Robert Cray and Ayron Jones

Seattle's Ayron Jones, known for blending gritty rock with raw emotion, rose independently and signed with Big Machine/John Varvatos Records. His debut single "Take Me Away" hit Top 5 at Rock Radio, followed by "Mercy." He broke barriers for black artists in rock, playing with Run DMC, Public Enemy, Jeff Beck, and opening for Guns N’ Roses and B.B. King.

Robert Cray, born in Columbus, Georgia, is a renowned blues artist famous for his clean, song-focused style. Achieving major success with the 1986 album "Strong Persuader," he had several Top 40 hits, including "Smoking Gun" and "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark." Cray's collaborations include work with Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland, and performances with Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan. A Blues Hall of Fame inductee and four-time Grammy winner, his album "Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm" highlighted his soulful storytelling with the legendary Hi Records band.