Leee John

Last updated 09 January 2020

Leee John
(this image appears for illustrative purposes only and no attempt is made to supersede any copyright attributed to it)

Leslie McGregor Karmichael John

Born: Sunday 23rd June 1957 (age: 66)

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Leee John (born Hackney, London) of St Lucian descent, is a British musician, singer and actor. He was educated in New York, later studying drama at the Anna Scher Theatre School. His stage name came about when he signed up with EMI, deciding that he wanted to be different and adding an additional 'e' to the name.

He was working as a backing singer when he met Ashley Ingram, a guitarist/bassist. They formed a songwriting partnership, working in a short-lived band called Fizzz.

Produced by Jolley & Swain their hit Body Talk reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1981. Their biggest hit, Just an Illusion, peaked at number two in March 1982. The trio frequently appeared on Top of the Pops and other pop music programmes.

Despite not being an actor, he made a guest appearance in the 1983 Doctor Who story Enlightenment, playing the character 'Mansell'; he replaced actor David Rhule, who had dropped out at short notice due to an industral strike at the BBC after the rehearsals had begun.

The group in the UK waned but they continued to perform, tour and record until the early 1990s. John went back to acting, but in 2003 resurfaced in the reality television show, Reborn in the USA, alongside other singers such as Elkie Brooks and Tony Hadley.

He appeared on The Adam and Joe Show, in the series four segmant 'The 1980s House', a spoof of the popular reality series putting families into homes with period features, with Leee playing the house designer.

He released a number of dance singles in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including the UK Garage tracks Your Mind, Your Body, Your Soul and U Turn Me with Ten City vocalist Byron Stingily (2000). Under the artist name Johnny X, he also co-wrote and performed vocals on Call on Me which was released on Higher State.

In 2005 John released a jazz album, Feel My Soul on Candid Records featuring a mixture of jazz standards, and original compositions. Since the album's release John has been touring the UK and Europe with his jazz quartet, as well as performing with Imagination. In 2007, he submitted the track Trust My Heart for Ian Levine's album Northern Soul 2007.