Larry Dunn (born June 19, 1953) is a keyboardist, musical director and one of the founding members of the music group Earth, Wind, & Fire. Dunn, along with other members of Earth, Wind & Fire were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Career[link]

Born Lorenzo Dunn, he attended East High School in Denver. During most of the Earth, Wind & Fire years, Larry produced, performed, composed and arranged for side-projects like Dee Dee Bridgewater, Caldera, Ramsey Lewis, Ronnie Laws, Stanley Turrentine, Sylvia St. James, Lenny White with Twennynine, and many more.

Dunn has also toured with Al McKay and his L.A. All Stars. He is, together with ex-EWF keyboardist Morris Pleasure and ex-EWF guitarist Sheldon Reynolds, one of the founding members of the band Devoted Spirits. The first Devoted Spirits album, Devoted Spirits: A Tribute to Earth Wind and Fire, contains their cover versions of classic EWF songs as well as some new material. A second Devoted Spirits album, called The Answer, is due to be released. Dunn and his wife Luisa are owners of Source Productions, and are involved in music for TV, film and commercials in addition to working with various other musicians.

Dunn has appeared live multiple times on the Jazz Matrix Show on Solar Radio with Michael J. Parlett. Dunn's second solo album will also soon be released, preceded by a single Finally, a collaboration with Beloyd Taylor and James Ingram.

Solo releases[link]

External links[link]

• Official Website
• Larry Dunn on Myspace
• Larry Dunn on Facebook
• Larry Dunn at Allmusic

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Raphael Saadiq
Saadiq at the 2012 Time 100
Background information
Birth name	Charles Ray Wiggins
Born	(1966-05-14) May 14, 1966 (age 46)
Origin	Oakland, California, United States
Genres	R&B, soul, neo soul
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, producer
Instruments	Vocals, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Pookie Entertainment, Columbia, Sony
Associated acts	Tony! Toni! Toné!, Lucy Pearl, Eve 6, Joi, Joss Stone, Q-Tip

Raphael Saadiq (born Charles Ray Wiggins, May 14, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, guitarist, and record producer. Saadiq has been a standard bearer for "old school" R&B since his early days as a member of the multiplatinum group Tony! Toni! Toné! He also produced songs of such artists as TLC, Joss Stone, D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige, and John Legend.

He and D'Angelo were occasional members of The Ummah, a music production collective, composed of members Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest, and J Dilla of the Detroit-based group Slum Village.

Saadiq's critically acclaimed album, The Way I See It, released on September 16, 2008, featuring artists Stevie Wonder, Joss Stone, and Jay-Z, received three Grammy Award Nominations and was voted Best Album on iTunes of 2008. His fourth studio album, Stone Rollin', was released on March 25, 2011.^[1] For the album, Saadiq worked with steel guitarist Robert Randolph; former Earth, Wind & Fire keyboardist Larry Dunn; Swedish/Japanese indie rock songstress Yukimi Nagano (of Little Dragon fame); Funk legend Larry Graham (on the bonus cut Perfect Storm)^[2] plus soul newcomer Taura 'Aura Jackson' Stinson. ^[3][4]

Music critic Robert Christgau has called Saadiq the "preeminent R&B artist of the '90s".^[5]

Early life[link]

Saadiq was born in Oakland, California, the second-youngest of 14 siblings and half-siblings.^[3] His early life was marked by tragedy; he experienced the deaths of several of his siblings as a young child. When Saadiq was seven years old, his brother was murdered. One of his brothers overdosed on heroin and another committed suicide because he was unable to deal with his addiction to the drug. His sister died as a result of a car crash during a police chase in a residential neighborhood. Saadiq states that he does not want his music to be reflective of the tragedies he experienced, saying that "And through all of that I was makin' records, but it wasn't comin' out in the music. I did it to kinda show people you can have some real tough things happen in your life, but you don't have to wear it on your sleeve."^[3]

