Leon Bridges
Cancer — July 13, 1989

Bridges’ family roots are in New Orleans,
but the Altanta-born crooner would only
live there briefly as an infant. He grew
up in Fort Worth, Texas. 


Saddle shoes, spectator
wingtips and loafers

Bridges’ first record, Coming Home,
debuted at No. 1 on the R&B/Hip Hop
Album charts this summer.


Whitney Houston, Anita Baker,
Mariah Carey, Babyface, Mozart…

8701 by Usher


 
One celebrates R&B’s
soul-driven past while
the other maps the
sound of its future.
We take a closer look
at two artists whose
albums, both new and
soon to drop, are taking
summer 2015 by storm. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
SOUTHERN COMFORT

 
 
 
 
 
Footwear of Choice

 
 
 
 
 
 
New Album

 
 
 
 
Music in the Household,
Courtesy of Mom


 
 
 
 
 
FIRST ALBUM BOUGHT

Frank Ocean
Scorpio — October 28, 1987

Originally from Long Beach, California,
Ocean was raised in New Orleans. After
Hurricane Katrina, he headed back
West — this time to Los Angeles.


Sneakers

Ocean’s latest album, Boys Don’t Cry (working
title), was supposed to drop in July. Every day
that passes only amplifies the buzz.


Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, Mariah
Carey, Celine Dion, Phantom of the Opera

The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem

 

And there’s more…

Signature Style
LB: Vintage
FO: Headbands and a rising-sun bandana

The Name Game
LB: Born Todd Michael, he changed his name to Leon — after actor Leon Robinson, whom Bridges was often told he resembled. Also goes by Lost Child, his starter stage name.
FO: Born Christopher Breaux, he changed his name to Christopher Francis Ocean, partly inspired by Ocean’s 11. Also goes by the nickname Lonny.

Odd Jobs in the Past
LB: Park attendant at Six Flags Over Texas, bussing tables at Del Frisco’s Grill and Tex-Mex restaurant Rosa’s Cafe, working at an eye-solution plant….
FO: Subway sandwich artist, claims processor at Allstate Insurance, AT&T salesman…

Compared To
LB: Otis Redding and Sam Cooke
FO: Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Sly Stone and, once in The Fader, “an R&B Woody Allen”

Read more features from the Music Issue, past and present.


Leon Bridges credits, from top: Bridges, photographed by Justin Lane/EPA/Corbis; New Orleans, photographed by Mcalin on Instagram; the cover of Bridges’ Coming Home album; Whitney Houston, photographed by REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni; Frank Ocean credits, from top: Ocean, photographed by LAN/Corbis; New Orleans, photographed by Chloé Rymer on Instagram; a fan-made cover of Boys Don’t Cry, via m0ntreux.tumblr.com; Whitney Houston, photographed by REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

More to explore in Music