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Makeda SandfordTwo-time Grammy nominee Luke James is enjoying success as both a singer and an actor, but he says the most important project of his career combined both those talents: It was his role as Johnny Gill in the 2017 BET miniseries, The New Edition Story.
“That opportunity right there was the turning point for me, personally,” he tells ABC Audio. “It was a turning point ’cause it was an opportunity to really, you know, jump out of album mode, out of Luke James world, and dive into someone else.”
The “All Of Your Love” singer worked closely with legendary producers Babyface and Jimmy Jam in recording songs for the New Edition series.
“I had to listen to so much, so many classics,” he recalls. “So, I had to dive deep into the black pool of genius and find what inspired these people that have inspired all of us at what we do.”
“Hanging with Babyface and Jimmy Jam, and listening to all the stories…I mean that opportunity was just mind-blowing,” Luke says. “It throws me that it even happened. It feels like it was yesterday. Yeah — Johnny Gill is the man.”
Luke also reprised his role as Johnny in 2018’s The Bobby Brown Story.
The singer kicks off his “To Feel Loved” tour tonight in Philadelphia. The trek will also stop in Atlanta, New Orleans, Washington, D.C. New Orleans, Chicago and San Francisco, before wrapping up in L.A. on February 16.
James will also star in season three of The Chi, which debuts July 5 on Showtime.
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