Tweet

MARCH 16, 2021 | 8:31 AM

BY RONN GRANT

Virgin Islands born mix engineer Leslie Brathwaite a native of St. Thomas USVI, on Sunday evening took home a Grammy for his work on the critically acclaimed ‘Queen B’s’, Beyoncé’s Black Parade which won Best R&B Performance.

Leslie Brathwaite, who was born to Kittitian parents in St.Thomas, is one of the recording industry’s top mixing engineers whose credits include Pharrell Williams, Outkast, Björk, TLC, Jay Z, Madonna, Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Akon, T.I., Monica, Michael Jackson, Cher, Mary J. Blige, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G. just to name a few.

Growing up amid a rich musical culture in St. Thomas, Leslie Brathwaite’s fascination with the industry began at a young age.

After leaving home to attend Full Sail, Leslie graduated from the Recording Arts program in 1992 and made his way up to Atlanta. It was there that he started assisting producer Dallas Austin, earning credits on albums like Boyz II Men’s II and Outkast’s Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.

From there, opportunities poured in, and Leslie established himself as a go-to mix engineer and producer working with artists including Jay Z, Madonna, T.I., and more.

Brathwaite has won several Grammy Awards prior to Sunday’s highly anticipated award show including: Best R&B performance by Duo or Group – Brandy and Monica, The Boy Is Mine (1999), Best R&B Album – TLC, FanMail (2000), Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group – TLC, No Scrubs (2000), Best Rap Album – OUTKAST, Stankonia (2002), Best Urban Contemporary Album – Pharrell Williams, GIRL (2015), Best Pop Solo Performance – Pharrell Williams, Happy (2015). 

Braithwaite grew up in the US Virgin Islands to Sandy Point, St.Kitts parents.