Leslee Peter Lewis (formerly spelled Leslie and Lesle; born 20 June 1960), popularly known as Lezz Lewis, is an Indian singer and composer known for his work with Hariharan as the duo Colonial Cousins.Leslee Lewis composes for his first Bollywood flick IBN Live; 13 November 2007 They won the MTV Asia Viewer's Choice Award and then the U.S. Billboard Viewer's Choice Award for 'Colonial Cousins', their debut album. He conceived and created all the music for Coke Studio, MTV India debut season.
Lewis is one of the first Indian composers to have introduced the Indian audiences to rock and pop music. Lewis's creative side comes as an inherited value from his father, P. L. Raj, noted choreographer from the film industry.
Early life Leslee Lewis is the son of P. L. Raj, a prolific film choreographer.Lesle Lewis - Biography ; 17 June 2011 He was educated at Bombay Scottish School, Mahim
As a child, Lewis was greatly influenced by The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton and with further working on his musical capabilities bagged the opportunity of recording with renowned music directors.
He played guitar at the Cafe Royal, Oberoi Towers, Mumbai and recorded with Kalyanji–Anandji, Laxmikant–Pyarelal, R. D. Burman and Louis Banks.
Biography Jingles From 1987, he composed advertising jingles and was nominated for awards from the Indian Academy of Advertising Film Art (IAAFA). In 1989 received an award for his work. He went on to make some famous jingles such as Doodh-Doodh-Doodh (Piyo full glass), Mango Fruity fresh and juicy, Thums up taste the thunder, Santoor Santoor, etc.
Mainstream music Lewis remixed Asha Bhosle's album Rahul and I and composed songs for Janam samjha karo, O mere sona, Piya Tu- ab toh aaja. He also composed and produced the music for Paree Hu Main by Suneeta Rao, Bombay Girl by Alisha Chinai and for KK's album Pal. He composed songs such as "Bombay Girl" and "De De- Mujh Ko" for Alisha Chinai.
He also launched Indipop boy band A Band of Boys and gave music for their hit songs such as "Meri Neendh", "Gori" and "Aa Jaa Meri Jaan".
In 1998, Lewis recorded his first solo album, Haseena. He composed the score for the Hindi films Mela and Jahd and the Tamil films Modhi Vilayadu and Chikku Bukku.
Colonial Cousins
Lewis first worked with ghazal singer Hariharan in 1992, creating a jingle. They formed Colonial Cousins in 1996 and recorded an album, Colonial Cousins. They were the first Indian duo to be featured on MTV Unplugged. It won the MTV Indian Viewers' Choice award and Billboard Award for the Best Asian Music Group."Artist biography: Hariharan" . Indianmusicinfo.com. Retrieved 28 January 2011 They released the albums The Way We Do It (1998) and Aatma (2001) and composed the soundtrack for the Tamil films Modhi Vilayadu and Chikku Bukku.
Discography As composer
Albums Dhuan (Suneeta Rao Album) (1991) Bombay Girl (1994) Colonial Cousins (1996) Haseena (1998) The Way We Do It (1998) Pal (1999) Aatma (2001) Meri Neend (2002) Gori (2002) Elements (2002) Ye Bhi Woh Bhi (2002) Once More (2012)
Films Rockford (1999 - English) Mela (2000 - Hindi) Apna Asmaan (2007 - Hindi) Modhi Vilayadu (2009 - Tamil) Chikku Bukku (2010 - Tamil) Poshter Boyz (2014 - Marathi) Online Binline (2015 - Marathi)
As singer YearFilmLanguageSongComposer(s)Writer(s)Co-artist(s)1999RockfordEnglish"Feels So Good"Colonial CousinsHariharan2000MelaHindi"Dekho 2000 Zamana Aa Gaya"Leslee LewisDharmesh DarshanHariharan, Aamir Khan2005AnniyanTamil"Kannum Kannum Nokia"Harris JayarajKabilanAndrea Jeremiah, Vasundhara Das, RanjithAparichitHindi (dubbed)"Gora Gora Aankh"Mehboob KotwalVasundhara Das2006SainikuduTelugu"Byla Bylamo"Harris JayarajChandraboseAnushka Manchanda, Sunitha Sarathy2008KingTelugu" King Title Song"Devi Sri PrasadRamajogayya SastryMamta Mohandas, Devi Sri Prasad2009Modhi VilayaduTamil"Vellaikaari"Colonial CousinsVairamuthuHariharan"Sikki Mukki"Surmukhi Raman2010DarlingTelugu"Hosahore"G. V. Prakash KumarAnanth SreeramK.K.2015Online BinlineMarathi"Oho Kai Zhala"Leslee LewisHariharan, Shreyash Jadhav2019KaappaanTamil"Hey Amigo"Harris JayarajVairamuthuJonita Gandhi
Awards and achievements 1997: MTV Asia Viewer's Choice Award for Colonial Cousins in Radio City Hall - New York US Billboard Viewer's Choice Award - Las Vegas Awarded 'Indian of the Year 2017
References
External links Official Website @LesleLewis on Twitter Lesle Lewis (official fan page) on Facebook