Kenny Baron, Prince, Stevie Wonder, My grandfather -- Nathaniel Bailey, my grandmother, Addie Ray Bailey and my maternal grandfather --- Algie Ford, George Michael, Madonna, Paul Thorn, Cyrus Chestnut, Sting, Sade, Level 42, Teena Marie, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson (big time!), DeBarge, Jody Watley, Thelonious Monk, Coldplay,Quincy Jones, Good Charlotte, Sugar Ray, Tina Turner, Mahalia Jackson, Carmen McCrae, Ella Fitzgerald, my mom -- Lonnie Ruth, my dad -- Amos Lee, Robinella, and so many more... I will keep adding to this list as I continue to be exposed to great music. I am also heavily influenced by the words of Jesus, Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Judy Blume, Joyce Carol Oates, Neale Donald Walsh and Martin Luther King.
At 12-years old, Chanda was very shy when it came to directing the choir at her father's church. At such a young age, the budding pianist from Springfield, Massachusetts did not quite know how to juggle her church duties with running track, writing short stories and playing soccer. What she did know was that, much to her surprise, when she directed the choir, people listened to her and followed her instruction. This seed of inspiration would prove to bloom into a dream come true; one day, she would have a unique and fulfilling career in music.
Years later as a creative writing major at Spelman College, it was a performance by the school's Jazz Ensemble that thrilled her and re-ignited her passion for music. She was so inspired by the talented women playing all kinds of instruments that she decided to join. Under the tutelage of Professor Joe Jennings, she began studying Jazz Piano and upon graduation in 1995, formed The Chanda Bailey Trio. The group performed live jazz all over Atlanta, delighting audiences at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, Montreaux Music Festival and The High Museum of Art. In 1997, she moved to Los Angeles to begin her television career playing keyboards in the house band of the Keenen Ivory Wayans Show. Shortly after moving out west, she met and befriended Grammy-nominated producer, DaMone Arnold. The two instantly formed a musical bond, quickly writing and recording her first record, Easy on the Eyes. Her debut, which she playfully describes as a hybrid of Janet Jackson meets Stevie Wonder, received so many hits on www.mp3.com that Chanda became a featured "Women of MP3 "artist three times.
After a 1999 world tour with the Grammy-nominated reggae band, Morgan Heritage, Chanda returned to the US to grace the big screen in Jerry Bruckheimer's romantic film, Coyote Ugly. After a decisive move from LA back to Atlanta later that same year, she began collaborating with her former creative writing professor, Ray Grant. Together the two created such inspiring songs as Big City Life, Wash His Feet" and "Something Old is Something New". These beautifully crafted songs would go on to become the defining sound of her new second record, Big City Life, inspired by the experiences of city life in the hustle and bustle of New York. "Now, when I walk down the street, I see so many things that inspire me that I might have overlooked before. There are times when I have to laugh out loud, and sometimes I'm moved to tears. My goal is to capture those emotions and put my thoughts to music."
In 2003, Chanda performed daily as a keyboardist on the nationally syndicated The Caroline Rhea Show. Her talents have also been showcased on MTV, The Roseanne Show, The Tony Danza show and as a solo artist on The Caroline Rhea Show. Her theater credits include Fats Waller's Ain't Misbehavin', and Five Guys Named Moe.
In 2005, Chanda Leigh began recording and performing again with Morgan Heritage, throughout the Caribbean and Europe. "I love working in the reggae world because it's so international and wide open. I'm always amazed at the melting pot of people who come to the shows." From gospel to jazz, reggae to rhythm and blues, exploring and performing all kinds of music has helped her to define her own style of music, a style she affectionately calls "country-pop-gospel". "It's a little bit country because I like to tell vivid stories lyrically a little bit pop because you can remember the hook and sing along and a little bit gospel because God gave me this talent and that's where my roots are."
Chanda Leigh is currently working on her third album which includes a mix of musical styles, like reggae, pop, rock, jazz and acoustic. Look for "Simple Life: the in Summer 2009.
Peace Queen..I want to take a minute to invite you to SoulSpeak THIS THURSDAY!!
SoulSpeak I in the ATL June 25th, 2009 at the Foreign Exchange Cafe...sponsored by Black on Black Rhyme Poetry Group, Soul Kitchen and the International Soul Music Summit..The show features songstress VON with performances by Terrance Darnell, Chiedza, Malik Salaam, and others..
This event is by and for lovers of musicians, poets and artists who speak from their spirit..
Look forward to seeing you there! Peace and Power, TD
