Jonathan Butler, the youngest of 11 children, was raised amidst Apartheid in Cape Town, South Africa. His amazing talents afforded him the opportunity to prosper nonetheless.
Peabo Bryson has established a career as one of the premier male vocalists in contemporary music of the last quarter century. This two-time Grammy Award-winner has survived and prospered despite the passage of time.
Elliot not only took good care of the music, but the music has been taking care of him for over four decades.
A regular panel member on NPR’s Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me, Alonzo Bodden has been making audiences around the country laugh for close to 30 years.
"I'm amazingly blessed. I will never ever say that I've lived the perfect life to be shown such favor with God or the people, but here I am," declares the incomparable Regina Belle.
After a wait of almost three years, Kandace Springs’ legion of worldwide fans finally have a new album to look forward to.
Jazz pianist Alex Bugnon has been a prolific, energetic force on the contemporary music scene for more than two decades.
Grace Kelly, an unequivocal musical prodigy, singer-saxophonist-songwriter-composer, and band leader, has rocked the jazz world with sold-out concerts, 15 acclaimed albums...
More artists will be announced soon!
Jonathan Butler, the youngest of 11 children, was raised amidst Apartheid in Cape Town, South Africa. His amazing talents afforded him the opportunity to prosper nonetheless. Releasing his first album at age 12, he was awarded the South African “Grammy” for Best New Artist. He made history by being the first black artist played on white South African radio while earning three gold records (“Please Stay” went double gold and “I Love How You Love Me” went gold) at 13. More than a decade later, Jonathan moved to London and released his first album internationally, which went gold. He received Grammy® Award nominations for Best R&B Song for his R&B-pop vocal hit “Lies” and for Best Jazz Song for the instrumental “Going Home.” His genre-busting music earned songwriter’s awards and received abundant airplay in multiple radio formats. Jonathan’s long-awaited record Ubuntu produced by Marcus Miller was released April 2023. Jonathan remains a musical icon today in South Africa and around the world.
Peabo Bryson has established a career as one of the premier male vocalists in contemporary music of the last quarter century. Possessing a beautifully rich, almost operatic voice, this two-time Grammy Award-winner has survived and prospered despite the passage of time and changes in popular musical trends.
With twenty albums to his credit, Peabo Bryson has enjoyed an unprecedented, across-the-board level of international success, Bryson has the distinction of being the first artist in music history to have separate records topping four different charts.
Acclaim and recognition are nothing new for this multi-talented singer, songwriter and producer. Born April 13, 1951, in Greenville, South Carolina, Bryson spent much of his childhood on his grandfather’s farm in Maudlin, South Carolina. “I have two sisters and a brother, but I’m the oldest male in the family, so I was taught to work and work hard!”
Bryson’s family not only instilled in him his work ethic, but a love for music as well. “My mother was a serious music lover. Whenever there was somebody great in town, she’d drag us along to catch their act. I have seen most of the greats of that period – Sam Cooke, Little Richard and even Billie Holiday. Sam Cooke was a great influence on me. His voice had a pure quality – straight from-the-heart.”
“I think the sensitivity in my songs stems from my early childhood. I was raised by women – my grandmother, until she died, and my mother. My grandmother was a woman who lived and loved with incredible passion.”
Elliot not only took good care of the music, but the music has been taking care of him for over four decades. The chart-topping Grammy-nominated saxophonist recalls, “My sister had everything from Joni Mitchell, Carlos Santana and Dave Brubeck to Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and The Four Tops. I got a chance to be exposed at a young age to a lot of great music.”
That inspiration ran deep, and Elliot went on to work with all three of the aforementioned Motown legends. His enviable credits also include a five-year stint with the funk and soul horns of Tower of Power and when he was just a lad worked with Natalie Cole and the Pointer Sisters.
A man of many talents, Elliot, who once moonlighted as a software engineer, is also a pilot. In fact, the saxman is in the process of building his own two-seat plane in his garage. On September 6, 2024, the Scottish-born, LA raised and San Diego based renaissance man will release his 21st recording as a leader, Straight Up Down, on Shanachie Entertainment.
The ultimate family man, Richard Elliot confides, “I love spending time with my family. My wife and I have five children and it is a joy watching them pursue their careers and their lives.” He is also a self-proclaimed foodie. He and wife Camella enjoy the pursuit of discovering new places to eat. Richard and his wife also run a foundation that donates to worthy causes that benefit youth and young adults including the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, St. Judes, and the San Diego area dance organization TranscenDANCE. With the release of Straight Up Down Elliot concludes, “If there’s a few people out there that enjoy or feel impacted or moved by what I do, then I feel like I’ve accomplished something. If my music affects them in a positive way, then I am happy.”
