With his smooth, warm intonations and subtly nuanced vocal stylings, Nelson Leeroy brings to mind some of the late great romantic crooners. And when this multi-talented young artist shifts his sound from funk to a slow and sultry ballad, the mood takes on a heavy sensuality.

Nelson was born in Marseille in the mid-seventies to an Egyptian mother and African-American father, and the unique flavor this blend of cultures infuses into his music has earned him a following. As some of Nelson’s biggest influences were the Motown and Stax artists he grew up listening to, it was only natural that his art would find expression in English, his father’s language

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Although his voice is a deep bass, he can also reach higher pitches (head voice) reminiscent of Marvin Gaye. This impressive vocal range only adds to the appeal his languorous soul music holds for female fans.

His passion for music and dance gave rise early on to a need for expression. At the age of 14, Nelson started teaching himself piano, and at 17 he enrolled at the Marseille Conservatory of Music, where he studied opera, music notation, harmony, counterpoint and music history.

At 18 he began performing in piano bars, entertaining crowds with the classics of soul, funk and R&B that had marked his childhood. In a continuing quest for knowledge, he frequented recording studios, learning the trade of sound engineer/producer and developing his skills as a songwriter/performer.

A few years later, in 1995, he put his musical and technical training to the test and opened Soul Spirit Studio, a professional recording studio. The venture has proved to be a success – Nelson’s talents as a sound engineer and producer and the venue’s state-of-the-art equipment have attracted a large clientele for his recording services.

At the turn of the millennium Nelson partnered up with Claude Vincent to help bring his multitude of creative ideas to life. Together they founded the label Soul Spirit Music, whose repertoire is inspired by African-American genres (blues, R&B, jazz, soul, funk, disco and house) and mixes the feel of days gone by with a more contemporary sound.

He has since reached a new level of industry recognition and works with such high-profile artists as Imagination, EWF and Wyclef Jean.

Touching on themes such as spirituality, love and sexuality, Nelson is in his element both on stage and on the dance floor, moving to his own instinctive rhythm.

Favorites Artists:
Frederic Chopin, W.A Mozart, Franz Liszt, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Rod Temperton, Maxwell, Babyface, Brian McKnight, James Ingram, Luther Vandross, Imagination, Earth Wind & Fire, Kenny Latimore, Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Teddy Pendergrass, George Michael, Serge Gainsbourg, Pharell Williams, The Neptunes, Jill Scott, Eryka Badu, Teddy Riley, Gino Vanelli, Isaac Hayes, John Legend, Elton John, Masters @ Work...