Leanne "Lelee" Lyons
| Leanne "Lelee" Lyons | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Leanne Clency Lyons |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | The Bronx, New York City, New York, United States |
| Origin | New York City, New York |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | Sisters With Voices |
| Website | twitter |
Leanne Clency Lyons, better known by her nickname which also serves as her stage name Lelee, is an American singer–songwriter and television personality. Lyons is best known as a member of the R&B vocal trio Sisters With Voices (SWV).
Born Leanne Clency Lyons in The Bronx, New York, Lyons father left the family when she was ten years old, Leaving her and her five siblings to be raised by her mother. By age fifteen, Lyons left her mother's house and began living on her own. During her sophomore year at age sixteen, Lyons dropped out of Walton High School to support herself and her newborn daughter. Becoming a mother of two by age seventeen, a daughter Margaret (born 1989) and a son Khiry (born 1991); Lyons was determined to provide a better life for her children.
Lyons joined with her neighborhood friend Cheryl Gamble to create an all-female singing group after being inspired by watching the TV competition show Star Search. Shortly after, Gamble introduced Lyons her friend Brooklyn native Tamara Johnson; and the group was formed. As SWV, they enjoyed a large amount of commercial success. Selling more than fifteen million albums worldwide, SWV became one of the most successful girl groups of all time and the 5th best selling girl group in R&B music. They traveled the world and gave their all but it soon came crashing down when they couldn't put their differences aside because of what people were putting in their ears, so they broke up. Lelee stars alongside Coko and Taj on their new reality show SWV Reunited on WeTv.
SWV disbanded in 1997. In a 2014 interview with WE TV, she commented on how the break-up of the group left her feeling: "Depressed and all over the place. I didn't know who I was. I had no drive, no light". After all of her savings had run out, Lyons attempted suicide while standing on a ledge at a hotel in Time Square. By 2005, she had received her G.E.D and had been working a job at an accounting firm when she was contacted by Coko (Cheryl Gamble) manager about a performance in Japan.
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