OTLC 9- LUKE JAMES

Name: Luke James
Locality: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Crayon Color: Molten Red- cliché? Besides being the color of hearts, it’s also the color of strawberry syrup and lava.

The Story: One day a mini Luke-James sat down to watch Showtime At The Apollo and came across a singer who performed “A Song For You,” a song in which Donny Hathaway made famous. Recalling, “I got chills,” the 11-year-old was intrigued, and he just had to have more;  his mom found a CD from the late singer, and thus music was brought into his life.

James met his first manager Frank Gaston in 2001 after forming a high-school trio and performing for acts such as Brian McKnight. He parted ways with Gaston and the trio, but not before taking Gaston's advice to move to Los Angeles. He did, and sang background for Tyrese. Through him, he met the production two-some The Underdogs and signed with their label as Luke & Q.

He parted with them after a few years and hooked up with Danja, who he has been penning songs with ever since. He’s written for Chris Brown (“Crawl”), Justin Bieber ("That Should Be Me”), Keri Hilson, and Britney Spears (“Kill The Lights”), and to top it all off, the looker made an appearance in Beyonce’s “Run the World” video.

Now, Luke James runs the show. He is signed to Mercury/Island Def Jam Records and will release an album entitled Made To Love. The singer hit the net with his first powerfully-sung tune “I Want You.” He’s working with Danja and mixing virtuoso Marcella Araica on his release. And. We. Are. Watching.  

who is luke james?

Coloring Outside The Lines Because: Take one listen to Luke’s falsetto, how long he can hold the note, and how forceful it is. This is not just a falsetto riff, but a falsetto takeover! That is his secret weapon. Not to mention his voice is sweet, light on the ears, and he doesn’t have to try hard (i.e. frantically bending over on one knee, bent over, crying, with hands to the sky) to make his point (if he did, it’d be as an accessory, and not the main event). Extremely refined, and does not miss a beat.

Think: Box of chocolates, physical symmetry, haiku, player turned one woman man, Say Anything, hitting that E note.