He has been playing the bass guitar since the age of six,^[2] and first began singing at age nine in a local gospel group.^[6][7] At the age of 12, he joined a group called "The Gospel Humminbirds". In 1984, shortly before his 18th birthday, Saadiq heard about tryouts in San Francisco for Sheila E.'s backing band on Prince's Parade Tour. At the audition, he chose the name "Raphael", and had difficulty remembering to respond to the name when he heard that he got the part to play bass in the band.^[3] He says of the experience, "Next thing I was in Tokyo, in a stadium, singin' Erotic City. We were in huge venues with the biggest sound systems in the world; all these roadies throwin' me basses, and a bunch of models hangin' round Prince to party. For almost two years. That was my university."^[3]

Career[link]

1987–99: Tony! Toni! Toné! and The Ummah[link]

After returning to Oakland from touring with Prince, Saadiq began his professional career as the lead vocalist and bassist in the rhythm and blues and dance trio Tony! Toni! Toné! He used the name Raphael Wiggins while in Tony! Toni! Toné!, where he was joined by his brother Dwayne Wiggins, and his cousin Timothy Christian. In the mid-1990s, he adopted the last name Saadiq, which means "man of his word" in Arabic.^[3] His change of surname led many to speculate that he had converted to Islam at that point; in reality, Saadiq is not a Muslim, but rather just liked the way "Saadiq" sounded and changed his last name simply to distinguish himself from and avoid potential confusion with his brother, Dwayne Wiggins.^[9] As he confirmed by telling noted R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning 'Blues & Soul' in May 2009, "I just wanted to have my own identity!"^[10]

In 1995, Saadiq had his biggest solo hit to date, when "Ask of You", featured on the Higher Learning Soundtrack peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the R&B chart. In 1995, Saadiq produced and performed on Otis & Shug's debut album, We Can Do Whatever.

Tony! Toni! Toné! would become major R&B superstars throughout the late-1980s and 1990s. However, after the 1996 album entitled House of Musicfailed to duplicate the group's previous success, Tony! Toni! Toné! went their separate ways in 1997.

In 1997, Saadiq hooked up with EPMD for the tune "Da Joint".

1999–2004: Lucy Pearl and first string of solo albums[link]

In 1999, Saadiq's next big project became the R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl. He recorded the self-titled album with Dawn Robinson (En Vogue) and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest). The group only lasted for one album.

In 1999, he also collaborated with rapper Q-Tip on the single "Get Involved", from the animated television series The PJs. It samples The Intruders' 1973 song "I'll Always Love My Mama" and charted at number 21 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.^[11]

His 2000 song collaboration "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" won D'Angelo a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance; it was also nominated for Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.^[12] The song was ranked #4 on Rolling Stone's "End of Year Critics & Readers Poll" of the top singles of 2000.^[13] D'Angelo's album Voodoo won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 2001 Grammy Awards.

In 2002, Saadiq founded his own record label, Pookie Entertainment. Among the artists on the label are Joi and Truth Hurts. In 2002, he released his first solo album Instant Vintage, which earned him five Grammy Award nominations. He released a two-disc live album All the Hits at the House of Blues in 2003, and his second studio album Ray Ray in 2004, both on Pookie Entertainment.

2004–present: Expanded output and second string of albums[link]

Saadiq in 2009

In 2004, Saadiq produced a remix of the song "Crooked Nigga Too" by Tupac Shakur which is featured on the album Loyal To The Game. Other artists he has collaborated with include Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, The Isley Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, Teedra Moses, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Macy Gray, Angie Stone, Snoop Dogg, Devin the Dude, DJ Quik, Kelis, Q-Tip, Lil' Skeeter, Ludacris, The Bee Gees, Musiq Soulchild, Jaguar Wright, Chanté Moore, Lionel Richie, Marcus Miller, Noel Gourdin, Nappy Roots, Calvin Richardson, T-Boz from TLC, Floetry, Leela James, Amp Fiddler, John Legend, Joss Stone, Young Bellz, Anthony Hamilton, Babyface, Ledisi, Goapele, Ghostface Killah, Ginuwine, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Bilal, Chali 2na, Larry Graham,^[2] Luniz as well as many others. In 2007, Saadiq produced Introducing Joss Stone, the third album of British soul singer Joss Stone.

