Gil Scott Heron - American soul and jazz poet, musician, and author, known primarily for his work as a spoken-word performer in the 1970s and 1980s. Jimmy Cliff -  Jamaican ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and actor.  

Marvin Gaye - American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, earning him the nicknames "Prince of Motown" and "Prince of Soul".  

Phillipe Wynne -  American singer. Best known for his role as a lead singer of The Spinners. Wynne scored notable hits such as "How Could I Let You Get Away", "The Rubberband Man", and "One of a Kind". Jimmy McGriff -  American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader. Eddie Murphy - American […]

Hugh Masekela - South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Jill Scott - American singer-songwriter, model, poet and actress. Her 2000 debut album, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1, went platinum, and the follow-ups Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 […]

Tony Williams - Lead singer of the Platters from 1953 to 1960. Nicholas Caldwell -  American singer and musician, and original member of R&B vocal group The Whispers.  

Donald Myrick - American saxophonist. He played alto, tenor and soprano sax and was a member of Earth, Wind & Fire's original horn section, The Phenix Horns Esq. from 1975 through 1982. Previously, Myrick had been a member of the musical group The Pharaohs. Richard "Popcorn" Wylie - American pianist, bandleader, songwriter, occasional singer, and […]

Billie Holiday - American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop singing. Ron Kersey - American keyboardist, songwriter, producer and arranger most known for writing the music to "Disco Inferno" by The Trammps. Freddie Hubbard - […]

Deke Richards - American songwriter and record producer who was affiliated with Motown. He was a member of both The Clan and The Corporation, the latter a production team that wrote and produced some of The Jackson 5's early hits.

Steve Gadd - American drummer, percussionist, and session musician. Gadd is one of the most well-known and highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry, recognized by his induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1984.

Jimmy Lewis - American double bassist who worked with the Count Basie Orchestra and sextet in the 1950s and with Duke Ellington, Cootie Williams, Billie Holiday and Ivory Joe Hunter before moving to bass guitar during his time with King Curtis. He provided the basslines for the musical Hair. Cleotha Staples - Founding member of […]

Herbie Hancock - American pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, composer, and actor.  

Al Green - American singer, songwriter and record producer best known for recording a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s, including "Take Me to the River", "Tired of Being Alone", "I'm Still in Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and his signature son, "Let's Stay Together". Peabo Bryson - American R&B and […]

Jerry Knight - American R&B vocalist and bassist who reached prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Along with Ray Parker Jr., he was a founding member of the group Raydio, singing vocals on their early hit "Jack and Jill."

Mighty Sam McClain - American soul blues singer and songwriter. Jo Jo Benson - American R&B and soul singer better known under his stage name Jo Jo Benson. He was best known for his recordings in the late 1960s with Peggy Scott. Jeff Golub - American jazz guitarist who had a solo career and who […]

Dusty Springfield - British pop singer and record producer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s. Ed Townsend - American singer, songwriter, producer and attorney. He performed and composed "For Your Love", a rhythm and blues doo wop classic, and co-wrote "Let's Get It On" with Marvin Gaye. Roy Hamilton - American […]

Bernie Worrell - American keyboardist and record producer best known as a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic and for his work with Talking Heads. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.  

Luther Vandross - American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Throughout his career, Vandross was an in-demand background vocalist for several different artists including Todd Rundgren, Judy Collins, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Ben E. King, and Donna Summer. Pop Winans - American gospel music singer and band manager. Winans was best known […]

Bobby McClure - American soul singer. Forrest - American singer, based in the Netherlands. Robert Knight - American singer, best known for his 1967 recording of the song "Everlasting Love".

Charles Mingus - American jazz double bassist, pianist, composer and bandleader. A major proponent of collective improvisation, he is considered to be one of the greatest jazz musicians and composers in history.  

Narada Michael Walden - American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He acquired the nickname Narada from Sri Chinmoy. Since 2020 he is the drummer for Journey.  

Joe Henderson -  American R&B and gospel singer, best known for his 1962 recording of "Snap Your Fingers". Henderson was born in Como, Mississippi, United States, and raised in Gary, Indiana. After working in gospel music, he signed with Todd Records in 1958. Richard Owens - American R&B and soul singer better known as the […]

D.C. Larue - American singer, songwriter and producer. His music was successful in clubs and on dance music charts worldwide during the 1970s and early 1980s. Mike Francis - Italian singer and composer, born in Florence, Italy. Internationally, he was best known for his 1984 hit, "Survivor", and his collaborations with American singer Amii Stewart. […]

Ann Peebles - American singer and songwriter who gained celebrity for her Memphis soul albums of the 1970s for Hi Records. Two of her most popular songs are "I Can't Stand the Rain", which she wrote with her husband Don Bryant and radio broadcaster Bernie Miller, and "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down". Cuba Gooding […]

Too Short - American rapper and record producer. Too Short became famous in the West Coast hip hop scene in the late 80s, with lyrics often based on pimping and promiscuity, but also drug culture and street survival. Steve Khan - American jazz guitarist.

Duke Ellington - American composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra, which he led from 1923 until his death over a career spanning more than six decades. Toots Thielmans - Belgian jazz musician. He was mostly known for his harmonica playing, as well as his guitar, whistling skills, and composing. Dave Valentin - American […]

Tashan - American R&B Soul vocalist. Bobby Marchan - American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, recording artist, bandleader, MC, and female impersonator.