This text is reproduced from http://www.leroyhutson.com
With a series of innovative, stylish and critically-acclaimed albums that he recorded throughout the last several decades, multitalented keyboardist, producer/songwriter Leroy Hutson has been responsible for creating his own musical style, a style and sound that have made classics of his works. Along with his contribution as co-writer of the Donny Hathaway masterpiece, "The Ghetto", through his participation as lead singer for the legendary "Impressions" replacing Curtis Mayfield, Lee's music continues to be sampled by such renowned acts as Erykah Badu, Rapper Too-Short and Bones, Thugs-N-Harmony.
Whether it's his own "So In Love With You", "Cool Out", or "Lucky Fella", "Can This Be Real?" The Natural Four's often featured staple heard on many of today's 'soul oldie' radio stations, "Gone Away" from Roberta Flack's second album or the inspirational "Giving Love" by the Voices of East Harlem, the New Jersey born musician has made his mark in contemporary black music and, ever growing, plans to continue the tradition with a new album that is currently being completed.
As a teenager, Lee was a member of "The Nu-Tones" - NJ based. "We were the premier local group and we won several major talent shows during my grammar school years," he recalls. Initially attending renowned Howard University in Washington DC to study dentistry, Lee switched his major to music --and dentistry's loss became music's gain! "I met so many great people who were on campus with me during those years -- Roberta Flack, Herbie Hancock, Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad and of course, Donny (Hathaway) with whom I was roommates for three years."
As part of the duo "Sugar'n'Spice" Lee recorded for Kapp Records later joining The Mayfield Singers, a group (including Hathaway) put together on Howard's campus by music legend Curtis Mayfield that performed at New York's famed Apollo and Philadelphia's Uptown Theater. Developing his creative talents, Lee penned "The Ghetto" with Hathaway, giving the late recording star his first hit record.
Finally leaving the fertile ground of Howard Universityto become lead singer for The Impressions , he reflects that those formative years on campus made a major impact: "Everything great that's happened to me has been the direst result of my years at college and what I learned there, working wit the people I met like Michke Hawkins,Donny, Roberta and Herbie."
During his close to three years with the famous group, Lee recorded two albums spawning black music hits such as "Baby Come On" and "Love Me" for Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label as well as touring extensively both at home and abroad, performing in Germany, Spain and the UK "Those years with the group were invaluable because I learned a lot about the music business and what it means to be "on the road!."
"Love Oh Love", Lee's debut Curtom LP featured the major black hit "So In Love With You". With the albums "Hutson I", "Feel The Spirit", "Hutson II", "Closer To The Source" (all written in collaboration with his writing partner Michael Hawkins) and "Unforgettable", Lee continued his growth as an innovative musical force, achieving chart recognition and building a sterling following for himself with cuts like "Can't Stay Away", "Lover's Holiday", "All Because Of You", "Cool Out", "So Nice", "More Where That Came From" and "Right Or Wrong". Consistently touring through the late Seventies, and Eighties, Lee also devoted time to lending his well-crafted musicality to production work with fellow Curtom artists Linda Clifford, Arnold Blair, and The Natural Four.
As the Eighties turned, Lee left Curtom to record, "Paradise" and album for Elektra Records . In subsequent years, he took time to study the many technological advances in music and in June 1985, Lee returned to the East Coast, built his own home studio and started giving classes in MIDI technology while preparing his young son for his entre into the business. I discovered that by using today's technologies, I could create without having to have other people interpret what I heard in my head.
Whilst Lee was devoting his time to studying and teaching, he was unwittingly building an underground following for himself in the UK where his classic Curtom albums were exchanging hands for vast sums of money! "I was truly honored when I found out, " he comments. "I greatly appreciated and liked the idea that there was longevity to my music. People in Britain were getting excited about records that were ten to twelve years old so, of course, it was very flattering."
On the home front, Lee is currently finishing a new album. "I'd say, without a doubt, that this is the best music of my career. I performed almost all the music on the album using today's technology, and I am also very fortunate to have the support of several of the industies great players. There's still the sound that people identify with me from my previous work but I've taken full advantage of the myriad sounds now available to musicians and artists today."
"Life is a journey, (in consciousness)," Lee concludes, philosophically, as he reflects on his work to date. The best advcice that I can give to anyone aspiring to be great at what they do is " Put God First" and "Don't compare yourself with anyone: Each of us is a Divine Original, created to do a unique work. Our only competition is with who we were yesterday!" As he's always done, Lee continues to grow and tune in to his extensive musical gifts, in full evidence in this his latest writings!!
This text is reproduced from http://www.leroyhutson.com