Biography
In 2017 three prominent figures from London's West End joined forces to create the vocal trio Leading Ladies. Beverley Knight, already established as one of Britain's foremost soul vocalists after two decades in the field, transitioned into musical theater in 2013 with her portrayal of Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard, the part originally associated with Whitney Houston. Subsequent appearances in Memphis, for which she received an Olivier Award nomination, and Cats followed. Amber Riley first gained recognition for her role as Mercedes Jones on the television series Glee, an achievement that brought her a Screen Actors Guild Award. While the program remained in production she performed in the off-Broadway production Cotton Club Parade and in Hair at the Hollywood Bowl; once the series concluded she made her West End entrance as Effie White in Dreamgirls, securing both an Olivier Award and a WhatsOnStage Theatregoers' Choice Award. Cassidy Janson, already familiar to theater audiences through earlier roles in Candide, Company, Avenue Q, Wicked, and Beautiful, where she portrayed Carole King, completed the lineup. The concept originated when Knight's label EastWest suggested she record a musical-theater collection. After attending the others' performances and recognizing their abilities, Knight proposed forming a group, an invitation that Riley and Janson readily accepted. With the track listing finalized from an extensive roster of preferred material, the singers entered the studio alongside producer Brian Rawling, whose prior credits include work with Cher, Tina Turner, and Lionel Richie, to capture their first album, Songs from the Stage. Issued in November 2017, the record featured the trio delivering a range of well-known numbers, among them selections each member had previously performed onstage.
Albums
