Leslee Lewis Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Leslee Lewis

• Leslee’s father is a South Indian Christian and his mother is a Konkani (Hindu Goan who hails from the Konkan region in Goa). Therefore, he is half-Hindu and half-Christian.
  

  Leslee (centre) with his father (left) and Rajesh Khanna

• Leslee was exposed to a musical environment right from his birth. His mother was a dancer and his father was a renowned choreographer in Bollywood in the 1960s and 1970s, who choreographed famous songs like ‘Mehbooba Mehbooba’ from the film Sholay (1975).
  

  Leslee’s father, P. L. Raj (right) while choreographing a Bollywood song

• Leslee’s father was a Bharatanatyam and Kathak dance trainer to Helen. He also used to play the tabla. Leslee grew up seeing him which is one of the reasons why music caught his attention early on.
  

  Leslee’s father while choreographing a Bollywood song with Shammi Kapoor and Helen

• During his school days, he was fascinated by ABBA, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton. Under their influence, Leslee started playing the guitar.

• On completion of his schooling, Leslee joined a local street fishermen’s band named ‘Blue Diamond Orchestra’ in Bombay (now Mumbai). In this band, he played the guitar at the Ganpati festivals and local railway stations in Bombay.

• When he was in college, he worked as a guitarist at a nightclub. He failed in his bachelor’s degree because he solely concentrated on the music.

• He played the guitar at cafes until he made his mark in music studios. After gaining experience in the music studios, Leslee began composing jingles.

• His presence in the Indian music industry started in 1987 when he established his own music company for composing jingles. His popular jingles include – ‘Amul Doodh’, ‘Thumbs Up Taste the Thunder’, and ‘Mango Frooti Fresh and Juicy.’

• The Indian Academy of Advertising Film Art (IAAFA) nominated Leslee many times for his jingles before he got the award.

• After making a name in the field of jingles, Leslee started to compose and produce mainstream music and has produced music for many artists in the Indian music industry.

• Leslee’s music genre is rock and pop, and he is often known as one of the pioneers who introduced rock and pop music styles like foot tapping and EDM to the Indian music world.

• Music for the song ‘Paree Hoon Main’ (1991), sung by  Suneeta Rao, is composed and produced by Leslee.

• In 1992, Leslee met Hariharan for a jingle project, and one day while they were casually rehearsing, Hariharan, who is a ghazal and bhajan singer proposed to Leslee an idea to form a duo band in which the Indian Classical singing style of Hariharan would blend with the rock and pop music and voice of Leslee.

• Leslee gave music to the song ‘Kal Hi Ki Baat Hai’ by Sonu Nigam from the album ‘Bombay Girl’ (1994).
  

  Leslee (left) with Sonu Nigam (right) during the days of ‘Bombay Girls’ album composition

• In 1996, his duo collaboration, ‘Colonial Cousins’ with Hariharan officially came with the release of their first album with the same name. This became Leslee’s career’s peak moment.

• ‘Colonial Cousins’ released other albums like ‘The Way We Do It’ (1998) and ‘Aatma’ (2001). The band became so hit that it got Leslee many prestigious music awards and became the first Indian band to be featured on the original ‘MTV Unplugged’ in London.
  

  The 1996 Classic Cassette of the album Colonial Cousins

• With the duo ‘Colonial Cousins,’ Leslee officially came out as a singer and live performer. Recalling the popularity he received, Leslee once said,
  

  I became an artist with ‘Colonial Cousins.’’

• The song ‘Krishna’ from the album Colonial Cousins (1996), was used as a peace march song amid the Sri Lankan war and terrorism that was ongoing in the late 1990s.

• The duo continues to be popular in the 21st century as they perform live at many musical events and tours.
  

  Leslee (right) and Hariharan performing in a live show

• His favourite song  from the album ‘Colonial Cousins’ is ‘Indian Rain.’

• In 1996, the remix of Asha Bhosle‘s album ‘Rahul & I’ became very popular among the millennial generation of India, especially for the songs ‘Piya Tu Ab To Aaja’ and ‘O Mere Sona Re.’ This revival of Ashaji’s voice was created and produced by Leslee Lewis, who has known her since his childhood.
  

  Leslee’s Instagram post about the album ‘Rahul & I’

• Another Hindi-pop album with Asha Bhosle produced by Leslee was ‘Janam Samjha Karo’ (1997). Its songs ‘Raat Shabnami’ and ‘Janam Samjha Karo’ became the big hits of the late 1990s.
  

