Johnny Otis - American singer, musician, composer, arranger, bandleader, talent scout, disc jockey, record producer, television show host, artist, author, journalist, minister, and impresario. He was a seminal influence on American R&B and rock and roll. Lonnie Liston Smith - American jazz, soul, and funk musician who played with such jazz artists as Pharoah Sanders […]

Patti Drew - American pop singer who achieved brief success in the late 1960s. Yvonne Elliman - American singer, songwriter, and actress who performed for four years in the first cast of the stage musical Jesus Christ Superstar.

Chris Jasper - American singer, composer, and producer. Paul Jackson Jr. - American fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist. Bo Diddley - American singer, guitarist, songwriter and music producer who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, including Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, the […]

Donna Summer - American singer, songwriter and actress. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the "Queen of Disco", while her music gained a global following.  

Grandmaster Flash - American hip hop recording artist and DJ. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of hip hop DJing, cutting, scratching and mixing. Marshall Jones - Founding member and bassist of the funk, soul music and R&B band Ohio Players. Bruce Nazarian - American funk and rock musician, recording artist and […]

Arthur Prysock - American jazz and R&B singer best known for his live shows and his deep baritone, influenced by Billy Eckstine. Nathan Heathman - He was a child prodigy in music playing various instruments like the piano, clarinet, and the saxophone.  Nathan starred as 'Purlie Victorious', the lead role in the off-Broadway production of […]

Willie Mitchell - American trumpeter, bandleader, soul, R&B, rock and roll, pop and funk record producer and arranger who ran Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Sir George Martin - English record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, audio engineer, and musician. He was referred to as the "Fifth Beatle" in reference to his extensive involvement on each […]