Harlem Singer Lovon Catches On In China

March 22, 2012 (PRLEAP.COM) Entertainment News
Sometimes you have to leave your neighborhood to find your home.

On a not-so-quiet street in Harlem, singer Lovon Bond spends most of his time alone in his apartment. He ventures out to take the train to a rehearsal studio or a recording studio to put the finishing touches on his CD, "Love On," or to prepare for his concert at Lincoln Center in New York City.

"I'm focusing on listeners around the world, along with my neighborhood," Lovon says.

His neighbors at home might be surprised to hear that his songs are getting praise from listeners from countries like China, France and the Netherlands. His singles, "Love On," "My Heart's A Liar," and "This Is Not A Song" have been broadcast worldwide in the past two months, and fans from as far away as Jerusalem and Bangkok have written to find out how they can hear more of his music.

"I don't do music that is black, white or Hispanic or any other of the ethnic labels that divide listeners right now," Lovon says. "I don't aspire to sing down the street; I aspire to sing down barriers."

Lovon prefers to play venues like Lincoln Center's New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. He played that venue in March. He also performs for charity events such as a March of Dimes fundraiser and festivals that draw listeners that might not otherwise hear his music.

Lovon will be performing for the March of Dimes on Sunday, April 29, 2012 in New York City. The event called "March for Babies" will be opened and is supported by 2012 MVP NY Giants Quarterback Eli Manning. It will start off at Lincoln Center at 9:00 AM. For further details, please go to www.marchforbabies.org and enter the zip code 10012 in the "find an event" search box provided.

"The people who enjoy my singing tend to be thoughtful, loving listeners who seek more from music than a moment's entertainment," says Lovon.

His CD, "Love On," produced by Kevin Johnston and Liz Herrera of The Plan A Project, emphasized Lovon's soulful, R&B-tinged falsetto that soars with surprising richness, but the material delves into Neil Young, David Gates and Bread and Motown.

The original songs explore jazz influences reminiscent of Antonio Carlos Jobin, and rock songs that owe much to Sting and Roy Orbison. One acoustic track harks back to 1940's jazz ballads, while songs like "Na Na Na Na" have a decidedly-modern indie-rock feel.

Missing are any expressions of bitterness or victimization as Lovon charms his way through the tough-but-optimistic "Love On."

A young girl in Colombia picked Lovon's current singles after hearing the full CD. Lovon says, "The producers asked her to choose favorites of hers because she was such a fan. And she chose well because those three songs have gotten a strong response in France, China, Japan and Brazil."

While singing to the world, Lovon stays home. Harlem beats drift through his window and seep into the feel of his living-room rehearsal as he practices a Latin-tinged tune written by one of his producers and a country song written by Hank Williams, Sr., "So Lonesome I Could Cry."

"The worldly variety of the music I rehearse and sing reminds me that we will do all share the same address after all," says Lovon.

"The loneliness and isolation of my life does get to me sometimes," he also says, "but I just keep thinking about the new friends I am making around the world. I have come to realize that music has no color. I am trying to touch hearts, and all of our hearts are the same color."