Luke James Boyd (born June 13, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter and actor from New Orleans, Louisiana.Luke James Celebrates His Birthday.The Boom Box. Retrieved June 20, 2015 He began his career in 2004 as one half of the R&B duo Luke and Q, who served as backing vocalists for R&B singer Tyrese. While doing so, they became acquainted with the singer's primary songwriting-production team, the Underdogs; the duo was led to sign with J Records. Their 2006 debut single, "My Turn" failed to chart, although Boyd continued to write songs—often under the wing of the Underdogs—for other prominent artists including Chris Brown, Britney Spears, and Justin Bieber during the duo's inactivity and subsequent disbandment in 2010.
Further intent on a solo recording career, he signed with record producer Danja's label N.A.R.S., in a joint venture with Island Records to release his eponymous debut studio album (2014). Preceded by the mixtapes #Luke (2011) and Whispers in the Dark (2012), the album spawned the single "I Want You," which was nominated for Best R&B Performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.Luke James Reveals Album Cover For Upcoming Debut.Singers Room. Retrieved September 15, 2014 His 2017 single, "Drip" (remixed featuring ASAP Ferg)New Music Luke James Taps Asap Ferg. Revolt. Retrieved June 10, 2020 preceded his self-released second studio album, to feel love/d (2020), which marked his return to music following a two-year hiatus and was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
In his acting career, he starred as R&B singer Johnny Gill in BET's 2017 television biopic The New Edition Story. Since then, he has performed in Regina Hall and Will Packer film Little, in FOX's Star, HBO's Insecure, USA's Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G., and BET's The Bobby Brown Story. He was also featured in the third season of The Chi on June 21, 2020. In 2024, Boyd starred as a lead male character in the Amazon Prime television series Them: The Scare, a sequel series to Them.
Early life and career beginnings Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and raised by a single mother, James was influenced by an eclectic array of genres, particularly jazz and R&B. James said his love for music started when he watched a contestant perform a cover version of Donny Hathaway's version of "A Song for You" on Showtime at the Apollo.
As a child, James was inspired by several recording artists and musicians such as Marvin Gaye, Willie Nelson, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Alabama, among others. He credits his mother for introducing him to all kinds of music. James attended St. Augustine High School in New Orleans with schoolmate, (and future OFWGKTA member) singer-songwriter Frank Ocean. While at St. Augustine, he joined a musical trio named Upskale with Quinten Spears (known as Q) and Tah for a brief period, which introduced him to his longtime manager, director, and choreographer Frank Gatson. After graduating St. Augustine, the trio split and James relocated to Los Angeles. Q and James later formed a duo called Luke & Q, where James performed under the name Luke The Singer.
2007–present: songwriting and breakthrough After disbanding, James honed his skills as a songwriter, quickly hooked up with producer Danja, and began to craft hits for those in the pop, R&B and soul genres. He also worked alongside Tank. He then began to co-write hits, such as Chris Brown's "Crawl" for his third album, Graffiti. In addition to writing for Brown, he also wrote (or co-wrote) hits for pop artists such as Justin Bieber ("That Should Be Me"), Britney Spears ("Kill the Lights") and Keri Hilson ("Do It").
In 2005, he appeared in Destiny's Child's "Soldier" video, with the members of the Upskale music trio. In 2011, he was selected by R&B singer Beyoncé to appear as a model/actor in her "Run the World (Girls)" video. In December 2011, he released his debut extended play (EP) album #Luke as a free digital download. His first single, "I Want You", received universal acclaim from critics for its production and for James' vocal performance. The single later earned him a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2012 Soul Train Music Awards. Upon release of his second free digital mixtape, Whispers in the Dark, in December 2012, James began to garner buzz for his formal self-titled debut album, which is expected to be released from Def Jam in early 2014. On January 8, 2013, the album's first single, "Make Love to Me", was released to iTunes one month after the music video directed by Frank Gatson. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, James was nominated for Best R&B Performance award for his 2012 single "I Want You" (but he lost to Usher's "Climax"). On February 7, 2013, the song "I.O.U." was released as the second single from his anticipated debut album. In 2013, he was personally chosen by Beyoncé to be an opening act for her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. In August 2013 he released a video for "Oh God" featuring Hit-Boy; the music video was directed by Sarah McColgan. On December 4, 2013, he released another visual for "Strawberry Vapors", also directed by Sarah McColgan, the song was another release off the Whispers in the Dark album. On December 5, 2014, James received his second career Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Song for "Options (Wolfjames Version)".
In 2016, James auditioned for the role of Singer Johnny Gill in the BET Biopic Miniseries The New Edition Story, after being considered by long time music associate Elijah Kelley. Both were cast in the biopic (with Kelley in the role of Ricky Bell). From 2017 to 2019, James played Noah Brooks in the main cast of Lee Daniels' Musical Drama, Star on FOX. Later in 2019, he was cast in Will Packer's Little alongside Regina Hall and Issa Rae. .
Discography Studio albums Luke James (2014) to feel love/d (2020) For No Reason (2020)
Mixtapes #Luke (2011) Whispers in the Dark (2012)
Singles + List of singles by title, year, peak chart positions, and album Title Year Peak chart positions Album US US R&B US Adult R&B Airplay "Make Love to Me" 2012 — — m Luke James "I Want You" — 97 40 Luke James / #Luke "Oh God"(featuring Hit-Boy) 2013 — — — Whispers in the Dark "Options"(featuring Rick Ross) 2014 — 28 27 Luke James "Drip" 2017 — — — For No Reason "World To Me" (produced by Tchami) — — — "These Arms" 2018 — — — For No Reason "Amor, My Love" (ft. G.No) 2019 — — — "Breathless"(with Jude Demorest) — — — Star "go girl"(featuring BJ The Chicago Kid and Ro James) — 29 — to feel love/d "all of your love' — — — "blow' — — —
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2011 Rift Freddy Davis 2013 Black Nativity Jo-Jo 2019 Little Trevor2021Horror Noire Red
Television Year Title Role Notes 2003 Half & Half Tyrese's background singerEpisode: "The Big Sexy Shame Episode"2017 The New Edition Story Johnny Gill Main cast Insecure Ben Episode: "Hella Open" 2017–2019 Star Noah Brooks Main cast (seasons 2–3) 2018 Unsolved Sean Combs 5 episodes 2020–2026 The Chi Victor "Trig" Taylor Main cast (seasons 4–8); recurring (season 3)2021 Genius: Aretha Glynn Turman 2 episodes Christmas in Harmony Kyle Noah Television film 2024 Them: The Scare Edmund Gaines Main cast (season 2)
Theater Year Title Role Notes 2021 Thoughts of a Colored Man Passion Broadway debut 2026 Wanted: The Legend of the Sisters Clarke Elijah Broadway
Music videos Year Title Artist(s) Notes2005"Soldier"Destiny's Childas a member of 'Upskale'2011"Run The World (Girls)"Beyoncé 2013 "Superpower" Beyoncé feat. Frank Ocean 2024 "Made for Me" Muni Long
Tours
BET Music Matters Tour (with Estelle), (2012) The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour (opening act), (2013–14) Sweet Talker Tour (opening act for Jessie J), (2014–15) to feel love/d tour, (2020)
Awards and nominations
Year Awards Category Work ResultRef.2012 Soul Train Music Awards Best New Artist 2013 Grammy Awards Best R&B Performance "I Want You" 2013 Soul Train Music Awards Centric Award 2015 Grammy Awards Best R&B Song "Options" 2020 Grammy Awards Best R&B Album To Feel Love/d
References
External links