Music Credits
Producer Credits
The Legendary Zapp Band
One of the most underrated funk groups of the 1980s, Zapp revolutionized the computer pop of electro with their trademark vocoder talk boxes and bumping grooves, emulating the earthier side of Prince and Cameo, with a leader in Roger Troutman who was more than efficient at polished production. The family group, with brothers Roger, Lester, Larry, and Tony Troutman, grew up in Hamilton, OH, influenced by hometown heroes the Ohio Players as well as Parliament and other funk groups. Tony was the first to begin recording, with an obscure single for Gram-O-Phon Records, "I Truly Love You," which scraped the R&B charts in 1976. Joined by his brothers (with Roger on vocals and guitar, Lester on drums, Larry on percussion, and himself contributing bass) and christened Zapp, the group played around the Midwest and gradually picked up backing vocalists (Bobby Glover, Jannetta Boyce), keyboard players (Greg Jackson, Sherman Fleetwood) and a horn section (Eddie Barber, Jerome Derrickson, Mike Warren).
Nick Colionne
Although his smooth guitar chops and dynamic stage persona drew in fans, Nick Colionne balanced his over-20-year career with a dedication to teaching and mentoring students. Emerging in the '90s with his debut, It's My Turn, Colionne established himself as an in-demand player in the Chicago area, building upon the soulful jazz style of idols like Wes Montgomery, George Benson, and Grover Washington, Jr. At the same time, he balanced his love of music with a commitment to teaching, working with K-8 students in his home base of Elgin, Illinois. Over the years, he earned accolades for both pursuits, including being awarded a Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award in 2010 and topping smooth jazz charts the following year with his Feel the Heat album.
Najee
An acclaimed saxophonist and flute player, Najee is one of the most successful and recognizable crossover jazz and R&B performers of his generation. Known for his warm, lyrical sound, he built upon the tradition of predecessors like Grover Washington, Jr., Ronnie Laws, and Stanley Turrentine. Following his initial breakthrough with 1986's Grammy-nominated Najee's Theme, Najee rose to widespread prominence with a series of Top Five-charting contemporary jazz albums, including 1990's Tokyo Blue, 1994's Share My World, and 2005's My Point of View. He has worked alongside such luminaries as Prince, Chaka Khan, Stanley Clarke, and others. The winner of two NAACP Awards, including for 2013's The Morning After: A Musical Journey, Najee celebrated his 30th year as a recording artist with 2017's Poetry in Motion and again reached number one on the contemporary jazz chart with 2019's Center of the Heart.
Gerald Albright
Beginning in the late '80s, saxophone master Gerald Albright recorded numerous successful solo albums for Atlantic when he wasn't busy assisting an impressive, and mammoth, roster of popular R&B artists.
Born in South Central Los Angeles, the saxophonist idolized James Brown and took much influence from Maceo Parker and Cannonball Adderley. He first made a name for himself within the music industry during the '80s, when he became a highly requested session musician. Albright's revered reputation resulted in a solo contract with Atlantic Records. His first album for the label, Just Between Us, introduced him to the masses in 1987. Several more albums followed, including Dream Come True in 1990, Live at Birdland West in 1991, Smooth in 1994, and Live to Love in 1997
Pieces Of A Dream
Philadelphia's Pieces of a Dream are a leading contemporary jazz and R&B outfit known for their breezy, warm, accessible sound. The first act to be signed to saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr.'s production company, the group solidified their sound and cross-genre fan base with albums like 1982's We Are One, 1984's Imagine This, and 1986's Joyride, the latter of which hit number three on Billboard's Traditional Jazz Albums chart. In addition to touring with George Benson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Patrice Rushen, Chaka Khan, and others, Pieces of a Dream have remained chart regulars, continually landing in the Top 20 on the contemporary jazz charts with albums like 1993's In Flight, 2006's Pillow Talk, and 2017's Just Funkin' Around. In 2019, the band hit number one with On Another Note.
James LLoyd
Pianist James Lloyd is a classically trained, jazz-influenced musician best known as a founding member of the smooth jazz group Pieces of a Dream. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lloyd first began taking piano lessons at age six. Introduced to jazz around age 12, he honed his skills while attending Philadelphia's High School of Performing Arts. By the time he graduated, Lloyd had already formed the trio Pieces of a Dream with fellow Philly natives bassist Cedric Napoleon and drummer Curtis Harmon. Although only in their teens, the members of Pieces of a Dream dazzled audiences with their stylistically innovative mix of jazz, funk, and R&B. For more than 30 years, Lloyd performed and recorded with Pieces of a Dream, releasing such well-received albums as 1981's Pieces of a Dream, 1983's Imagine This, 1986's Joyride, 1993's In Flight, 1997's Pieces, 2001's Acquainted with the Night, 2006's Pillow Talk, and 2013's In the Moment. In 2015, Lloyd delivered his debut full-length solo album, Here We Go!, which featured guest appearances by saxophonists Najee and Gerald Albright.
Wille Spence
June 18, 1999 – October 11, 2022) was an American singer. He was the runner-up of the nineteenth season of American Idol at the age of 22. Willie Spence gained national recognition in 2021 after his appearance on American Idol, where he wowed judges and audiences alike with his soulful voice and powerful stage presence. Since then, he has been making waves in the music industry, with fans eagerly awaiting his debut album. Willie Spence was an American singer. He grew up singing in church and was inspired by gospel legends such as Fred Hammond and Kirk Franklin. He eventually honed his skills and began performing at local events, where he quickly gained a following. In 2021, he auditioned for American Idol, where he received a golden ticket to Hollywood and made it to the Top 10. Since then, he has been building his brand and working on new music
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