Maysa: The Soulful Voice of Jazz and R&B
Maysa is an acclaimed American jazz and R&B singer-songwriter renowned for her rich, emotive contralto voice and long-standing role as the lead vocalist for the British band Incognito. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, she achieved significant commercial success with her 1995 solo debut album, which spawned the top ten R&B hit "What About Our Love."
Early career
Born in 1966, Maysa Leak began her musical journey in Baltimore, studying classical voice at Morgan State University. Her professional break arrived in the early 1990s when Incognito's founder, Bluey Maunick, discovered a demo tape, leading to her immediate recruitment. She contributed vocals to Incognito's 1992 album Tribes, Vibes and Scribes, marking her official industry entry.
Breakthrough
Maysa's solo breakthrough came in 1995 with her self-titled debut album on the Expansion Records label. The lead single, "What About Our Love," became a major R&B radio hit, peaking at number 8 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. This success firmly established her as a formidable solo artist alongside her ongoing work with Incognito.
Key tracks
What About Our Love — This 1995 single was her first major solo hit, defining her early sound and earning a top ten position on the R&B chart.
Am I Wrong (For Lovin' You?) — A signature track from her 2000 album All My Life, it remains a fan favorite and staple in her live performances.
Quiet Storm — This 1999 collaboration with DJ Cam showcased her versatility, blending her soulful vocals with a trip-hop and downtempo backdrop.
Runnin' — Featured on her 2012 album Blue Velvet Soul, this track exemplifies her mature, jazz-infused R&B style that has defined her later career.
Maysa has maintained a prolific solo output, releasing over a dozen studio albums including Out of the Blue (2002), Metamorphosis (2011), and Music for Your Soul (2022). Her consistent work has earned multiple Grammy nominations, notably for Best Jazz Vocal Album for Love Is a Battlefield in 2013. She has collaborated with notable artists like Phil Perry, Will Downing, and the late Gerald Albright.
Artists with a similar sophisticated blend of jazz, soul, and R&B include Lalah Hathaway, who shares a deep musical lineage and virtuosic vocal control. Angie Stone offers a comparable grounding in classic soul with a modern R&B sensibility. The smooth jazz and soul approach of Will Downing often aligns with Maysa's style, as evidenced by their duet work. Incognito, the band she still performs with, is the direct foundation of her career and sound.
Maysa's music is a regular feature on sophisticated soul, quiet storm, and contemporary jazz radio stations across the network. Her timeless catalog, from early 90s hits to recent albums, ensures steady rotation on both terrestrial FM and dedicated online radio streams focused on adult R&B.
Listeners can explore the soulful depth of Maysa's discography on the radio stations featured here on onairium.com, where her classic hits and new releases are integrated into curated playlists for true music enthusiasts.