A regular panel member on NPR’s Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me, Alonzo Bodden has been making audiences around the country laugh for close to 30 years. Alonzo starred in his fourth stand-up special, Heavy Lightweight, which premiered exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. His first big comedy break came when he was on the “New Faces of Comedy” showcase at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, but it was as the season three winner of NBCʼs Last Comic Standing, where Alonzo was first introduced to America. Since then, he has starred in two comedy specials for Showtime: Historically Incorrect and Who’s Paying Attention. He’s also made appearances on CBS’ Ghosts, ABC’s Dr. Ken and Fresh Off the Boat and Californication. Movie credits include Bringing Down The House, Scary Movie 4 and The Onion Movie Talk shows, Dr. Phil, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central's The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. A car and motorcycle aficionado, Bodden hosted Speed Channel’s 101 Cars You Must Drive and has joined Jay Leno for several off-road trips on his CNBC series Leno’s Garage. He was also a field correspondent on Animal Nation with Anthony Anderson, and a contributor on the Science Channel’s How to Build Everything. Alonzo released his fifth comedy CD titled Man Overboard. Alonzo has been performing on Jazz Cruises and hosted the Capital Jazz Festival. His comedy riffs have been compared to jazz solos by some the greatest jazz artists from Marcus Miller to Robert Glasper to Dee Dee Bridgewater. He’s also a regular on The Young Turks where he gives his unique take on what's going on in the world.
"I'm amazingly blessed. I will never ever say that I've lived the perfect life to be shown such favor with God or the people, but here I am," declares the incomparable Regina Belle. The Academy Award-winning and Multi Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and actress, with a string of hits including "Make It Like It Was," "If I Could," "Baby Come To Me," and "This Is Love," Regina Belle has made a career following her heart and moving gracefully between the worlds of R&B, Gospel, and Jazz.
She is an entertainer of immeasurable musical talent. This New Jersey native has earned distinction as an international treasure. Her luminous vocals on the Peabo Bryson duet, "A Whole New World" (Grammy's Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group in 19 94) solidified her place as music royalty.
Belle's vocal abilities were demonstrated at a young age, with her first solo at the age of 8, at Friendship Baptist Church in New Jersey, pastored by her uncle, the late Dr. Fred M. Belle, Jr. The entertainer's natural gifts were further polished at Dwight Morrow High School and the Manhattan School of Music for Preparatory College, where she studied classical voice training with Inga Wolfe. Although having received a full scholarship to attend Manhattan School of Music, she opted to aim her sights on the elite Rutgers University to study both Africana Studies and Music.
In 1985, Belle left Rutgers University her senior year, just 15 credits shy of completing her degree, to go on the road with the Grammy Award, World Renown Group, THE MANHATTANS. She remained with them for two years before being springboarded into her own career. Thirty years after leaving Rutgers and 10 albums later, Belle started taking online courses, which earned her a Bachelor's Degree in Africana Studies and a Minor in Music. Belle walked the stage with her 'new class' from Rutgers in May of 2015. She states, "This achievement of finishing my degree which I started almost 30 years ago and finally being done was a bittersweet moment and rates as high as my Grammy Awards."
Her life is a constant, eventful journey purposeful but not without misfortune. After releasing her first Gospel album in 2008, "Love Forever Shines," with the hit single "God Is Good," she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. This devastating news came at the height of her gospel career. After two surgeries and 10 months of rehabilitation, Belle found herself back at the top of her game, ready to take on the world.
Belle's life experiences and health challenges have made her a champion in the area of caregiving, affording her opportunities to wear different hats. Additionally, she cared for her father and brother all at one time until their passing, and she continues to be a caretaker for her mother. She was honored to have represented AARP as an Ambassador for Caregivers. Belle has enjoyed career success for which many entertainers can only pray.
She can also give thanks for a blessed personal life. She has been married to former NBA player John Battle since 1991. The couple has raised five children and is blessed to have four grandchildren. Bishop John Battle serves as Senior Pastor and Belle, working alongside him as an ordained minister, First Servant, and Minister of Music of their two churches: New Shield of Faith Worship Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and Spread the Word Ministries in College Park, Georgia.
Her latest release, "My Colorful Christmas," features timeless holiday classics, from the definitive "Silent Night" and "The First Noel" to the spiritual hymns "0 Come All Ye Faithful" and "Hark the Herald." But what Belle does is sprinkle her signature magic and personal touch on each track, which adds an unforgettable emotional depth guaranteed to warm the soul.
In addition to her music career, Regina Belle graduated in the top 5 of her class with a Master of Divinity (MDIV) at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in May of 2024. She has starred in several movies including "Deadly Sexy," The Brewster Project," The Walk," and the Kirk Franklin movie "A Gospel Christmas." Regina also celebrated 37 years in the music industry on Mother's Day weekend of 2024.
Regina Belle was recently inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH—an honor that recognizes her indelible impact on music and culture. This monumental achievement is a testament to her incredible talent, dedication, and lasting legacy.
Regina's goal is simple: "If I cannot identify with the songs, and if the music does not move my soul, make me feel better, take me up when I'm down or higher when I'm up, then I don't want to record it, play it, or sing it!"
