Leah LaBelle

Leah LaBelle Vladowski was an American singer. Born in Toronto, Canada, and raised in Seattle, Washington, LaBelle began to pursue music as a career in her teens. During her childhood, she performed in the Total Experience Gospel Choir and the musical Black Nativity. At age 16, she was a finalist on the third season of American Idol. After placing twelfth in the season finals, she attended the Berklee College of Music, where she collaborated with Andreao Heard on a demo. LaBelle then moved to Los Angeles, where she recorded covers of R&B and soul music through her YouTube channel. Keri Hilson hired LaBelle as a backing vocalist after watching her rendition of "Energy", which led to her working as a background singer for other artists on their tours.