BLACK MUSIC MONTH SPOTLIGHT: JOE LEAVY

JOE LEAVY

AN AROUND-THE-WORLD REVELATION IN LIFE AND MUSIC

By Contributing Writer, Donna Michele Ramos

Mr. Joe Leavy is a singer, songwriter and producer. His CD project is “A Guy Named Joe Leavy.” This romantic has combined his huge passion for music and high regard for love for his listeners. His musical influences are Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Sam Cooke, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and Donny Hathaway. Stevie Wonder and Marvin are his favorite songwriters.

THE HUB: Were you interested in music in school? LEAVY: I grew up in a musical family. My uncle was a musician and my mom was a dancer with The Whispers. My dad loved to sing. I love to write the most but I also like singing.

THE HUB: What is the first concert you attended? LEAVY: Earth, Wind and Fire on September 18, 1979. THE HUB: Who would be your dream collaboration? LEAVY: Jay King is a mentor and superhero to me. I would have Nat King Cole sing with me and be produced by Quincy Jones and Derek Allen.

THE HUB: What did you enjoy about performing overseas for 10 years? What was the downside? LEAVY: I moved from Santa Rosa to Japan. I was escaping a situation and the grace of God intervened. My trip to Japan was the beginning to my new testament to my life. It was my greatest fight and I came out on top only by the grace of God. I was there with my cousin and got a job as a musician. I met my ex-wife and we got married. I got custody of my daughter but I had to come back to America to get her. The court would not let me bring her to Japan. I packed up my new family and moved to my home in Las Vegas. Being a musician took me away from my family too much so I sold my house and we

moved to California. I worked with my dad for two months then I started my drywall company. I met Jay King on the internet and we became friends. The friends I made I still have to this day. The love I put out is still coming back to me. Some of the friends are on this project with me.

The downside was I needed to pay more attention to my babies. I made lots of money but I worked 7 days a week; went to all kids events but was not present. As a young father I should have spent more quality time with my kids.

THE HUB: How did you like living in Japan? LEAVY: It was freeing. I lived in Japan for 10 years. It was absolutely mind-blowing; phenomenal. I learned what living in another country not as a Black person was like. I was called gaijin which means foreigner. If you are not Japanese, no matter what color you are you’re gaijin. My ex-wife and I were married for 23 years. I have two daughters AJ and Shalyce, a son Mantano and one grandson Jayden.

THE HUB: What do you see for your future in music? LEAVY: I intend to continue building and having this party. Since the fans love it and come, I’m going to continue to do it. I enjoy this. When I retire it will be doing this and when I go, they’ll say Mr. Leavy fell off the stage in Sweden.

My “Love, Faith and Family Tour” is what I live and thrive on. My shows are based on those 3 principles; you can bring your kids too. It is not profane; I don’t believe in that. We need leadership in our community, our kids are destroying themselves. We need to love each other. My music is about life. My tour is a ministry. “Soul on Fire” is a gospel song though I’m a jazz artist. “Love Me to My Soul” is about friendship not skinship. My second album, “Inside You” was #1 in the United Kingdom for 7 weeks. “Love Me to My Soul” is #1 in the United Kingdom now.

THE HUB: Anything we haven’t covered that you’d like to add? LEAVY: My favorite saying is, “Grievous words stir up anger, kind words turn away wrath. Always be kind.” n

For more information on Mr. Leavy’s music: www.joeleavy.com www.facebook.com/joe.leavy.524/about contact and basic info Skype: coldestman

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