New Artists Paying Tribute To The Old School: Ledisi’s cover of Maze’s “Happy Feelings” is proof that REAL singers still exist!

Ledisi is an American R&B and jazz recording artist, songwriter and actress. Her first name means “to bring forth” or “to come here” in Yoruba. Ledisi is known for her jazz influenced vocals. In 1995, Ledisi formed the group known as Anibade. After unsuccessfully trying to get the group signed to a major label, she formed LeSun Records with Sundra Manning. Along with her group, Anibade, Ledisi released an album titled Take Time. The album gained major airplay from local radio stations. She has received a total of eight Grammy Award nominations. She is was on tour with Robert Glasper in partnership the magazine “Essence” (which featured her on one of their three April covers as well as Erykah Badu and Solange Knowles).

So here’s a little more on Maze, in case you didn’t know that in 1989, they signed with Warner Bros. and released the hit album Silky Soul, plus Back to Basics in 1993, and released the live DVD recording at London’s Hammersmith Odeon in 1994. The two albums also attained gold disc status. They had another number one R&B success with “Can’t Get Over You”.

In October 2004, “Twilight” appeared in the video game, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on funk radio station, Bounce FM .

In 2009, a tribute to the hits of Maze was released. Called Silky Soul Music: An All Star Tribute to Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, it included modern stars performing Maze’s biggest hits with Maze acting as the backing band.

On September 2, 2011, their percussionist and background singer, McKinley “Bug” Williams, died of an apparent heart attack at a hotel in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Maze continues to tour around the United States as well as Europe to this day. Every year they are the closing act for the Essence Music Festival.