Songbird: Ledisi Soars to Success

Career highlights of soulful chanteuse.

The Voice - Born in the Big Easy (New Orleans, LA), Ledisi's musical beginnings started when she was just eight years old singing with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra. She later formed a group called Anibade but ultimately found success for her jazzy vocal stylings as a solo artist.  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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The Voice - Born in the Big Easy (New Orleans, LA), Ledisi's musical beginnings started when she was just eight years old singing with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra. She later formed a group called Anibade but ultimately found success for her jazzy vocal stylings as a solo artist.  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Only the Beginning - In 2000, New Orleans-born songstress Ledisi released her debut album, Soulsinger: The Revival, under her own imprint, LeSun Records. The album produced four singles, but the track, "Take Time," was a local hit on Bay Area radio thanks to the love shown from Ledisi's second home of Oakland, California.(Photo: Valerie Macon/Getty Images)

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Only the Beginning - In 2000, New Orleans-born songstress Ledisi released her debut album, Soulsinger: The Revival, under her own imprint, LeSun Records. The album produced four singles, but the track, "Take Time," was a local hit on Bay Area radio thanks to the love shown from Ledisi's second home of Oakland, California.(Photo: Valerie Macon/Getty Images)

Take Notice - In 2002, Ledisi's second album, Feeling Orange But Sometimes Blue, was released on Verve to critical acclaim. And the following year, she won Outstanding Jazz Album at the California Music Awards. (Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

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Take Notice - In 2002, Ledisi's second album, Feeling Orange But Sometimes Blue, was released on Verve to critical acclaim. And the following year, she won Outstanding Jazz Album at the California Music Awards. (Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

Breaking Through - Ledisi's third studio release, Lost & Found, was released in 2007. The musically rich record blended classic jazz with modern soul and two singles, "Alright" and "In the Morning," peaked in the Top 50 of Billboard's Hot 100. Not bad for a soul singer competing with a world of pop stars. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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Breaking Through - Ledisi's third studio release, Lost & Found, was released in 2007. The musically rich record blended classic jazz with modern soul and two singles, "Alright" and "In the Morning," peaked in the Top 50 of Billboard's Hot 100. Not bad for a soul singer competing with a world of pop stars. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for VH1

Right on Time - In 2008, Ledisi's hard work paid off as Lost & Found garnered her not one, but two Grammy nods. She was nominated for both Best New Artist and Best R&B album. (Photo: Valerie Macon/Getty Images)

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Right on Time - In 2008, Ledisi's hard work paid off as Lost & Found garnered her not one, but two Grammy nods. She was nominated for both Best New Artist and Best R&B album. (Photo: Valerie Macon/Getty Images)

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Eye on the Prize - The following year, Ledisi released her fourth studio album, Turn Me Loose. The album hit number 14 on Billboard's Hot 100 but peaked at number 1 on Billboard's R&B chart. It also earned Ledisi two additional Grammy nominations, one for Best R&B album and another for Best R&B Vocal Performance for the single "Going Through Changes." (Photo: Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

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Eye on the Prize - The following year, Ledisi released her fourth studio album, Turn Me Loose. The album hit number 14 on Billboard's Hot 100 but peaked at number 1 on Billboard's R&B chart. It also earned Ledisi two additional Grammy nominations, one for Best R&B album and another for Best R&B Vocal Performance for the single "Going Through Changes." (Photo: Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)

Time to Shine - In 2011, Ledisi released her fifth studio album, Pieces of Me. Thus far, the record has hit number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard R&B chart. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Time to Shine - In 2011, Ledisi released her fifth studio album, Pieces of Me. Thus far, the record has hit number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard R&B chart. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

The Power of Now - This year, Ledisi is nominated for three Grammy Awards for her work on Pieces of Me. She's up for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for the title track, as well as Best R&B album. We're hoping this time she'll go home with a few of those golden gramophones. (Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

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The Power of Now - This year, Ledisi is nominated for three Grammy Awards for her work on Pieces of Me. She's up for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for the title track, as well as Best R&B album. We're hoping this time she'll go home with a few of those golden gramophones. (Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

Full of Grace - During the 2012 BET Honors, Ledisi brought down the house with a tribute to Stevie Wonder, performing stirring renditions of his hits "Higher Ground" and "Do I Do."

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Full of Grace - During the 2012 BET Honors, Ledisi brought down the house with a tribute to Stevie Wonder, performing stirring renditions of his hits "Higher Ground" and "Do I Do."

Photo By Photo: Verve Music Group

Bringing Down the House - Singer Ledisi had folks tweeting up a storm during her performane on Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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A Lady First - Ledisi is known for her flawless vocals. but in the summer of 2012 she released her first book, Better Than Alight: Finding Peace, Love and Power. And speaking of power, here Ledisi shines her light on our POTUS, performing during day one of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The Caroler - The White House called upon Ledisi to bring a little Christmas cheer, performing with a choir at the 90th lighting of the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Jason Reed/Landov/Reuters)

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The Caroler - The White House called upon Ledisi to bring a little Christmas cheer, performing with a choir at the 90th lighting of the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Jason Reed/Landov/Reuters)