Piñata presents: Ledisi

Ledisi is not just music — she’s also an actress. And she’s brought to life on the big screen none other than Mahalia Jackson, Patti LaBelle, and Gladys Knight. No small feat. But if anyone assumes those three women are her main musical influences, they might be mistaken — because that podium belongs to Nina Simone and Curtis Mayfield. And that’s something she has publicly stated more than once. She was born in New Orleans 53 years ago, and if we take a look at the titles of her albums, we get a clearer picture of her powers: she debuted with Soulsinger (2000) and her latest release is the fabulous The Crown (2025). In other words, her debut was a clear statement of intent as a soul singer — though her style goes beyond that: r’n’b and jazz also run through her veins — and she has now come full circle, crowning herself the queen of that musical blend. Or at least one of its queens. And rightly so. Ledisi Anibade Young is a powerhouse. Ten million people (those who have bought one of her records) agree. No one should miss her live show.