Saadiq's third solo album, The Way I See It, released on Columbia Records on September 16, 2008, available in a collector's edition box set of 7" 45 rpm singles as well as on traditional CD, was critically well-received, made several critics' 2008 best albums lists, and garnered three Grammy nominations including Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals (for "Never Give You Up", featuring Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton); Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance (for "Love That Girl") and Best R&B Album for The Way I See It. Music from The Way I See It was featured in the following motion pictures: Madea Goes To Jail, Bride Wars, Cadillac Records, Secret Life of Bees, In Fighting (Rogue), and It's Complicated.

Saadiq performing at the 2009 Stockholm Jazz Festival, promoting The Way I See It.

Touring with a nine piece band, Saadiq hit the 2009 summer music festival circuit with performances at Bonnaroo, Hollywood Bowl, Outside Lands, Pori Jazz Festival, Stockholm Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz, Essence Music Festival, Summer Spirit Festival, and Nice Jazz Festival, Bumbershoot Music Festival and Austin City Limits. Saadiq has been touring Europe extensively, and held a five-night residency at the House of Blues in Tokyo, Japan in June 2009. In 2008, Saadiq formed a new label called Velma Records, a place where Raphael promises "people can express themselves like I did with The Way I See It... where they can dream something up and just go with it".^[14]

He produced songs for LeToya Luckett's forthcoming second album Lady Love, released August 2009. In 2009, Saadiq produced "Please Stay" and "Love Never Changes" for Ledisi's August 2009 release "Turn Me Loose". Saadiq also was the executive producer for an emerging group called Tha Boogie. Tha Boogie's first EP was released on iTunes and is titled Love Tha Boogie, Vol. 1 (Steal This Sh*t).

In 2009, Saadiq announced his video game development company called IllFonic. The first video game in development by IllFonic is titled Ghetto Golf, with an expected release late in 2010. In 2009, Saadiq teamed up Bentley Kyle Evans, Jeff Franklin, Martin Lawrence, and Trenten Gumbs to create a new sitcom called Love That Girl! starring Tatyana Ali. Raphael is an executive producer and composer for Love That Girl!. The show is currently in development. In 2010, Saadiq sang as part of the chorus in the 2010 remake of "We Are the World" for Haiti.

Saadiq performing at South by Southwest in 2011, promoting Stone Rollin'.

In 2011, Saadiq was the guitarist/bandleader for the group backing Mick Jagger for Jagger's tribute performance of the Solomon Burke R&B classic, "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" at the 53rd Grammy Awards in Los Angeles and on CBS. The band that accompanied the performance was Saadiq's touring band called Stone Rollin.^[15] In 2011 he and his band performed as the ESPY's house band for the night, where he performed his latest compositions.

Saadiq's 2011 album Stone Rollin' was released to great critical acclaim.^[16][17] "He’s always had a boyish enthusiasm for performing, and a flexible, naturally joyous voice that suggests a young Stevie Wonder," wrote Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune, "but with his latest album, Saadiq finds a new gear. The album and his current tour demonstrate that there’s a big difference between retro and classic, and the artist consistently finds himself on the right side of that divide."^[18] Kot ranked the album number seven in his year-end list, in which he dubbed it Saadiq's "finest achievement" and stated, "He’s always written songs steeped in soul and R&B, but now he gives them a progressive edge with roaming bass lines and haunted keyboard textures. He’s no longer a retro stylist – he’s writing new classics."^[19] Critic Jim Derogatis called it "a stone cold gas of a party disc."^[20]

In fall 2011, he performed on the fourth results show of Dancing with the Stars season 13. In December, 2011, he performed a cover compilation of several Neil Diamond songs at the Kennedy Center Honors award ceremony.

