LeMel Humes


Lemuel “LeMel” Humes is an American songwriter/composer, musician, singer, and producer. He is perhaps best-known for his longstanding songwriting and production relationship with R&B/soul singer Miki Howard, particularly his work on her early/breakthrough albums.

Career

Humes began his recording career in the early 1980s, releasing the single "Dance So Fine" under the name Nijel in 1982.
Working as a staff songwriter for Warner Brothers Music Publishing, he earned more public recognition when he wrote and produced nearly all of the tracks on Miki Howard's Atlantic Records debut album, Come Share My Love, including the top-ten R&B chart hit title track. Humes also played various keyboards and provided backing vocals throughout the album, while also arranging several songs. His other highlights on the album include a vocal duet with Howard on the song "I Can't Wait " and performing all instruments on the song "My Friend". Humes continued working with Howard, writing and producing several songs on her second album, Love Confessions, including the title track.
This early success segued into work with other artists, including Stephanie Mills, The Pointer Sisters, Ray Charles, Thelma Houston, and Meli'sa Morgan. He scored his first number one R&B hit in 1989, writing and producing Stacy Lattisaw's duet with Johnny Gill, "Where Do We Go from Here".
Humes also continued to work with Miki Howard throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, returning to a prominent role on her Femme Fatale and Can't Count Me Out albums, the first of which included her number one R&B hit, "Ain't Nobody Like You".
Humes served on the Austin Film Society Board from 2019 to 2025, including as Board Secretary from 2022 to 2025.

Select Discography

Songs written/composed

Miki Howard

Whitney Houston

  • "Where You Are"

Stacy Lattisaw

The Pointer Sisters

  • "He Turned Me Out"

Ray Charles

  • "Let Me Take Over"

Thelma Houston

  • "High"

Meli'sa Morgan

  • "So Long, Goodbye"

Sweet Obsession

Amii Stewart

  • "Stay With Me "

Songs/Albums produced

Miki Howard

Come Share My Love

Stephanie Mills

  • "Comfort of a Man"

Milira