  (Left to Right) – Leslee’s mother, Leslee, Asha Bhosle, and his father

• The music for Indian singer KK‘s first solo music album, ‘Pal’ (1999) was composed by Leslee Lewis. Its popular songs, ‘Yaaron Dosti’ and ‘Pal’ became the evergreen sensational songs on friendship and farewell in India. KK sent this demo tape to Leslee back in 1994, extending him his wish to compose and produce his songs. Later, both became very good friends.
  

  Leslee’s Instagram post about KK (right)

• He has composed music for Tamil films like ‘Modhi Vilayadu’ (2009) and ‘Chikku Bukku’ (2010).

• Leslee’s efforts started Coke Studio India in 2011. Being the torchbearer of the show, its debut season’s entire music was produced by him.

• He once said that the boldest thing done by him was to create music for 51 songs in 40 days for the debut season of Coke Studio. Those days, he slept only for 2 hours (5.30 a.m. – 7.30 a.m.) daily. On 2 such days, he slept for just 45 minutes.
  

  Leslee (left) performing on Coke Studio with Indian singer Shaan

• His daughter, Divya gave her debut performance on Coke Studio in 2011. In that performance, Leslee played the guitar.
  

  Leslee’s daughter, Divya while performing at the Coke Studio

• In 2011, India’s debut F1 race anthem, ‘Hum Mein Raftaar, Jeene Baar Baar’ was composed by Leslee. For this, he collaborated with singers like KK, Daler Mehndi, and Lucky Ali.
  

  Leslee’s Instagram post about his F1 anthem for India

• He has also composed a short anthem for a special feature of the Indian Air Force on the National Geographic channel.

A Rocking Anthem I Created for the INDIAN AIR FORCE @IndianAirforce

‘MISSION UDAAN’

for NAT GEO @NatGeo

Wonderful Lyrics by my friend Meheboob

Absolutely Special Moments – shooting standing right below the Sukhoi Fighter Jets 🔥🔥

Rock & Roll 😎 !! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/gDWqrIqIAQ

— Leslee Lewis (@LesleLewis) March 16, 2023

• In 2015, Leslee did the musical direction for Walt Disney’s first musical in India, ‘Beauty & the Beast.’

• During the Covid-19 pandemic, he started a Facebook live series, ‘Life of Leslee’ to talk about his journey as a musician.
  

  Leslee’s Instagram post about his Facebook Live series ‘Life of Leslee’

• His Hollywood debut song, ‘Entourage’ (2021) also has the rap of rapper-singer Omar Gooding.

• In 2022 after KK’s demise, Leslee recreated KK’s song ‘Yaaron’ with KK‘s children, Nakul and Taamara.
  

  Leslee’s Instagram post about remaking ‘Yaaron’ with KK’s children

• Leslee has formed a band of young aspiring musicians. This band performs live at events like corporate gigs, musical festivals, and occasions like birthdays and weddings.

• He is a hardcore foodie, who also loves to cook. His Instagram page has many pictures of his meals.

When it comes to #RajmaChawal .. nothing beats home cooked with SeasonallyFresh OffThePod RajmaBeans..Food & Music .. What a great combination for those who want a quick trip to heaven! 😎!! Rock & Roll .. #KhudBanaoKhudKhao #MakeAndEat #shureindia #homechef #gourmet #finedining pic.twitter.com/InA5fRZf09

— Leslee Lewis (@LesleLewis) September 1, 2019

• The Indian actress and dancer Helen is Leslee’s godmother.

• Louiz Banks, Gussy Rikh, and Gorakh Sharma trained him as a guitarist. Leslee calls them his guitar Gurus.
  

  Leslee with his guitar mentor, Louiz Banks

  

  Gorakh Sharma and Gussy Rikh, the Guitar Gurus of Leslee Lewis

• He considers many artists like Lata Mangeshkar, Vanraj Bhatia, Kishore Kumar, Manohari Singh, Mohammed Rafi, The Monserrate Bros, R. D. Burman, Chris Perry as his masters. Leslee believes that without his masters, he would have not been a successful musician.

• Quincy Jones, the American record producer is Leslee’s one of the icons.

• Leslee Lewis has been a judge at many Indian talent hunt music competitions.