Laith Al-Saadi
Laith Al-Saadi is an American musician from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Al-Saadi gained nationwide recognition after he won a spot in the 2016 finale of the musical competition series The Voice.
Early life and education
Laith Al-Saadi first learned to sing with the Boys' Choir of Ann Arbor when he was four years old, and then started playing the guitar at age 13. His father is from Baqubah, Iraq and his mother is from Beverly Shores, Indiana. As a student of Ann Arbor's Community High School, he played in the school's jazz band.Al-Saadi attended the University of Michigan and received a degree in jazz guitar and bass.
Career
''Long Time Coming'', ''In the Round'', and ''Real'' (1992–2014)
In 1992, Al-Saadi joined a local blues band called Blue Vinyl. The group was successful enough to tour the Netherlands, and landed gigs opening for Buddy Guy, Son Seals, Luther Allison, and Taj Mahal. In 2005, Al-Saadi released his first solo album, Long Time Coming. In 2006, Al-Saadi was named "King of the Blues" for the Northern United States by Guitar Center, "making him one of top four blues guitarists in the country". In 2008, Al-Saadi released In the Round. 2013 saw the release of Real, a live-in-the-studio set with Al-Saadi backed by a band including Jimmy Vivino on rhythm guitar, Leland Sklar on bass, Jim Keltner on drums, and Tom Scott on sax.''The Voice'' and ''Don't You Give Up On Me'' (2015–present)
In March 2016, Al-Saadi was chosen to be a contestant on the musical competition series The Voice and gained nationwide recognition after he made it to the finale.| Stage | Song | Original Artist | Date | Order | Result |
| Blind Audition | "The Letter" | Joe Cocker | March 1, 2016 | 2.7 | Adam Levine and Blake Shelton turned; Joined Team Adam |
| Battle Rounds | "Honky Tonk Women" | The Rolling Stones | March 22, 2016 | 9.1 | Saved by Coach |
| Knockout Rounds | "In Your Eyes" | Peter Gabriel | April 4, 2016 | 12.5 | Saved by Coach |
| Live Playoffs | "With a Little Help from My Friends" | The Beatles | April 12, 2016 | 15.3 | Saved by Public Vote |
| Live Top 12 | "Born Under a Bad Sign" | Albert King | April 18, 2016 | 17.2 | Saved by Public Vote |
| Live Top 11 | "Make It Rain" | Foy Vance | April 25, 2016 | 19.11 | Saved by Public Vote |
| Live Top 10 | "The Thrill Is Gone" | B. B. King | May 2, 2016 | 21.5 | Saved by Public Vote |
| Live Top 9 | "We've Got Tonight" | Bob Seger | May 9, 2016 | 23.6 | Saved by Public Vote |
| Live Semi-finals | "One and Only" | Adele | May 16, 2016 | 25.4 | Middle 3 |
| Semi-finals Instant Save | "All Along the Watchtower" | Bob Dylan | May 17, 2016 | 26.3 | Saved by Twitter Instant Save |
| Live Finals | "White Room" | Cream | May 23, 2016 | 27.1 | 4th place |
| Live Finals | "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End" | The Beatles | May 23, 2016 | 27.5 | 4th place |
| Live Finals | "Morning Light" | Laith Al-Saadi | May 23, 2016 | 27.9 | 4th place |
| Round | Episode / Order | Collaborators | Song | Original Artist | References |
| Live Playoffs Results | 16.5 | Caroline Burns, Nate Butler, Owen Danoff, Shalyah Fearing and Brian Nhira | "Your Song" | Elton John | |
| Live Top 1 Results | 18.3 | Owen Danoff and Shalyah Fearing | "If You Want Me to Stay" | Sly and the Family Stone | |
| Live Semi-finals | 25.7 | Hannah Huston | "Knock on Wood" | Eddie Floyd | |
| The Finale Results | 28.4 | Joe Walsh | "Rocky Mountain Way" | Joe Walsh | |
| The Finale Results | 28.10 | Katie Basden and Shalyah Fearing | "Georgia on My Mind" | Ray Charles |
In May 2016, two of Al-Saadi's songs from the album The Complete Season 10 Collection made it to Billboard's Hot Rock Songs chart; "Born Under a Bad Sign" at #50 and "We've Got Tonight" at #22.
In 2019, Al-Saadi played new acoustic solo shows. In 2020, Al-Saadi won the award for "Best Blues Instrumentalist" at the Detroit Music Awards. He released the album Don't You Give Up on Me in 2024.
Discography
Studio albumsLong Time Coming In the Round Real- ''Don't You Give Up on Me''