leon timbo

Leon Timbo, born in Jacksonville, FL, grew up in a household with two pastor parents, where music was central to spiritual communication from an early age. His grandmother, Virginia, further introduced him to music through Ray Charles-styled songs and gifted him his first guitar at seventeen. Timbo began singing at age sixteen and by twenty, he was playing guitar and performing, drawing inspiration from artists such as Bill Withers, James Taylor, and Tim Miner. In 2005, Timbo released his independently produced album, “Soul Sessions,” which he supported through extensive touring across the U.S. on a continuous small venue circuit, developing a dedicated fan base across the country. He utilized the internet to share new songs and video clips during this period.

His career advanced significantly after a performance at Bishop T.D. Jakes’ Potter’s House Church in Dallas, where Tyrese Gibson was present. Impressed by Timbo’s talent, Gibson invited him to open a show at the House of Blues that same evening, leading to a professional relationship. Gibson mentored Timbo on vocal techniques for both live and studio performances and produced an independent EP for him. Gibson then introduced Timbo to Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, who signed Timbo to his Soda Pop imprint through Island Def Jam. During this time, Timbo toured as an opening act for Edmonds, refining his songwriting skills. He recorded an album for Soda Pop; however, its release was put on hold when Edmonds’ agreement with Def Jam ended.

Following this, Timbo continued to tour and engage in studio work, including collaborations with Quincy Jones and R. Kelly. With encouragement from Tyrese Gibson, he began working on another album alongside veteran producer Luther “Mano” Hanes. Over a three-year period, they completed a 14-track album, for which the pre-release single, “What Love’s All About,” achieved success digitally and on radio. The full-length album was released in August 2016 through Riverphlo/eOne. More recently, Timbo has toured with two-time Grammy Award-winning bassist Marcus Miller, including sold-out shows at Blue Note New York, and has performed at festivals such as the American Roots Festival and Newport Folk Festival.