Michael Franks (American singer and songwriter, considered a leader of the quiet storm movement)

Billy Ward (American singer with Billy Ward and His Dominoes) Lloyd Parks (Jamaican reggae vocalist and bass player who has recorded and performed as a solo artist) Brook Benton (American singer and songwriter who was popular with rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop) Nile Rogers (American guitarist, singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and composer) […]

Deah Dame (Lead singer of R&B group duo Damian Dame) Eric Gale (American blues-rock guitarist) Chico Hamilton (American jazz drummer and bandleader) Eddie Bo (American singer and pianist)

G.C. Cameron (American soul and R&B singer)

Shirley Jones (American R&B singer. She was a member of The Jones Girls before starting a solo career. ) Marlena Shaw (American singer. Shaw began her singing career in the 1960s and is still singing today. Her music has often been sampled in hip hop music, and used in television commercials.)

John Coltrane (American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes and was at the forefront of free jazz.) Ray Charles (American singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer. Among friends and fellow musicians he preferred being called "Brother Ray." He was often referred […]

Wayne Henderson (American soul jazz and hard bop trombonist and record producer. In 1961, he co-founded the soul jazz/hard bop group The Jazz Crusaders.)

Sam Rivers (American jazz musician and composer. He performed on soprano and tenor saxophones, bass clarinet, flute, harmonica and piano. Active in jazz since the early 1950s, he earned wider attention during the mid-1960s spread of free jazz.) Cecil Womack (American singer, songwriter and record producer. He was one of the musical Womack brothers, and had success […]

Gary Bartz (American jazz saxophonist.) Little Benny (American trumpet player, who was a part of the Washington D.C.-based go-go band Rare Essence.)

Don Cornelius (American television show host and producer who was best known as the creator of the nationally syndicated dance and music show Soul Train, which he hosted from 1971 until 1993.) Allan Barnes ( American jazz musician) Keith Barrow (American Disco/Soul singer and songwriter born and raised in Chicago.)

Ben E. King (American soul and R&B singer and record producer.) Keni Burke (American singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist who began his career with four siblings in the 1970s band the Five Stairsteps.) Sean Levert (American singer-songwriter and actor. Levert is best known as a member of the R&B vocal group LeVert. Levert was the son of O'Jays lead […]

Jean Luc Ponty ( French jazz violinist and composer.) Tommy Tate (American soul singer and songwriter, who had three hits on the R&B chart in the 1970s.)