Biography

Leona Lewis (born April, 3rd 1985) is an English singer-songwriter and winner of the third series of popular television talent show The X Factor.

Lewis was born in the London district of Islington, and is of English, Welsh and Afro-Caribbean descent. At the age of five, she attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School. She began writing her own songs at the age of 12, and had recorded an album of demo songs by the age of 15.

In Spring of 2006, Lewis auditioned for the third series of The X Factor. She became an early favorite to win the contest outright, and was one of the show’s most consistent performers. She progressed through the final stages of the contest with a comfortable majority, and eventually won the contest and a £1 Million recording contract in December 2006. Her debut single, A Moment Like This sold over a million copies and became Christmas Number One.

Following her debut release, Lewis began recording original material with some of the most prestigious producers in the music industry - including Walter Afanasieff, Dallas Austin, Scott Storch, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Damon Dash and several others. It was also announced that infamous American pop svengali, Clive Davis, would be working in collaboration with Simon Cowell as executive producer for Lewis’ debut album - with a view to launching her as a major artist in the United States.

In October 2007, Lewis’ second single Bleeding Love - and her first original recording - debuted at #1 in the UK Singles Chart. It sold over 200,000 copies in its first week on sale alone, making it the fastest selling single of 2007 to date in the UK. Her debut album, Spirit, was released on 12th November 2007 in the UK.

Bleeding Love hit #1 in the US in March, 2008. Lewis became the first British female solo act to top the US chart since Kim Wilde in 1986 with “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.”

On the US album chart announced April 16, 2008, Spirit went straight in at #1, outselling her nearest rival four to one. Lewis thus became the first British artist to reach the top of the Billboard 200 with a debut album.

Lewis’ third single, a double A-side featuring ‘Better In Time’ and ‘Footprints In The Sand’was released in March 2008. It was released in aid of Sport Relief, and Lewis undertake a trip to Africa also.

A second album is planned for 2009.

A £15 million tour is planned for Lewis in 2010, of which talks are still underway. She is the most successful act to date that has appeared on the X Factor.

Sources: Internet.