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Leee John, the lead singer of the eighties soul, dance and disco sensation ‘Imagination’ entertains Marbella
26.07.10 - 10:36 -
Not 'Just an Illusion'. Leee performed 'oldies & newies' at Buddha Beach.
Sharing lunch at Buddha Beach with Leee John, the songwriter and lead singer of eighties music sensation ‘Imagination’ is an enlightening affair. It’s not all talk about glitter head bands and provocative outfits; but also colourful anecdotes and stories of his creativity and a musical career that has spanned over three decades.
The seasoned performer and energetic showman has come of age; maintaining a fresh interpretation of Imagination’s classic hits, whilst creating his personal soul jazz sound with his recent solo album, ‘Feel My Soul’. This solo album features original songs penned and produced by Leee alongside classic standards with modern arrangements co-produced by Eric Debeurge, Francois Gaucher and Leee himself.
Fans last week had the privilege of seeing Leee perform tracks from this solo album as well as his mega-hits from the eighties, live in the intimate surroundings of Buddha Beach, the boutique beach club close to Puerto Banús, Marbella. The sell-out night was a sensation with the audience. Michel Cruz, of Manifesto Design, was in the audience and commented, “the atmosphere, setting and show were wonderful, the music lively but suave. Just the thing you want on a summer night in Marbella, with an animated, happy crowd dancing around the pool and the evergreen Lee John leading the way with his vocals and his infectious energy. It spilled over and became a real party.”
Leee John has been performing on the Costa since the eighties but this time was the first opportunity here for him to combine his classic hits with the jazz soul material he has authored and produced.
Jazz quartet
“It’s great to be back in Marbella and perform. I still get nervous, as I treat every show as if it’s the first show, and I always want to bring something fresh to the classic hit songs and this time I have quartet” explains Leee. So last Saturday Leee wasn’t joined on stage by two band mates in outrageous, sexy outfits, but instead by a jazz quartet. “With ‘Feel My Soul’ I wanted to have something that was for jazz purists too. With my solo album I’ve performed at Pizza on the Park in London and at the Casino in Monte Carlo, where it’s been about my jazz soul sound. I’ve always listened to jazz, funk, soul and gospel - Motown and Nat ‘King’ Cole - these were amongst my influences.”
Many questioned why Leee took so long to create a solo album, but he explains that following the huge success of Imagination which included the worldwide hits ‘BodyTalk’, ‘Just an Illusion’ and ‘Flashback’, with sales of over 30 million albums, he continued to write, produce and have international dance hits. Stars such as Mariah Carey sampled Imagination’s classic hits in new releases, so his work was constantly out there in one form or another. “I was so busy; it took a while for me to figure out who Leee John is about. For a few years some thought I was more underground than the Central line! But with my writing and producing, I was involved with dance hits across the world.”
Leee’s success continued with the contemporary chart success a few years ago of the DJ Samidee remix of ‘Sensuality’ taken from the album ‘Feel My Soul’. Leee not only had fulfilled new creative goals but was well and truly back in the music mainstream.
Leee has the rare distinction of longevity and a high profile in the fast changing world of popular music, where many have fallen foul to the demons of self destructive behaviour and addictions. But for Leee it was always about the music and having fun. “For us it was and is about the music. In the seventies, we just dressed up and tried to out-dance each other on the dance floor!”
Charity
The lunchtime conversation with Leee is peppered with funny anecdotes from singing a capella to Marvin Gaye in his dressing room in the United States, to performing for the Mandela family in South Africa. Leee’s international touring has taken him across the world and to South Africa a number of times. What he saw in the townships there inspired him to be involved with the charity ‘SOS Children’s Villages’ and his book, ‘From Within The Heart’ is about one of the charity’s villages in South Africa. “The joy of life of these people is incredible, despite everything they have to endure. I was always made to feel so welcome and so special in South Africa; I’m pleased to be able to help put something back into the communities.”
Next year heralds the 30th Anniversary of Imagination and Leee is marking this remarkable milestone with a special edition of the band’s greatest hits, as well as a ‘Flashback’ Tour with Imagination hits featuring Leee John, Shakatak, Loose Ends, Junior and others.
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