Drum Magazine Issue 4 | Page 16

14 Drum: EVENTS What’s Going On... Leela James: What I Got To Say Leela James has been singing her story since the age of six. A poet at heart, she began transforming her poetry into songs during adolescence. During her high school years, James was first discovered by a musical producer moonlighting as one of her high school teachers. After James was overheard singing in the classroom, it wasn’t long before she was brought into the recording studio. When discussing her first recording, James’ voice becomes infused with a girl’s unbridled excitement about becoming a bona fide recording artist in the biz. During this rare, unguarded moment, you witness the giggling girl beneath the tough talking veneer. “That was a good time in my life, back then I was just happy to hear my voice on a track,” she says. Now, years after recording her first song as a teenage girl coming into womanhood, A Change Is Gonna Come boasts a roster of A-list producers, including Commissioner Gordon, Wyclef Jean, Kanye West, Chucky Thompson, and Raphael Saadiq. A Change Is Gonna Come is released by Warner Bros. on 20th June.. Barbados Cultural Organisation’s annual charity ball and cricket match The sixth anniversary of the charity weekend organised by the Barbados Cultural Organisation takes place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th June 2005. As in previous years, there will be a Charity Ball held at The Holiday Inn London Forum, Gloucester Road on Saturday evening. On Sunday, two cricket matches of a 20-20 format will be played between three Barbadian teams and an Australian XI. These will be played at Uxbridge County cricket ground, Park Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex. The objective of the weekend is to raise funds for charities in the Barbadian community in the UK and the Caribbean. In 2004, the organisation donated Bds$7,500 (£2,052) to The Hope Foundation - caring and sharing for Lupus. There are bouncy castles, face painting and the sounds of soca music playing all day long. Participating cricketers will include Sir Garfield Sobers, Joel Garner, Sir Viv Richards and Collis King on this great occasion. For further information, please contact Tyrone Roach on 07745 247 280 or Cedric Lynch on 07834 883 370. Alternatively, email [email protected]