Born in Dayton, Ohio, disco singer CeCe Peniston was crowned Miss Black Arizona in 1989 and signed with A&M in the early 1990s. Her gold debut album, Finally, featured the hits Finally and We Got a Love Thang. She followed with Thought Ya Knew and I'm Movin' On, remaining a favorite in dance clubs worldwide.
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 launched his career in Brooklyn jazz clubs before releasing his debut in 2010.
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. Daughter of Donny Hathaway, she has released seven solo albums and collaborated with Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar, and Dr. Dre.
Black Violin is a genre-defying duo featuring Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste, who met in a Fort Lauderdale high school orchestra. They won Showtime at the Apollo in 2005 and earned Grammy nominations for their album Take the Stairs and the song The Message.
Formed in Buffalo, New York, in 1974 by Jay Beckenstein and Jeremy Wall, Spyro Gyra is a commercially successful pop-jazz fusion group. Blending R&B, pop, Caribbean music, and jazz, they are known for hits like Morning Dance and multiple Grammy-nominated albums.
GRAMMY-winning trumpeter and songwriter Keyon Harrold, born in Ferguson, Missouri, is hailed as the future of the trumpet by Wynton Marsalis. His cinematic music blends jazz, classical, rock, blues, and hip hop, featuring collaborations with artists like Robert Glasper and Gary Clark, Jr.
Grammy-winning house music DJ and producer Louie Vega blends salsa, afro-beat, jazz, hip hop, gospel, and soul. Known as a leader in global dance music, he is part of the Masters At Work production team with Kenny Dope Gonzalez and has earned seven Grammy nominations.
Babyface is a 13-time GRAMMY-winning recording artist, songwriter, and producer. He co-founded LaFace Records, launching careers for Usher and TLC. He released multi-platinum albums like Tender Lover and wrote massive hits for top icons.
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.
Grammy-nominated Philadelphia R&B duo Kindred the Family Soul consists of husband and wife Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon. Rooted in traditional soul and gospel, they released albums like Surrender to Love and The Arrival after signing with Hidden Beach through Jill Scott.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Merriweather Post Pavilion
