Leslie Odom, Jr.
Multifaceted performer Leslie Odom, Jr. is perhaps best known for his role as Aaron Burr in the musical Broadway smash Hamilton, a performance for which he won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He is also a Grammy Award-winner as a principal soloist on Hamilton’s Original Broadway Cast Recording, which won the 2015 award for Best Musical Theater Album. Odom, Jr. made his Broadway debut at the age of 17 in Rent before heading to Carnegie Mellon University’s prestigious School of Drama.
On television, he played Sam Strickland in the 2013 musical television series Smash and had a recurring role on Law & Order: SVU. He’s also appeared in episodes of Gotham, Person of Interest, Grey’s Anatomy, House of Lies, Vanished and CSI: Miami. On the big screen he starred in Red Tails opposite Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr. and will be seen this year in Kenneth Branaugh’s Murder in the Orient Express.
His album Leslie Odom Jr. charted at #1 on Billboard Jazz.He promoted the album with a series of concerts throughout the year. Broadwayworld.com’s David Clarke said, “Fans and newcomers alike can revel in the glory of his decadently jazzy debut solo album, and after just one listen, I’m sure that you’ll be hooked… There is a crisp smoothness to Leslie Odom Jr.’s voice that is entirely fascinating, and his self-titled debut album puts his instrument on full display.” In November 2016, he released a new album, titled Simply Christmas.