Leon Thomas

Leon Thomas Artistfacts

  • August 1, 1993
  • Leon Thomas III is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, producer, and actor from New York City. He made his Broadway debut aged 10 as Young Simba in the 2003 production of The Lion King. Thomas rose to prominence in his early teens for his portrayal of André Harris in Nickelodeon's Victorious.
  • Beyond Victorious, Thomas has appeared in films such as August Rush (2007) and Detroit (2017) and also had a recurring role in the television series Insecure (2017).
  • Thomas launched his solo music career with the release of his debut single, "Hello How Are You" featuring Wiz Khalifa, in September 2013.
  • Transitioning to music production, Thomas formed the duo The Rascals with Chris Tines. They contributed four tracks to Yours Truly, the debut album of his Victorious co-star Ariana Grande, and went on to collaborate with artists like Drake ("In The Bible," "Love All") and SZA ("Snooze").
  • Thomas's production work earned him two Grammy nominations, one for Jack Harlow's Come Home The Kids Miss You album and another for Snoh Aalegra's R&B track "Do 4 Love." He ultimately won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for his work on SZA's "Snooze."
  • Ty Dolla Sign, after signing a joint venture deal with Motown for his new EZMNY Records imprint, announced Thomas as the label's first artist in May 2022. Thomas subsequently released "Love Jones" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign), marking his return to performing music after a four-year hiatus.
  • Thomas' 2024 single "MUTT" became his first Hot 100 hit, debuting at #100 in February 2025. Inspired by his experiences with his untrained dog (a gift from a former partner), the song explores themes of personal imperfection and relationship dynamics.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & FireSongwriter Interviews

The longtime bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire discusses how his band came to do a holiday album, and offers insight into some of the greatest dance/soul tunes of all-time.

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.