Discography[link]

• Instant Vintage (2002)
• All Hits at the House of Blues (2003)
• Ray Ray (2004)
• The Way I See It (2008)
• Stone Rollin' (2011)^[21] (UK chart peak: #84)

Singles[link]

Awards[link]

• BET Awards
  • 2009, BET Centric Award (nominated)

• Grammy Awards
  • 2011, Best Traditional R&B Performance "Good Man" (nominated)
  • 2009, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group "Never Give You Up" (nominated)
  • 2009, Best R&B Album The Way I See It (nominated)
  • 2009, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance "Love That Girl" (nominated)
  • 2007, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance "I Found My Everything" (nominated)
  • 2005, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group "Show Me the Way" (nominated)
  • 2003, Best Urban/Alternative Performance "Be Here" (nominated)
  • 2003, Best R&B Song "Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)" (winner)
  • 2003, Best R&B Song "Be Here" (nominated)
  • 2003, Best R&B Album Instant Vintage (nominated)
  • 2003, Best Song Written for a Motion Picture of Television Special "Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)" (nominated)
  • 1995, Best R&B Song "Anniversary" (nominated)

• Soul Train Awards
  • 2011, Centric Award (winner)
  • 2009, Best Male R&B/Soul Artist (nominated)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Raphael Saadiq

• Official website
• Raphael Saadiq on Myspace
• Raphael Saadiq at the Internet Movie Database
• The Stone Rollin' Sessions Interview With Raphael Saadiq, co-producer Chuck Brungardt, Taura Stinson & Ron Fonksa Bacon on Soul Jones (July 2011)
• Raphael Saadiq on SoulRnB.com (FR)
• Interview of Raphael Saadiq on SoulRnB.com (June 2011)

(FR)

Maurice White
Maruice White performing in 1982 with Earth, Wind, and Fire at the Ahoy Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Background information
Birth name	Maurice White
Also known as	Reese
Born	(1941-12-19) December 19, 1941 (age 70) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Soul, funk, R&B, jazz
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, record producer, arranger
Instruments	Vocals, kalimba, drums
Years active	1961–present
Labels	Columbia, Kalimba
Associated acts	Earth, Wind & Fire, Ramsey Lewis, The Emotions, Deniece Williams
Website	www.mauricewhite.com

Maurice White (born December 19, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, arranger and bandleader. He is the founder of the band Earth, Wind & Fire and the older brother of current and former Earth, Wind & Fire members Verdine White and Fred White respectively. Maurice served as the band's main songwriter and record producer, and he was co-lead singer (along with Phillip Bailey). White has won seven Grammys, and he has been Grammy nominated 21 times in total.^[1][2][3]

White was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire^[1], and he was individually inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame^[4]. Also known by his nickname Reese, he has worked with several famous recording artists such as Deniece Williams, The Emotions, Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond.

White was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in the late 1980s, which led him to stop touring with Earth, Wind & Fire in 1994. However, White retains executive control of the band, and he remains active in the music business.

Biography[link]

Early career[link]

Maurice White was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1941 to a father who was a doctor and occasional saxophonist. He grew up in South Memphis where he lived with his family in the Foote Homes Projects and was a childhood friend of Booker T Jones. In his teenage years he moved to Chicago and found work as a session drummer for Chess Records. While at Chess he played on the records of artists such as Etta James, Ramsey Lewis, Sonny Stitt, Muddy Waters, The Impressions, The Dells, Betty Everett, Sugar Pie DeSanto and Buddy Guy.^[2] White also played the drums on Fontella Bass's Rescue Me and Billy Stewart's Summertime.^[5] In 1962, along with other studio musicians at Chess, he was a member of the Jazzmen which later became The Pharaohs.

