Dressed in a simple black top, linen pants and black sandals, she made it clear how she got her following. Not just another 'neo-soul' singer, she combines the down-to-earth appeal of pre- 'Unplugged' Lauryn Hill with the homegrown sass of a Jill Scott or Erykah Badu.ДЄt her performance at Oakland's Juneteenth festival, the audience delighted to sing along. It's hard to understand why Ledisi has been independent for so long. Manning is her keyboardist, and the two have co-written and produced two albums. Ledisi started her own band, Anibade, after a few years of performing with other groups. 'It really allowed me to reach everyone, not just the folks in the front row.' 'But in the meantime, we still have to put our stuff out there.'ДЄfter college, Ledisi started performing with Slide 5, a local acid-jazz group, while working as an understudy for 'Beach Blanket Babylon.' She says working for the longest-running cabaret revue in the country has helped her shape her other performances. 'We've had great lunches and nice meetings (with record companies),' Ledisi says. It's the kind of Cinderella story that most singers experience on their way to stardom - except they usually have a record deal or a major distributor. She averages five shows a week with her band, has worked in 'Beach Blanket Babylon' for 11 years and has a role in 'The Matrix Reloaded.' She doesn't reveal her age, and her cherubic face offers few clues, but she has the energy level of a fitness guru. She took advantage of the music offerings at Skyline High and the UC Berkeley Young Musicians Program. Her mother was an R&B singer with a cover band named Carnova, her father a guitarist. Ledisi moved to Oakland when she was 10 years old.

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