Grammy winner Avery Sunshine, born Denise White in Chester, Pennsylvania, studied piano at Spelman College. She writes and produces with Dana BigDane Johnson. Their hit Call My Name topped Billboard and won an ASCAP award. She has toured globally, opened for B.B. King, and performed for Aretha Franklin.
Born in New York, saxophonist and flautist Najee is a Grammy-nominated crossover jazz and R&B artist known for his warm sound. He debuted with 1986's Najee's Theme and released chart-topping albums like Tokyo Blue and My Point of View. He has collaborated with Prince, Chaka Khan, and Stevie Wonder, and won NAACP awards.
Harlem-born R&B singer, songwriter, and producer Keith Sweat is a pioneer of the new jack swing movement. He launched to stardom with his 1987 triple-platinum debut album, Make It Last Forever, featuring the hit I Want Her. Famed for iconic slow jams like Twisted and Nobody, Sweat also formed the supergroup LSG.
Harlem-born producer Teddy Riley, the King of New Jack Swing, shaped R&B and pop as a member of Guy and Blackstreet. He earned platinum success producing hits like No Diggity and Joe's Stutter, collaborating with Michael Jackson, Keith Sweat, and Mary J. Blige.
Formed in Baltimore in 1992, American R&B group Dru Hill rose to 90s fame with hits like Tell Me, In My Bed, and How Deep Is Your Love. Known for soulful harmonies, they charted multiple Top 40 hits and spanned a decades-long career, alongside member Sisqo's multi-platinum solo success.
Grammy-winning bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding was born in Portland, Oregon. Known for her cross-pollinated contemporary jazz, she made history as the youngest faculty member at Berklee College of Music. Her acclaimed albums include Esperanza, Chamber Music Society, Radio Music Society, and Twelve Little Spells.
Chris Botti is a Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter and composer from Portland, Oregon. Known for his romantic sound blending jazz and pop, he gained early acclaim touring with Paul Simon and Sting. He released chart-topping albums including When I Fall in Love and Impressions.
Will Downing is an R&B baritone singer known as The Prince of Sophisticated Soul. With a 30-year career and 21 albums, he is celebrated for hits like A Million Ways and his duet Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This with Rachelle Ferrell. He also hosts The Wind Down radio show.
Philadelphia-born progressive R&B singer and multi-instrumentalist Bilal defies easy genre classification. Known for his versatile, classically trained voice, he debuted with 2001's 1st Born Second. A prolific collaborator, he has worked with Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, and the Roots, winning a Grammy for These Walls.
Frank McComb, born in Cleveland, Ohio, is a soul and jazz vocalist, keyboardist, and producer. Renowned for his authentic artistry and powerful vocals, often compared to Donny Hathaway, he has collaborated with Prince, Chaka Khan, and Branford Marsalis. His album "Straight From The Vault" won a SoulTracks Readers Choice Award. He received an Indie Soul Award for "We Were Made For Us" and was honored with an Indie Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026.
Brownstone, signed to Michael Jackson’s MJJ Epic in 1993, is best known for “If You Love Me” (Nicci Gilbert-Daniels), sampled by Tory Lanez, Future & Metro Boomin.
Merriweather Post Pavilion
