Formed in Buffalo, New York, in 1974, Spyro Gyra is a commercially successful pop-jazz fusion group known for albums like the platinum-selling Morning Dance. Led by saxophonist Jay Beckenstein, the Grammy-nominated band blends R&B, pop, and Caribbean music with jazz.
Babyface is a 13-time Grammy-winning artist, songwriter, and producer who co-founded LaFace Records. He has released multi-platinum albums like Tender Lover and written or produced numerous hits for major artists, contributing to over 800 million records sold.
Grammy-winning R&B, soul, and jazz artist Chrisette Michele is an 18-year music veteran from Long Island, New York. Best known for classic hits like A Couple of Forevers and Love Is You, she is celebrated for her soulful vocals and resilient musical style.
Chicago-born R&B singer, songwriter, and producer Lalah Hathaway is a five-time Grammy winner who shares the record for most Best Traditional R&B Performance wins. She has released seven solo albums and collaborated with Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar, and Dr. Dre.
Nashville-born, Detroit-raised R&B icon KEM is a three-time GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer. He released multi-platinum and gold albums including Kemistry, Album II, and Intimacy: Album III. KEM has earned multiple NAACP Image and Soul Train Award nominations, scoring numerous #1 R&B radio hits.
Born in Kent, Joss Stone is a British singer known for her powerful voice and vintage soul sound. Her debut album "The Soul Sessions" sold over five million copies, earning her acclaim and Grammy noms with "Mind, Body & Soul." She won a Grammy for "Family Affair" with John Legend and Van Hunt. Collaborations with Dave Stewart, Raphael Saadiq, and Betty Wright enriched her style. Her U.K. chart-topping albums include "Mind, Body & Soul" and "The Soul Sessions, Vol. 2." Stone also won The Masked Singer U.K. in 2021.
R&B singer, songwriter, and producer Jon B. blended 70s soul with hip-hop on his 1995 debut album, Bonafide, featuring the hit Someone to Love with Babyface. His platinum-certified 1997 release, Cool Relax, yielded the major hits They Don't Know and Are U Still Down.
Meshell Ndegeocello is a Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and producer born in Berlin and raised in Washington, D.C. Known for defying genre boundaries, her eclectic sound blends jazz, soul, funk, R&B, rock, and reggae. She has released numerous acclaimed albums, including Plantation Lullabies and the Grammy-winning Omnichord Real Book.
Grammy-winning trumpeter Keyon Harrold, hailed by Wynton Marsalis as the future of the trumpet, was born and raised in Ferguson, Missouri. His cinematic, hard-to-categorize music blends jazz, classical, rock, blues, and hip hop, featuring collaborations with artists like Pharoahe Monch, Gary Clark Jr., and Robert Glasper.
Grammy-winning R&B singer Anthony Hamilton, a Charlotte, North Carolina native, broke through with his platinum 2003 album Comin' from Where I'm From. Known for his rugged, soulful voice, he has collaborated with legends like Al Green and released multiple Grammy-nominated top ten R&B albums.
Born in Los Angeles, R&B and soul singer Leela James debuted with 2005s A Change Is Gonna Come. Known for her gritty vocals and personal songwriting, she has released several Billboard-charting albums and earned award nominations, collaborating with artists like the Roots, Kanye West, and Moby.
Grammy-winning jazz, soul, and gospel vocalist Gregory Porter is known for his warm baritone voice and acclaimed albums like Water, Liquid Spirit, and Take Me to the Alley. Raised in California, he began his career in New York before releasing his 2010 debut.
Jodeci is an influential R&B group consisting of K-Ci, DeVante Swing, JoJo, and Mr. Dalvin. They have sold over 20 million records worldwide and achieved three number one albums on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart: Forever My Lady, Diary Of A Mad Band, and The Show, The After Party, The Hotel.
Grammy-nominated adult contemporary R&B duo Kindred the Family Soul consists of Philadelphia husband and wife Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon. Rooted in traditional soul and gospel, the duo debuted in 2003 with Surrender to Love and released albums including The Arrival and Legacy of Love.
Swiss contemporary jazz keyboardist Alex Bugnon, nephew of Donald Byrd, studied at the Paris Conservatory and Berklee. After backing artists like Patti Austin, he debuted with Love Season in 1989. His charting albums include Head Over Heels and Soul Purpose.
Grammy-winning house music DJ and producer Louie Vega is a leader in global dance music, known for blending house, salsa, jazz, and soul. As part of Masters At Work with Kenny Dope Gonzalez, he has shaped the genre and collaborated with numerous notable artists.
Formed by high school classmates Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste, the Fort Lauderdale duo Black Violin merges classical strings with modern beats. They won Showtime at the Apollo in 2005 and earned Grammy nominations for Take the Stairs and The Message.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, disco and dance artist CeCe Peniston rose to fame in the early 1990s. Signed to A&M, she released her gold-certified debut album, Finally, featuring the hit singles Finally and We Got a Love Thang. She followed with Thought Ya Knew and I'm Movin' On, and her club-favorite music continues to be widely remixed.
Born in Detroit, the Jones Girls added Midwest flavor to Philly soul. Known for late '70s and early '80s hits like "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else," they worked with Gamble and Huff. Their tight harmonies likened them to the Pointer Sisters and Emotions. Collaborated with icons like Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin.
Born in Detroit, El DeBarge is the falsetto voice of ’80s R&B group DeBarge, known for hits “All This Love,” “Rhythm of the Night” and solo “Who’s Johnny?” (Short Circuit).
Los Angeles-born contemporary R&B singer Karyn White broke through with her 1988 self-titled debut (produced by L.A. Reid & Babyface), selling over 2 million and spawning R&B No. 1s The Way You Love Me, Superwoman, and Love Saw It.
Lori Williams, jazz/R&B vocalist praised by Dianne Reeves & Terri Lyne Carrington; known for soulful, creamy “five S’s” style; song: “Too Late (It’s My Time)”; lauded by Biden.
Marqueal Jordan is a Los Angeles-born, Chicago-based saxophonist and vocalist. Known for his smooth, soulful blend of Contemporary Jazz, R&B, and Hip Hop, his albums include "Catalyst," "Intention & Purpose," and "All We Have Are Moments." He achieved Billboard chart success with singles like "Sistas" and "The Edge" and has collaborated with numerous artists, including Brian Culbertson. He is celebrated for his compelling live performances.
GRAMMY-nominated trumpeter, composer, producer and bandleader Theo Croker pushes modern jazz, blending experimental hip-hop and cosmic soul. Known for DREAM MANIFEST and songs “We Still Wanna Dance,” “High Vibrations,” and “Crystal Waterfalls.”
Teedra Moses is a Californian R&B singer-songwriter known for her 2004 debut "Complex Simplicity." She co-wrote Christina Milian's hit "Dip It Low" and collaborated with Raphael Saadiq and Kaytranada. Her music blends gospel fervor with contemporary R&B, and her second album "Cognac & Conversation" charted in 2015. Moses' notable works include "Be Your Girl" and appearances on Grammy-winning projects.
Washington, D.C.-born alto saxophonist, vocalist, and composer Braxton Cook blends contemporary/post-bop jazz with soul, funk, rap, and gospel. Albums include Somewhere in Between and No Doubt; a Nettwerk artist who’s worked with Christian Scott aTunde Adjua and Mac Miller.
Ohio R&B/quiet storm band Switch (ex-White Heat/Hot-Ice): backed Barry White; Motown/Gordy deal via Jermaine Jackson; Top 10 “There’ll Never Be,” “I Call Your Name.”
Merriweather Post Pavilion
