LEEE JOHN OF IMAGINATION
28 SEP
With a remarkable career spanning over 3 decades and with record sales in excess of over 30 million albums the incomparable LEEE JOHN and his group IMAGINATION released and successfully had so many amazing classic hits singles and platinum ,gold and silver albums such as, Body Talk, Just An illusion, Flashback, Music and Lights and Changes and many more presenting the perfect Brit Soul/Jazz/Funk songs and establishing their position as essential 80's crossover hit-makers and an influence for future generations in the music industry.
Even today the story of IMAGINATION’S music continues in the from of a long list of samples, remixes and adaptations by major contemporary stars. Such as the THE PHARCYDE, DIMITRI from Paris, Destiny’s Child (Complete with Beyoncé) sampled Just An Illusion on their 1998 self-titled debut album produced by WYCLEF JEAN, with LEEE himself featured on DJ Dero’s 2005 rendition of the song which was widely played in clubs. Even America superstar Maria Carey recorded “Illusion” on her top ten single “Get Your Number”. Furthermore we see Flashback being sampled by Boards of Canada, Music & Lights by Tiger & Woods. All Night Loving by 88 Keys featuring Kanye West.
It’s fair to say founding member, lead singer and songwriter LEEE JOHN is one of the hardest working men in music, touring internationally both as LEEE JOHN of IMAGINATION and as LEEE JOHN in his ever-popular solo performances showing his continuous diversity across multi genres from the pop stream as well as his more classic presentation in the jazz world, none better reflecting this than with the release of his last critically acclaimed solo album “Feel My Soul”. http://www.feelmysoul.co.uk/
Now is the time: https://vimeo.com/5310326
Sensuality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXI5ikjBLcg
Having produced and directed 5 documentaries taking him as far away as Zambia , Tunisia, South Africa and France and is currently producing and directing ”Flashback” a Film of the history of British black music for which more than 200 interviews are already in the can, including Beverley Knight, Eddy Grant, Billy Ocean , Maxie jazz of Faithless , Ali Campbell of UB40, Mike Lindup of Level 42 , Trevor Nelson, Omar, Geno Washington, Maxie Priest, Sonique , Hamish Stuart of Average white band , Courtney pine Ruby Turner and many, many more - Flashback Documentary:-http://www.flashbackprojectuk.com
More recently, we see the release of the long awaited new album “Retropia” which delivers a distinctive combination of soul, funk , jazz with a classic contemporary retro sound from that back in the day feel, which creates a very special atmospheric sensitivity with mid-tempo grooves and that unmistakable LEEE JOHN vocal sound with those famous IMAGINATION harmonies creating that familiar blend of melody which makes you remember each individual song, taking you on a magical musical adventure into the world of “Retropia”
Supporting from its release the “Retropia” album scores an incredible 2 x Number # 1 songs in the UK Soul Charts with ‘Do It Right Now’ and “Make Your Mind Up/Fantasia” which follows on this summer with a third single release “Police & Thieves” a personnel rendition and homage to the classic and unforgettable anthem originally recorded way back in 1977 by Junior Murvin/Lee Scratch Perry with its poignant message eerily, echoing across to today’s political and social landscape over 40 years on.
1: “Do It Right Now” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdCH6vQkX6I
2: “Make Your Mind Up”: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBOkVLMXSWw
3: ”Fantasia” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-TEDfYfTlQ
4: “ Police & Thieves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpJP
Produced by British Reggae maestro legend Dennis Bovell (the originator of Lover’s Rock and producer of big hits such as Silly Games (Janet Kay) (Alpha Blondy) and with his band (Matumbi) “After Tonight” and “Point of view” and more recently contributed to the huge success of (Joss Stones) initial reggae offering Water For Your Soul works with LEEE and together form and incredible partnership in delivering a magical unique interpretation of the quintessential creativity that is “Police & Thieves”. Which not surprisingly, enters in on the Number # 1 spot in the UK Reggae Charts: - www.retropia.co
Even today the story of IMAGINATION’S music continues in the from of a long list of samples, remixes and adaptations by major contemporary stars. Such as the THE PHARCYDE, DIMITRI from Paris, Destiny’s Child (Complete with Beyoncé) sampled Just An Illusion on their 1998 self-titled debut album produced by WYCLEF JEAN, with LEEE himself featured on DJ Dero’s 2005 rendition of the song which was widely played in clubs. Even America superstar Maria Carey recorded “Illusion” on her top ten single “Get Your Number”. Furthermore we see Flashback being sampled by Boards of Canada, Music & Lights by Tiger & Woods. All Night Loving by 88 Keys featuring Kanye West.
It’s fair to say founding member, lead singer and songwriter LEEE JOHN is one of the hardest working men in music, touring internationally both as LEEE JOHN of IMAGINATION and as LEEE JOHN in his ever-popular solo performances showing his continuous diversity across multi genres from the pop stream as well as his more classic presentation in the jazz world, none better reflecting this than with the release of his last critically acclaimed solo album “Feel My Soul”. http://www.feelmysoul.co.uk/
Now is the time: https://vimeo.com/5310326
Sensuality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXI5ikjBLcg
Having produced and directed 5 documentaries taking him as far away as Zambia , Tunisia, South Africa and France and is currently producing and directing ”Flashback” a Film of the history of British black music for which more than 200 interviews are already in the can, including Beverley Knight, Eddy Grant, Billy Ocean , Maxie jazz of Faithless , Ali Campbell of UB40, Mike Lindup of Level 42 , Trevor Nelson, Omar, Geno Washington, Maxie Priest, Sonique , Hamish Stuart of Average white band , Courtney pine Ruby Turner and many, many more - Flashback Documentary:-http://www.flashbackprojectuk.com
More recently, we see the release of the long awaited new album “Retropia” which delivers a distinctive combination of soul, funk , jazz with a classic contemporary retro sound from that back in the day feel, which creates a very special atmospheric sensitivity with mid-tempo grooves and that unmistakable LEEE JOHN vocal sound with those famous IMAGINATION harmonies creating that familiar blend of melody which makes you remember each individual song, taking you on a magical musical adventure into the world of “Retropia”
Supporting from its release the “Retropia” album scores an incredible 2 x Number # 1 songs in the UK Soul Charts with ‘Do It Right Now’ and “Make Your Mind Up/Fantasia” which follows on this summer with a third single release “Police & Thieves” a personnel rendition and homage to the classic and unforgettable anthem originally recorded way back in 1977 by Junior Murvin/Lee Scratch Perry with its poignant message eerily, echoing across to today’s political and social landscape over 40 years on.
1: “Do It Right Now” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdCH6vQkX6I
2: “Make Your Mind Up”: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBOkVLMXSWw
3: ”Fantasia” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-TEDfYfTlQ
4: “ Police & Thieves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpJP
Produced by British Reggae maestro legend Dennis Bovell (the originator of Lover’s Rock and producer of big hits such as Silly Games (Janet Kay) (Alpha Blondy) and with his band (Matumbi) “After Tonight” and “Point of view” and more recently contributed to the huge success of (Joss Stones) initial reggae offering Water For Your Soul works with LEEE and together form and incredible partnership in delivering a magical unique interpretation of the quintessential creativity that is “Police & Thieves”. Which not surprisingly, enters in on the Number # 1 spot in the UK Reggae Charts: - www.retropia.co