Leslie Odom Jr. Launches Kickstarter Album Project

SMASH star and Broadway regular Leslie Odom Jr. has established a Kickstarter account to fund completion of his first solo album project.

Odom Jr. has offered a wide range of items depending on how much one proceeds to pledge: from $5 earning you a pre-release digital download of the completed studio album by November through to $450 personalized video/audio song performances of your choice to VIP concert access, onstage duet opportunities and even the chance to have the triple-threat perform live on request for your enjoyment at the $5000 and $10,000 levels.

Listed on the site are also some enticing demo recordings of some contemporary chart-toppers such as the current Bruno Mars SMASH "When I Was Your Man" as well as Rihanna's "Stay". Additionally, Odom Jr. features his performance from last night's episode of SMASH, the rollicking and ear-grabbing Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman gem "(Let's Start) Tomorrow Tonight".

In describing the sound of the album, Odom Jr. writes:

"Imagine the album that Nat King Cole or Sammy Davis, Jr. might make today.

There isn't really a black male Traditional Pop vocalist visible enough on the contemporary music scene for me to draw a comparison to. That is where I come in... Our sound will be lush, full, and emotional. We want strings where appropriate, a horn section when needed, and we won't be afraid to strip everything down to percussion, piano and voice on a track if we find it most affective."

The total goal for the project is $30,000 by April 17.

Check out Leslie Odom Jr.'s Kickstarter page here.

So, would you like to hear a suave solo album by this supremely talented rising star?

Check out Odom Jr.'s demo of "When I Was Your Man" by Bruno Mars below.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride