]

Lady Love

In March 2007, LeToya hosted the 21st Annual Soul Train Music Awards with Omarion and signed a publishing deal with Warner-Chappell in April 2007.[18][19] She remained busy by writing and recording for her second studio album, which is expected to be released around November/December 2007. Some of the producers she is collaborating with include her longtime writing-producing partner Teddy Bishop, Walter Milsap, Bryan Michael Cox, Dr. Dre, Rodney Jerkins, and Babyface.[20][21] In July 13, she said through 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 is officially going to be named Lady Love, then she introduced two new songs "Lady Love" and "Don't Let Me Get Away", but no further details concerning the release date have been revealed.[22] It is rumored she will release another mixtape in late Summer 2007, before releasing her next single, but nothing is confirmed.

Guest appearances

LeToya is featured on songs by artists including Mims' "Without You", Mike Jones' "Bonnie & Clyde", and Ali & Gipp's "Almost Made Ya", the latter of which was released in June 2007. R&B singer Jon B hopes to work with Luckett for his upcoming album. [23] [24][25][26]

Discography

Main article: LeToya Luckett discography

Albums

Singles

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"
  • MTV Video Music Awards
    • Best R&B Video: "Say My Name"
  • 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

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 on 2006-12-28.
  2. ^ Destiny's World Domination. Yahoo! Music (September 1 2005). Retrieved on 2006-12-28.
  3. ^ Destiny's Child Ruled At World Music Awards. Softpedia (September 3 2005). Retrieved on 2006-12-28.
  4. ^ Awards: ASCAP’S Rhythm & Soul Awards. Concrete Loop (June 27 2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
  5. ^ LeToya Album News. That Grape Juice (June 27 2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-04.
  6. ^ LeToya interview for E! Television series, Boulevard of Broken Dreams part referring to the Luckett's family. E! (January 28 2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-03.
  7. ^ LeToya interview for E! Television series, Boulevard of Broken Dreams part referring to her first experience with a microphone. E! (January 28 2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-03.
  8. ^ LeToya interview for E! Television series, Boulevard of Broken Dreams. E! (January 28 2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-03.
  9. ^ LeToya Rolls With Houston Hip-Hoppers. MTV (Mar 21 2006). Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  10. ^ For The Record: Quick News On. MTV (Mar 21 2006). Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  11. ^ News Room. Billboard (December 22 2006). Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  12. ^ Capitol Music Group Formed. hitsdailydouble (January 25 2007). Retrieved on 2007-07-04.
  13. ^ LeToya No Longer Destiny's Step-Child. TMZ (August 02 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
  14. ^ AllAccess. BET (June 30 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
  15. ^ Pantene Total You Tour. [1]
  16. ^ LeToya Continues Summer Tour With Mary J. Blige. EMI (August 2 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
  17. ^ LeToya's 'Torn' No More: Singer Unleashes Second Single, Tours With Mary J.. MTV (July 18 2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
  18. ^ LeToya host Soul Train Music Awards. Billboard (Mar 12 2007). Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  19. ^ Warner Music & LeToya hook up.. LeToyaOnline.com (May 14 2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-14.
  20. ^ 'MAKING SURE THE SONGS ARE RIGHT'. Billboard (June 30 2007). Retrieved on 2007-07-11.
  21. ^ LeToya Luckett Update. Rap-Up (June 23 2007). Retrieved on 2007-04-23.
  22. ^ LeToya Update. California Online (July 11 2007). Retrieved on 2007-07-13.
  23. ^ Diddy: We invented the Remix Volume 2". YOUNGARMY.DE (August 3 2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  24. ^ Video for the song "Almost Made Ya". CastingAudition (April 1 2007). Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  25. ^ XXL Magazine Mike's Interview. XXLMag.com (April 1 2007). Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  26. ^ That Is Hip Hop. ThatsHipHop.com (April 17 2007). Retrieved on 2007-04-27.

External links


LeToya Luckett
Discography
Albums: LeToya (2006) • Lady Love (2007)
Singles: "U Got What I Need" • "All Eyes On Me" • "Torn" • "She Don't" • "Obvious" • "Almost Made Ya" • "Diddy Rock" • "Lady Love"
Related articles
Discography • Destiny's Child discography • Destiny's Child • Anjel • Slim Thug


Destiny's Child
Beyoncé Knowles · Kelly Rowland · Michelle Williams
Studio Albums Destiny's Child (1998) · The Writing's on the Wall (1999) · Survivor (2000) · Destiny Fulfilled (2004)
Other albums 8 Days of Christmas (2001) · This Is the Remix (2002) · #1's (2005)
Singles "No No No" · "With Me" · "Get on the Bus" · "Bills, Bills, Bills" · "Bug a Boo" · "Say My Name" · "Jumpin' Jumpin'" · "Independent Women" · "Survivor" · "Bootylicious" · "Emotion" · "Nasty Girl" · "Lose My Breath" · "Soldier" · "Girl" · "Cater 2 U" · "Stand up for Love"
Former members LeToya Luckett · LaTavia Roberson · Farrah Franklin
Related articles Discography

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