After a wait of almost three years, Kandace Springs’ legion of worldwide fans finally have a new album to look forward to. 2024’s Run Your Race, her tribute to her late father, legendary Nashville soul singer Scat Spring, is the first album of hers to feature almost all original songs, written by Kandace both solo and with some stellar collaborators, such as Gregg Wells (Adele), Matt Hales (Liane La Havas), and her long-time partners Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken (Rihanna).
“This album is probably the most personal one I’ll ever make,” says Ms. Springs. “My dad was a huge influence on my life and my music, and when he passed away earlier this year, I knew I had to pay tribute to him with this record.”
Backed by her ace all-female rhythm section, and joined as usual by a stellar group of guest artists, including Elena Pinderhughes (Herbie Hancock), and Karriem Riggins (Diana Krall), Kandace delivers her most heartfelt and personal record yet. The songs range from an early gem, “Look,” that Kandace actually wrote with her father, to the album’s feature track, “Run Your Race,” written in late 2022, which is a touching tribute to her college track star dad’s journey through life. A couple of classic standards, “Wild Is The Wind” (made famous by Nina Simone) and “What a Wonderful World,” make their appearance as well, as they were songs that Scat introduced to his daughter in her formative years. “He opened the door for me of a whole musical world, I went in and I’ve never left.”
Kandace’s last album, The Women Who Raised Me, was released in 2020, garnering 5-star reviews from publications ranging from DownBeat to The New Yorker, as well as winning the Deutscher JazzPreis for best vocal album of the year. Three years is a long time, but Kandace is convinced that her fans will feel the wait was worth it. “In a way, this album took a whole lifetime to make,” she says, “and I think it shows.”
Jazz pianist Alex Bugnon has been a prolific, energetic force on the contemporary music scene for more than two decades. A renowned musician/composer/bandleader, Bugnon hales from the picturesque town of Montreux, Switzerland – site of the world famous Jazz Festival. No doubt, the annual convergence in his hometown and in his own home, of some of music’s most illustrious names played a role in his decision to pursue a musical career, as did his early friendship with Herbie Hancock. The fact that his uncle was the legendary Donald Byrd only served to further his decision.
Bugnon left Montreux to continue his training at a music conservatory in Paris before landing in Boston to further hone his skills at the famed Berklee School of Music. It was here in the U.S. that his exposure to a diversity of musical styles – from R&B to gospel and funk, began to shape and influence his personal sound. He toured the south playing with Gospel Leviticus and after graduation from Berklee, had the opportunity to play in bands backing R&B greats Patti Austin & James Ingram, Melba Moore, Freddie Jackson and Keith Sweat. In between gigs he drove cabs and taught French at the Berlitz School as a means to support his musical career. But it would be his encounter with saxophonist Najee that would ultimately turn the tide for him. Signed to Orpheus Records, Najee would make the introduction that would result in Alex’s first recording contract.
Over these past few decades, Alex Bugnon has built a strong and loyal fan base across the country and around the world. His tour schedule has never eased, even besting the great Dizzy Gillespie’s record of appearances at Washington, D.C.’s Blues Alley. He makes it a point of never missing a day of piano practice or of writing. If he is not composing, he is listening to his favorite artists and biggest influences: Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Red Garland, Kenny Kirkland, Mulgrew Miller and Keith Jarrett.
Alex makes his home in the historic village of Harlem, New York, and maintains his connection to his beloved Montreux.
Grace Kelly, an unequivocal musical prodigy, singer-saxophonist-songwriter-composer, and band leader, has rocked the jazz world with sold-out concerts, 15 acclaimed albums, and a resume that includes performing at the Hollywood Bowl as well as a member of the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – all before reaching her mid-twenties. In 2022, she became the youngest member of Berklee College of Music’s Board of Trustees.
Grace’s early career highlights featured performances at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration at age 16 and at age 14 as a soloist with the Boston Pops playing an original, arranged composition with the legendary orchestra. Since then, she has played over 1,000 shows as a bandleader in 35 countries at venues such as the Kennedy Center, Moscow Symphony Hall, and international jazz festivals. Touted for her scorching saxophone stylings and purring vocals, Grace has performed and recorded with renowned artists including Lin Manuel-Miranda, Dave Brubeck, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Huey Lewis, Harry Connick Jr., Jon Batiste, Gloria Estefan, Questlove, and Wynton Marsalis.
Grace won “Song of the Year” for her single, “Feels Like Home” in the 2018 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and has been named nine times consecutively in the Annual Downbeat Magazine’s Critics Poll “Rising Star Alto Saxophone” from the age of 17 and winning the poll in 2017 and winning the Critics Poll in 2023 for “Rising Star Baritone Saxophone. She has also won multiple ASCAP Composer Awards, Boston Music Awards, and International Songwriting Awards. Grace has appeared as a featured performer, as herself, in films and television, including acclaimed documentary Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story, Amazon’s Emmy-nominated original series Bosch, and the 2017 Emmy-winning Yamaha production The Right Note.
Featured by Vanity Fair as a millennial shaking up the jazz world, Grace’s state-of-the-art brand of electro jazz-pop and inventive digital content reaching millions of fans across her socials. Grace has been seen in national campaigns for M&M and Subaru.