By 1966 he joined the Ramsey Lewis Trio, replacing Isaac 'Red' Holt as the new drummer. Holt would go on to be a part of the Young-Holt Unlimited and bassist Eldee Young was also replaced by Cleveland Eaton. As a member of the Trio Maurice played on nine of the group's albums, some of which include Wade in the Water, from which the track Hold It Right There won a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance, Vocal Or Instrumental, Goin' Latin, The Piano Player, and Dancing in the Street. While in the Trio he was introduced in a Chicago drum store to the African Thumb Piano or Kalimba and on the Trio's 1969 album Another Voyage's track Uhuru was featured the first recording of Maurice playing the Kalimba.^[6]

In 1969 Maurice left the Trio and joined his two friends, Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead, to form a songwriting team who wrote songs for commercials in the Chicago area. The three friends got a recording contract with Capitol Records and called themselves The Salty Peppers. They had a moderate hit in the Midwest area with their single "La La Time" but their second single, "Uh Huh Yeah", wasn't as successful. Maurice then migrated from Chicago To Los Angeles and altered the name of the band to Earth, Wind & Fire.

Earth, Wind & Fire[link]

With Maurice as the bandleader and producer most of the band's albums EWF has earned legendary status winning six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards,^[7] and selling over 90 million albums worldwide.^[2][8] As a member of the band Maurice has been bestowed with such honors of being inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Songwriters Hall of Fame and The NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.

Maurice White in Munich, Germany in 1975

White is responsible for incorporating the sound of the Kalimba also known as the African thumb piano and of a horn section namely the Phenix Horns and Earth, Wind & Fire Horns into the music of Earth, Wind & Fire.

Due to his contraction of Parkinson's Disease in the late 1980s White stopped touring with Earth, Wind & Fire in 1994. However, he retains executive control of the band and is still very active in the music business producing and recording with EWF and other artists. A message board entitled www.Startalk.org was set up in 1999 to offer support to Maurice with his health struggles and upon it messages of encouragement from celebrities such as Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Isaac Hayes, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine were published.^[9]

He has appeared on stage with Earth, Wind & Fire since his retirement from the road from time to time for instance at the 2004 Grammy Award's Tribute to Funk and alongside Alicia Keys at Clive Davis's 2004 pre-Grammy award party where they performed the band's 1978 hit "September".^[10][11]

Deniece Williams[link]

In 1976 White with Charles Stepney co-produced Deniece Williams', a former backup vocalist for Stevie Wonder's debut album, This Is Niecy which was released on Columbia Records. The album was the first project for the newly formed production company Kalimba Productions which was formed by Maurice White and Charles Stepney in the same year.^[12] This Is Niecy rose to number 3 on the R&B charts and contained the single Free which reached number 25 on the pop charts, number 5 on the R&B charts and number 1 on the UK singles charts. This is Niecy has been certified gold in the United States by the RIAA. With the death of Charles Stepney a few months after the release of This Is Niecy White solely produced Williams sophomore album Song Bird. Released in 1977 this album reached number 23 on the black albums chart and the single Baby, Baby My Love's All For You reached number 13 and number 32 on the black and UK singles chart respectively.

Deniece later released four more albums on Columbia Records for Kalimba Productions which were 1978's That's What Friends Are For, 1979's When Love Comes Calling, My Melody released in 1981 and 1982's Niecy respectively.^[13] In a 2007 interview Deniece says that "I loved working with Maurice White" and "he taught me the business of music, and planning and executing a plan and executing a show."^[12]

The Emotions[link]

After Stax Records became embroiled in financial problems the girl group the Emotions looked for a new contract and found one with Columbia Records on which their album Flowers was released in 1976. With Charles Stepney co-producing their album with Maurice Flowers was their first charting album since 1969 as it rose to number 5 on the R&B charts and has been certified gold in the US. The singles "Flowers" and "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love" from this album reached number 16 and number 13 on the R&B charts.

As Charles Stepney died in 1976, Maurice took over the reins of producing the Emotions and it was with this combo that the album Rejoice was released in 1977. Rejoice peaked at number 7 and number 1 on the pop and R&B charts and spawned the singles "Best of My Love" and "Don't Ask My Neighbors" which reached number 1 on the Pop and R&B charts and number 7 on the R&B charts respectively.

