Leroy Burgess

Leroy Burgess is an influential American singer, songwriter, keyboardist, arranger, and record producer, best known for his pivotal role in the evolution of soul, disco, boogie, and house music from the 1970s onward. Born and raised in Harlem, New York, Burgess first achieved notoriety as a member of the soul group Black Ivory, contributing his distinctive tenor vocals and songwriting to hits like "Don't Turn Around" and "Mainline." After leaving Black Ivory in the late 1970s, he became a prolific collaborator in New York’s bustling dance music scene, working with producer Patrick Adams and forming numerous studio groups including Logg, Inner Life, and Convertion.

Burgess’s unique blend of heartfelt melodies, tight production, and infectious grooves quickly earned him a reputation as a foundational figure in the boogie and post-disco genres. Throughout the 1980s and into the house music era, his work influenced legions of artists and producers, both through his solo releases and as an in-demand session musician and collaborator. Revered for his deep musicality, innovative arrangements, and his ongoing contributions to contemporary dance music, Leroy Burgess has maintained a lasting appeal with DJs, collectors, and listeners, earning him recognition as a true architect of modern soul and dance music.