Prince - American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his generation, he was known for his flamboyant, androgynous persona and wide vocal range, which included a far-reaching falsetto and high-pitched screams. Nikki Giovanni - American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. Billy Butler - American soul singer and songwriter active in […]

Boz Scaggs - American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Boz Scaggs. Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins - former singer with 1950s and 1960s doo-wop group, The Parliaments. He is a founding member of the groundbreaking and influential 1970s funk bands Parliament and Funkadelic, also known as Parliament-Funkadelic.

Jackie Wilson - American soul and rock and roll singer and performer. Wilson was a prominent figure in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. Kenny Barron - American jazz pianist, who has appeared on hundreds of recordings as leader and sideman and is considered one of the most influential mainstream jazz pianists since […]

Shirley Alston - American soul singer who was the main lead singer of the hit girl group the Shirelles. In addition to Owens, the Shirelles consisted of classmates of hers from Passaic High School, New Jersey: Doris Kenner Jackson, Addie "Micki" Harris McPhadden and Beverly Lee.

Bobby Freeman - American rock, soul and R&B singer, songwriter and record producer from San Francisco, best known for his two Top Ten hits, the first in 1958 on Josie Records called "Do You Want to Dance" and the second in 1964 for Autumn Records, "C'mon and Swim". Marv Tarplin - American guitarist and songwriter, […]

Eban Brown - Lead singer of the Stylistics. Junior Walker - American multi-instrumentalist who recorded for Motown during the 1960s. Marcus Miller - American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, producer and singer, best known as a bassist.

Erroll Garner - American jazz pianist and composer known for his swing playing and ballads. His best-known composition, the instrumental ballad "Misty," has become a jazz standard. Eddie Hinton - American songwriter and session musician, best known for his work with soul music and R&B singers. He played lead guitar for Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section […]

Lamont Dozier - American singer, songwriter and record producer, born in Detroit, Michigan, United States. He has co-written and produced 14 US Billboard number 1 hits and 4 number ones in the UK. Eddie Levert - American singer, best known as the lead vocalist of The O'Jays. Ivan Lins - Latin Grammy-winning Brazilian musician. He […]

Lionel Richie - American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and television judge. Eric Dolphy - American jazz alto saxophonist, bass clarinetist and flautist. On a few occasions, he also played the clarinet and piccolo. Dolphy was one of several multi-instrumentalists to gain prominence in the same era. His use of the bass clarinet helped to […]

Brenda Holloway - American singer and songwriter, who was a recording artist for Motown Records during the 1960s. Her best-known recordings are the soul hits, "Every Little Bit Hurts", "When I'm Gone", and "You've Made Me So Very Happy." Mitty Collier - American church pastor, gospel singer and former rhythm and blues singer. Clay Hammond […]

Lee John - British musician, singer, and actor of St Lucian descent. Jimmy Castor -  American funk, R&B, and soul musician. He is credited with vocals, saxophone and composition. He is best known for songs such as It's Just Begun, Bertha Butt Boogie, and his biggest hit single, the million-seller Troglodyte. Rosetta Hightower - American […]

Marvin "Smitty" Smith - American jazz drummer and composer. Marvin Smith was born in Waukegan, Illinois, where his father, Marvin Sr., was a drummer. "Smitty" was exposed to music at a young age, receiving formal musical training at the age of three.