Best of My Love won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals, and an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single. "Best Of My Love" was also the third biggest pop single of 1977, and has been certified platinum. Rejoice was also the third biggest R&B album of 1977 has been certified platinum.

In 1978, The Emotions released their third Columbia album, Sunbeam in 1978. Sunbeam reached number 12 on the top R&B album charts and spawned the number 6 R&B single "Smile". Sunbeam has been certified gold by the RIAA. In 1979 Earth, Wind & Fire collaborated with the Emotions for the single "Boogie Wonderland" which reached number 6 and number 2 on the Pop and R&B charts and has been certified gold for sales of over a million copies and this is so as up until the RIAA lowered the sales levels for certified singles in 1989, a Gold single equaled 1 million units sold.^[14][15] The Emotions also received an American Music Award nomination for Favorite Soul/R&B Band, Duo or Group in 1979.^[16] Maurice produced two more albums for the Emotions until they departed Columbia to record under Motown.

Work with other artists[link]

Beside his work with The Emotions and Deniece Williams, White has collaborated with several other famous recording artists. For instance he played the drums on Minnie Riperton's debut 1970 album, Come to My Garden and contributed vocals on Weather Report's 1978 album Mr. Gone. White has also produced for Ramsey Lewis on 1974 's Sun Goddess, 1976's Salongo and 1993's Sky Islands, Jennifer Holliday on her 1983 release Feel My Soul, Barbra Streisand on her 1984 platinum album Emotion, Atlantic Starr on their platinum 1986 album All in the Name of Love and Neil Diamond on his 1986 gold album Headed for the Future. In addition he co-wrote with Barry Manilow his song "Only In Chicago," which was included on his 1980 platinum album Barry the track Tip of My Tongue for the rock band The Tubes which appeared on their album Outside Inside and contributed vocals on Cher's 1987 platinum album entitled Cher.

White produced two of the jazz group The Urban Knights's albums which are Urban Knights I and Urban Knights II released in 1995 and 1997 respectively. Urban Knights I featured Ramsey Lewis, Brazilian percussionist Paulinho Da Costa, American jazz saxophonistGrover Washington, Jr. and it went to number 3 on the Top Contemporary Jazz Albums charts. The group's sophomore album Urban Knights II featured appearances by Ramsey Lewis, Paulinho Da Costa, EWF's bassistVerdine White, singer-songwriter and guitarist Jonathan Butler and jazz saxophonist Najee. Urban Knights II went to number 5 on the Top Contemporary Jazz Albums charts.

White arranged for the British girl group Cleopatra on their 1998 album Comin' Atcha! which peaked at number 20 on the UK albums chart.

Maurice was the executive producer of the group Xpression's album Power in 2000,^[17] Their debut album, Power, was released the same year.^[18] and on March 27, 2006 Maurice was featured on the French jazz band Nojazz's 2006 album Have Fun on the tracks Nobody Else and Kool. Kool marked the first time Maurice collaborated with his friend Stevie Wonder.^[19]

White served as the executive producer of an Earth, Wind & Fire tribute album entitled Interpretations: Celebrating The Music Of Earth, Wind & Fire which was released in March 2007. Featured on the album were renowned artists some of which included Chaka Khan, Kirk Franklin and Angie Stone. From the album Dwele's remake of "That's The Way Of The World" and Meshell Ndegeocello's cover of "Fantasy" were both Grammy nominated for Best Urban/Alternative Performance.

