Menu

Leslee Lewis Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

Quick Info→
Hometown: Mumbai
Wife: Lolette
Age: 63 Years

Leslee Lewis

Bio/Wiki
Full Name Leslee Peter Lewis
Other names• Lezz
• Leslie
• Lesle
Profession(s)Singer, Music composer, Music producer
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)5' 6" (168 cm)
Eye ColourBlack
Hair ColourBlack
Career
DebutAlbum (composer): Dhuan (1991) in collaboration with Suneeta Rao and Vikas Bhalla
Cover of album, 'Dhuan'
Solo Album (composer and singer): Haseena (1998)
Album Cover of 'Haseena
Hollywood song (singer): Entourage for the film 'Trap City' (2021)
Streaming poster of song 'Entourage'
Awards & Honours• Awarded for composing advertising jingles by Indian Academy of Advertising Film Art (IAAF) (1989)
• MTV Asia Viewers’ Choice Award for the album ‘Colonial Cousins’ (1996)
• U.S. Billboard’s Viewers’ Award for the album ‘Colonial Cousins’(1996)
• Awarded Doctorate in Music by the National Institute of Education Research (NIER) (2019)
• Awarded Doctorate in Music by the National American University (NAU) (2019)
• Awarded Wow Iconic Personality – Iconic Musician par Excellence by Wow Awards (2019)
• Global Music Icon Award (2021)
 Leslee (left) while receiving Global Music Icon Award
• Legendary Singer-Composer-Performer by SOS Nightlife (2022)
• Iconic Personality of the Year by Wow Corp (2022)
• Awarded Artist of the Month by Radio City Freedom (2022)
• Awarded ‘Maestro Award’ by Whistling Woods International (2023)
Leslee receiving the Maestro Award by Whisling Woods
• Honoured as Godfather of Independent Music by the World Peace Summit
• Honoured as the mascot for IIMUN (India’s International Movement to Unite Nations)
Personal Life
Date of Birth20 June 1960 (Monday)
Age (as of 2023)63 Years
BirthplaceBombay (now Mumbai)
Zodiac signGemini
NationalityIndian
HometownMumbai
SchoolSt. Mary’s High School, Mt. Abu, Rajasthan
College/UniversityCatherine College, Mumbai
Educational QualificationB.Com. (could not complete as he failed)
Religion(s)Hinduism, Christianity
Food HabitNon-Vegetarian
HobbiesCooking, Travelling
Relationships & More
Marital StatusMarried
Family
Wife/Spouse Lolette
ChildrenSon- Dev Lewis (born in 1991)
Daughter- Divya Lewis (born in 1996) (singer)
Leslee with his daughter, Divya
ParentsFather- P. L. Raj (choreographer; deceased)
Leslee Lewis' father P. L. Raj
Mother- Devyani (dancer)
Leslee Lewis with his mother
SiblingsSisters- 2
• Greta Lewis
• Eliza Lewis
(Left to Right) - Greta Lewis, Eliza Lewis, and Leslee Lewis
Favourites
DessertsCakes, Ice Cream
ArtistPalash Sen
Actress(es)Madhubala, Helen
SongBoogie Nights by Heatwave
SongwriterRod Temperton
Guitarist(s)Derek Julian, Jimi Hendrix
Social Media
InstagramLeslee Lewis
FacebookLeslee Lewis
Twitter@LesleLewis
YouTubeLeslee Lewis

Leslee Lewis

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 (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, 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

    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

    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

    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

    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'

    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

    (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)

    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

    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

    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

    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.

  • 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'

    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 of 'Yaaron' with KK's children

    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.

  • 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

    Leslee with his guitar mentor, Louiz Banks

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

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

  • 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.