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.

Louis Risbrook - Bassist in American funk/disco group, B.T. Express. Doc Pumus - American blues singer and songwriter. He is best known as the co-writer of many rock and roll hits. Pomus was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer in 1992, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Blues Hall […]

Jimmy Mundy - American jazz tenor saxophonist, arranger, and composer, best known for his arrangements for Benny Goodman, Count Basie, and Earl Hines. Joe Smith - American jazz trumpeter.  

Florence Ballard -  American singer and a founding member of the Motown vocal female group the Supremes. She sang on 16 top 40 singles with the group, including ten number-one hits. Ronald Winans - American Gospel singer who gained fame as a member of The Winans. Stanley Clarke -  American bassist, film composer and founding […]