Londa Larmond - Toronto ON
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Few
young women speak
with the authority and maturity of Londa Larmond. Even fewer have her
vocal talents. With her Pop and Jazz-influenced, R&B-flavoured brand
of Gospel, Londa Larmond is one of the brightest talents
on today's music scene.
"My
music is for everybody and my message is for everybody," Londa
asserts.
"I don't want to leave anybody out. I want people to know that
God hears everything, and He is there for them. He feels what we're
feeling. I believe He cries when we're crying. I know He was crying
with me. And He is there to comfort you."
Born
and raised in Toronto, Canada, to Jamaican parents, Ethan and Evan,
Londa's childhood was filled with Gospel music. Her church deacon father
is also a musician and singer, while two out
of her three brothers all sing and/or play instruments. Not surprisingly,
family devotion time in the Larmond household was
a musical affair, with everyone singing and playing.
The one rule, she recalls, concerned the type of music played on the
family stereo: "It had to be Gospel," she laughs. "Richard
Smallwood, Commissioned, or the Clark Sisters!" But you know what
I played in my room? Hip-hop, Reggae and R&B. I shouldn't have,
but I did!" Londa was singing in church at the age of 7, and began
performing professionally at 14 as a featured member of Toronto's renowned
Youth Outreach Mass Choir. From there she honed her musical chops as
a member of the Gospel Soul Sisters, before joining the internationally
acclaimed Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale in 1995.
Debut album, "LOVE
LETTERS", is a jubilant collection, offering
encouragement and hope in the face of despair. Produced by such industry
heavyweights as Michael-Anthony Mooki Taylor (Stacy Orrico, DC Talk,
TobyMac, TD Jakes) Asaph "Alex" Ward (Kim Burrell, Dorinda
Clark-Cole), Sanchez Harley (Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin, Hezekiah
Walker) and Montrel Darrett, the 10-song project showcases Londa's stunning
vocal range.
In 2002, Londa's debut album "Love Letters" was acknowledged
by international critics and consumers and her list of award credits
continues to grow. A winner of the Canadian Urban Music Awards for Best
Gospel Recording, Dove Awards nominee for Urban Album of the Year and
a JUNO Award nominee for Best Gospel Album of the Year, Love Letters
has proven itself to be a sample what Billboard Magazine (18/8/01) describes
as an inspiring step beyond more conventional gospel/R&B structure.
Londa's
escapades with Faith Chorale led to an appearance in the blockbuster
film, The Blues Brothers 2000. Under the direction of John Landis, Londa
not only performed in the film, but also recorded on the Grammy nominated,
Certified Gold (U.S.), soundtrack with Aretha Franklin, Erykah Badu,
James Brown, Sam Moore, Taj Mahal, Bo Diddley, Isaac Hayes, Steve Winwood
and Eric Clapton.
Londa's passion for engaging an audience and colourful
performance skills results in an explosive combination that is consistently
pushing her to the forefront of the pack. Her material introduces a
new genre of soulful-jazz and urban-pop grooves.
This comes sealed with a timely message of love and inspiration.
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