The Leading Ladies are a British-American girl group/supergroup formed
in London, England in . The group consists of three leading women from
the London West End stage; American singer and actress Amber Riley,
who starred in Dreamgirls, British soul singer Beverley Knight, who
featured in The Bodyguard, Memphis and Cats and British theatre star
Cassidy Janson, who took the leading role in Beautiful: The Carole
King Musical.The idea for forming Leading Ladies came after Beverley
Knight was approached by her label East West to record a musicals
themed album. She was not sold on the idea of recording a solo album
of show songs and turned down the idea. Knight subsequently formed
Leading Ladies as she wanted to try something new after having a
health scare, which resulted in her having a hysterectomy. After
watching both Riley promoting Dreamgirls on The Graham Norton Show and
Janson performing in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Knight asked
East West to approach both women with the offer of recording an album
together. Riley and Janson both agreed and the group was formed and
signed to East West/Warner Music.The Leading Ladies' debut album Songs
from the Stage was released on November . The album features fourteen
songs from musicals including Hamilton, Cats, Rent, Dreamgirls, Funny
Girl, The Bodyguard, Memphis and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
Songs from the Stage was produced by Grammy Award-winning British
producer Brian Rawling, who has previously worked with Cher, Tina
Turner and Lionel Richie. The setting-up of the music and vocal
arrangements were done together as a group, while most of the
recording occurred separately within a two-week period due to their
busy individual schedules. During the album recording, Riley and
Janson were still both contracted to perform in the West End, while
Knight was recovering from surgery and due to go on her I Love
Soulsville UK tour.[citation needed]
in London, England in . The group consists of three leading women from
the London West End stage; American singer and actress Amber Riley,
who starred in Dreamgirls, British soul singer Beverley Knight, who
featured in The Bodyguard, Memphis and Cats and British theatre star
Cassidy Janson, who took the leading role in Beautiful: The Carole
King Musical.The idea for forming Leading Ladies came after Beverley
Knight was approached by her label East West to record a musicals
themed album. She was not sold on the idea of recording a solo album
of show songs and turned down the idea. Knight subsequently formed
Leading Ladies as she wanted to try something new after having a
health scare, which resulted in her having a hysterectomy. After
watching both Riley promoting Dreamgirls on The Graham Norton Show and
Janson performing in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Knight asked
East West to approach both women with the offer of recording an album
together. Riley and Janson both agreed and the group was formed and
signed to East West/Warner Music.The Leading Ladies' debut album Songs
from the Stage was released on November . The album features fourteen
songs from musicals including Hamilton, Cats, Rent, Dreamgirls, Funny
Girl, The Bodyguard, Memphis and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
Songs from the Stage was produced by Grammy Award-winning British
producer Brian Rawling, who has previously worked with Cher, Tina
Turner and Lionel Richie. The setting-up of the music and vocal
arrangements were done together as a group, while most of the
recording occurred separately within a two-week period due to their
busy individual schedules. During the album recording, Riley and
Janson were still both contracted to perform in the West End, while
Knight was recovering from surgery and due to go on her I Love
Soulsville UK tour.[citation needed]
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