White executively produced jazz musician Brian Culbertson's album Bringing Back The Funk which was released in 2008. The album features Maurice, former EWF member Larry Dunn, Bootsy Collins, Larry Graham, Ledisi, Musiq Soulchild, Maceo Parker and Gerald Albright to name a few. Bringing Back The Funk went to No. 1 on the Top Contemporary Jazz Charts and stayed there for two weeks. Culbertson revealed in an interview that he is "still in disbelief. I have learned so much from (Maurice) and he actually said that he learned a lot from me. It was incredible to work with him."^[20]

Solo Work[link]

White in 1985 released a solo album entitled Maurice White that included a cover of Ben E. King's"Stand by Me," featured a guest appearance by jazz saxophonist Gerald Albright. White's version of Stand by Me went to number 6 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and number 11 on the Adult Contemporary charts, as well as the moderate hit "I Need You."

On the screen and the stage[link]

Maurice has also written songs for the movies Coming to America and Undercover Brother. Maurice has also composed music for the television series, Life Is Wild.^[21] Maurice also worked with Gregory Hines's brother, Maurice Hines in 2006 to release the Broadway play Hot Feet and White wrote several new songs along with Allee Willis for the play.^[22]

In the movie Baadasssss! the actor Khalil Kain portrayed a young Maurice White leading the early incarnation of Earth, Wind & Fire link link. Released at the Sundance Film Festival, the film was based on Melvin Van Peebles struggles to film and distribute the movie Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song and was directed by his son Mario Van Peebles.

The TV sitcom Hearts Afire used That's The Way Of The World as one of its theme songs and Maurice won an ASCAP Award as one of the writers of the song.^[23][24]

Impact[link]

Maurice has been called "an innovator" and "someone who has had a profound impact upon the music industry as a whole" by Chaka Khan and Lalah Hathaway believes that "his contribution as both a musician and a producer has been immeasurable". In addition Maurice has been cited as a main influence by artists such as Bilal and Lenny Kravitz.^[25][26]

Personal life[link]

Maurice has a son who is also a musician.^[27] He owns two homes in California, one in Carmel Valley and another being a four level condominium in Los Angeles.^[28][29]

See also[link]

• Albums produced by Maurice White

Awards and honors[link]

Grammy Awards[link]

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States. Maurice has received 7 awards from 21 nominations and from these he has won one grammy and been nominated 4 times as an individual performer.^[1]

Other awards[link]

• 4 American Music Awards.^[1]
• The BET Lifetime Achievement Award
• An ASCAP Rhythm And Soul Award
• An ASCAP Pop Music Award
• Three NAACP Image Awards
• An ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Heritage Award
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• A Star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame^[30]
• On May 16, 2005 Maurice was honored by Los Angeles Valley College as the first recipient of their Cultural Achievement Award Of Excellence.^[31]
• On May 10, 2008 Maurice White and Philip Bailey received honorary doctorates from the Berklee College of Music.^[32]
• On May 20, 2008 Maurice, Phillip Bailey, Ralph Johnson and Verdine White received honorary doctorates from Columbia College of Chicago.^[33]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Maurice White

• Official website
• Maurice White on Myspace
• Kalimba Entertainment
• Kalimba Music
• Official Earth, Wind & Fire Website
• Maurice White at Allmusic

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2010)

Brian Culbertson
Background information
Born	(1973-01-12) January 12, 1973 (age 39)
Origin	Decatur, Illinois, United States
Genres	Contemporary jazz, Funk
Occupations	musician, instrumentalist
Instruments	Keyboards Trombone
Years active	1994–present
Website	http://www.brianculbertson.com/

Brian Culbertson (born January 12, 1973) is a musician and instrumentalist from Decatur, Illinois, United States. Son of jazz band director and trumpeter Jim Culbertson, Brian's instruments include the keyboard and trombone.

Heavily influenced by funk, much of Culbertson's material is funk-based instrumental, but he has begun calling upon vocalists such as Trey Lorenz, Marc Nelson, Kenny Lattimore and Avant to add to his later pieces.

Culbertson has released twelve albums so far. The first three were on the Blue Moon label: "Long Night Out" 1994, "Modern Life" 1995, and "After Hours" 1996. After moving to Atlantic Records, three more albums followed: "Secrets" 1997, "Somethin' Bout Love" 1999, and the critically acclaimed "Nice & Slow" 2001. "Come on Up" 2003 was released on Warner Jazz, and Culbertson then moved to GRP Records for his project, "It's On Tonight" 2005 which debuted at #1 on Billboard Magazine's contemporary-jazz charts.

