Leslie Mendelson

Leslie Mendelson is a singer/songwriter/artist from NEW YORK CITY. She spent the last year in London working with legendary producer Glyn Johns and The Who's Roger Daltrey for his upcoming solo album. She also recorded with the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir at Tri Studios in San Rafael, CA.

Born and raised on Long Island, Leslie grew up in a musical family. At an early age she started playing piano by ear, singing and writing her own songs. "Music has always been in our family. My father still plays the trumpet every day, my grandfather was a singer with a big ol' baritone voice and my great grandfather was performer in the Yiddish theater where he whistled and played the spoons." Her parents introduced her to singer/songwriters and artists of the time as well as classic jazz and rock and roll. "I'll listen to everything from Frank Sinatra to David Bowie. If it's good it doesn't matter what genre it is. I love country, soul, rock,
whatever. I love the greats."

Joel Dorn, renowned Grammy award winning producer and Atlantic Records executive (Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway) helped her sign a deal with Rykodisc Records. She then worked alongside hit songwriter Steve McEwan (Keith Urban, Faith Hill, Eminem) and award winning producer/arranger Rob Mounsey (Paul Simon, Mary J. Blige, Steely Dan) to shape the sound of her album Swan Feathers, nominated for a Grammy Award in 2009.

Jac Holzman, founder of Elektra and Nonesuch, said of the album: "This is one of the tastiest pop albums of recent memory, and I say "pop" in the Carole King sense... No album of this genre has touched me so deeply. [Leslie's lyrics] come alive in her delicate and courageous phrasing... [her] songs stick to you like swan feathers caught on rubber cement."

Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir saw Leslie's cover of Friend of the Devil and was struck by the freshness and delicate take on this classic. Everyone at TRI Studios immediately started planning a special Weir Here built around her. The chemistry was immediately apparent and she is now a full-fledged member of the TRI All-stars family. As Bob says' "There's a lot of music to be made together in the future". The Best of Weir Here will be available winter 2015 where Leslie is featured on two songs.

Since then Leslie has toured with Glen Tilbrook (Squeeze) and Deacon Blue in theaters around the UK and Europe. In November she joined The Who to sing Baba O'Riley along with Eddie Vedder, Liam Gallagher and Geddy Lee for Teenage Cancer Trust. Throughout her career she has shared the stage with legends such as Bob Weir, Roberta Flack, Dr. John, Jimmy Webb and Levon Helm from The Band. Her song "All Come Together" was featured in the Yahoo! End Of The Year campaign.

When it came time to start her next record, Glyn Johns was at the top of Leslie's list. "Glyn has made some of my favorite records of all time. The Eagles, The Who, Eric Clapton and countless others. I wanted to make an album that captured a live and spontaneous vibe in the studio and there's no better producer then Glyn when it comes to that particular style."