Kirk Whalum and The Black Academy of Arts and Letters

Memphis-bred saxophonist Kirk Whalum blends gospel, R&B, blues, and jazz. Known for topping charts with "For You" in 1998 and winning a Grammy for "It's What I Do," he's collaborated with Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, and Al Green. He recorded on The Bodyguard soundtrack, was part of BWB, and released notable albums like The Gospel According to Jazz series and Humanité. Whalum also toured extensively, contributing to soundtracks and covering artists like Stevie Wonder and Babyface.