Brian Culbertson also works with many other musicians in the contemporary jazz arena, often as a composer and arranger. Culbertson is currently credited with working with Dave Koz, Peter White, Richard Elliot, Jeff Lorber, Michael Lington and legendary A&M Records composer and producer Herb Alpert. He is married to Michelle Culbertson, also known by her stage name Micaela Haley.

Brian has regularly appeared live on many radio stations including KTWV in Los Angeles and the UK's Solar radio with Michael J. Parlett.

Brian has also regularly been an opening act for Barry Manilow's shows outside of Las Vegas since 2007.^[1][2]

• BrianCulbertson2.jpg

  Brian Culbertson live at the Xcel Energy Center in 2008

• CulbertsonBand.jpg

  Culbertson's band

• BrianCulbertson.jpg

  Brian Culbertson live in 2008 at the Xcel Energy Center

Discography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official site
• Profile on GRP Records
• Brian Culbertson – ‘Bringing Back The Funk’ Album review by Mike Parlett

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Matt Cusson

Matt Cusson is a contemporary jazz artist whose musicical array features a combination of Jazz, R&B, and Pop.

Biography[link]

Born and raised in Pittsfield, Massachusetts to parents who were a classical piano teacher and choir director/arranger, music of all different genres was introduced to Cusson at an early age. Cusson attended St. Joseph High School and Berkshire Community College. He later studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston where he played with John Mayer, Ryan Leslie, and was chosen to participate in the Singer Showcase, a forum highlighting Berklee’s best vocalists. Cusson has one brother and a sister.

Career[link]

In 2000, Cusson was discovered by one of his biggest musical inspirations, Brian McKnight, who a day after hearing Cusson perform his original music, flew Cusson to his home in Los Angeles to collaborate musically.

In 2004, Matt was chosen as the only male singer to perform with Christina Aguilera on her summer tour “Exposed”. Cusson has also performed on “The Daily Beat” with Allure, “BET Live” with Avant, as well as “Bobby Jones Gospel” and the 2003 U.S. Open Tennis Tour with well-known group Here II Praise.

In 2009, while on tour with his mentor, Brian McKnight, Matt Cusson was awarded the Maxell Song of the Year and the John Lennon Songwriting Contest Best Jazz Song^[1] for his original composition "One of Those Nights".,^[2][3] while his single "Every Step" performed in the top three in the R&B category. In that same year, his self-titled album was a pick for top 10 albums of 2009 in the Japanese Magazine BMR.^[4] Cusson has shared stages and studios with James Taylor and Livingston Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Stanley Clarke, Babyface, and Bebe Winans.^[5] He has performed live on “The View” and “Live with Regis and Kelly^[6]” and was one of the 12 people chosen out of hundreds to perform at the historical and highly competitive “Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre” in New York City, and went on to win the competition three times.^[7]

Cusson signed with Spectra Jazz in 2010 to release worldwide his single "One Of Those Nights". Additionally, Cusson performed as a member of the international "Michael Jackson - "Man in the Mirror" Tribute tour.^[8] Soon following, Cusson received a "2011 Song of The Year" nomination from the Oasis Contemporary Jazz Award ^[9] committee for his composition of "One Of Those Nights".

References[link]

Yoko and Matt Cusson talk about him winning The JLSC Maxell song of the Year

• John Lennon Songwriting Contest - 2009 Maxell Song of the Year Award Ceremony
• Matt Cusson - JLSC 2009 Song of the Year Winner
• Matt Cusson makes a cameo on Bravo's "Millionaire Matchmaker
• Spectra Jazz Interview with Matt Cusson

External links[link]

• Matt Cusson on Reverbnation
• Official Matt Cusson
• Matt Cusson Fans.com
• Spectra Jazz