Grammy-winning R&B and soul singer Stephanie Mills began as a Broadway star, originating the role of Dorothy in The Wiz, where Home became her signature song. Transitioning to R&B, she released hits like Never Knew Love Like This Before and collaborated with Teddy Pendergrass.
Grammy-winning composer, pianist, and producer Bob James is a co-creator of smooth jazz, seamlessly blending bop, pop, classical, and R&B. Best known for his hit Angela from the show Taxi and as a founding member of Fourplay, he has released numerous acclaimed solo and collaborative albums.
Award-winning vocalist Shemekia Copeland blends blues, R&B, and Americana. Starting her career in 1998, she has released nine albums, including the acclaimed America's Child and Uncivil War. Copeland has earned three Grammy nominations, 12 Blues Music Awards, and hosts a daily SiriusXM radio show.
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.
Washington, D.C.-born singer, songwriter, and producer Kevin Ross elevates R&B with over 300 million streams, number one Billboard entries, and awards nominations. He founded Art Society Music Group in 2019 and has collaborated with Kevin Hart, Ne-Yo, and T.I.
Born in Quivicán, Cuba, pianist and composer Chucho Valdés is a pioneering figure in modern Afro-Cuban jazz. With a career spanning over six decades, he has won seven GRAMMY and five Latin GRAMMY Awards, received a Latin Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, and entered the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.
New Orleans-born Jason Marsalis, youngest of the renowned Marsalis jazz family, leads his Vibes Quartet. Known for his unique vibraphone sound, he blends diverse influences and polyrhythms in his compositions. Notable albums include "In a World of Mallets" (Offbeat's Best Contemporary Jazz Album) and "The 21st Century Trad Band". He was a Downbeat Magazine "rising star" and the Marsalis family received an NEA Jazz Masters award.
Philadelphia-born neo-soul singer Musiq Soulchild pioneered the early-millennium movement, blending hip-hop and classic soul. Known for his raw vocal talent, he signed with Def Jam in 2000, earning 13 Grammy nominations and selling millions of records worldwide.
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.
Marcus Miller is a Grammy-winning Brooklyn-born bassist, composer, and producer known for his contemporary jazz, funk, and R&B fusion. After working extensively as a session musician and playing in Miles Davis band, he built a prolific solo career with albums like M² and Renaissance, and scored several films.
Los Angeles native Paul Jackson Jr. is a renowned guitarist who has recorded with music superstars like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Elton John. He has also performed on numerous major television broadcasts and received Grammy recognition for his work with Daft Punk.
Everette Harp is an R&B saxophonist with roots in gospel. After playing in Houston, he moved to Los Angeles in 1988, backing artists like Anita Baker and Kenny Loggins. He released his self-titled debut in 1991 and later recorded albums including What's Going On and Better Days.
Born in Philadelphia, Grammy Award-winning keyboardist, composer, and producer Jeff Lorber pioneered contemporary post-fusion jazz, combining funk, R&B, rock, and electric jazz. Emerging in the late 1970s with the Jeff Lorber Fusion, he released acclaimed albums like Prototype and Private Passion.
Born in Philadelphia, jazz bassist Stanley Clarke revolutionized his instrument by moving it to the forefront. A founding member of Return to Forever, he earned multiple Grammy awards, released acclaimed solo albums like School Days, and collaborated widely across jazz, funk, and fusion.
Born in Los Angeles, Grammy-nominated contemporary jazz saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and session player Gerald Albright is known for chart-topping albums like New Beginnings, Groovology, and 24/7 with Norman Brown.
Naturally 7 is a seven-member vocal play band formed by school and gospel choir friends. Combining soul, rap, rock, and folk, they are known as a band without a band. Quincy Jones called them the best a-cappella band worldwide, and they joined Michael Bublé on three world tours.
The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL), established in Dallas, Texas, in 1977 by Curtis King, is a cultural organization dedicated to supporting African Americans in the visual and performing arts. It fosters understanding of African, African-American, and Caribbean arts and letters. TBAAL preserves and promotes Black art and culture, offering a platform for diverse artistic expression. The organization was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2015.
Michael Franks, born in La Jolla, California, is known for his smooth jazz and pop fusion, achieving commercial success with "Popsicle Toes" from The Art of Tea. Influenced by jazz legends and Brazilian music, he collaborated with artists like David Sanborn and Ron Carter. His songs, performed by the Manhattan Transfer and others, feature notable guest vocals by Bonnie Raitt and Flora Purim. A tribute album, The Art of Michael Franks, highlighted his impact on music.
A premier three-day music festival held at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, featuring renowned international and local artists performing jazz, blues, R&B, soul, and neo-soul music across multiple stages.
