Mai Lee

Mai Lee, the pop-R&B vocalist from St. Louis, Missouri, acquired foundational training by attending a performing arts school in her elementary years. Her siblings introduced her to an array of early-'90s acts such as Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and Total, whose styles helped define her approach. Additional vocal growth came through church choir participation, after which she joined a group that failed to advance. Time spent recording with the St. Louis duo Bradd Young (Kelly Rowland, Akon) and Vega, along with Dave Russell, resulted in independent singles comprising the ballad "Nobody 1993" and the club track "Low Key."