(February 15, 2019) This morning, as I anxiously perused my Release Radar, the weekly Spotify playlist that curates new releases based on my tastes and favorite artists, my brow became increasingly furrowed. The new song by Maysa appeared to be a Spanish opera, and the brand new cut “Y2K” by Babyface, was an odd electronic British rap song. So what’s up?

Harlem-bred Ray Chew has been among the top arrangers in R&B for over three decades, adding his defining touch to classic recordings by Diana Ross (“The Boss”), Stephanie Mills (“Keep Away Girls”), and Alicia Keys (“You Don’t Know My Name”). Aside from serving as musical director for many popular television programs, he’s occasionally released albums spotlighting his own artistry.

(February 15, 2019) For many of us, Johnny Gill has always been part of our playlist. From the time he arrived 35 years ago, a skinny teenage kid with a big voice singing "Super Love," to his entry into supergroup New Edition, to his Babyface and Jam/Lewis-fueled smash solo career, he has proven himself to be an artist with staying power. He proved that again three years ago with his surprise hit album, Game Changer, and the number one hit "This One's For Me And You." And he's getting strong reviews on his current tour with fellow NE alum Ralph Tresvant.

(February 14, 2019) Lenny Williams has been making great music for over four decades now and shows no sign of slowing down. He hit it big as the lead singer for Tower of Power and continued as a solo singer with big hits like "Cause I Love You."

Lenny's had a career resurgence over the past few years, with a great biographical episode of TV One's Unsung, and a string of adult soul releases. Lenny is now back with a new song for Valentine’s Day.

(February 14, 2019) Casii Stephan did not move from Minneapolis to Tulsa in 2014 with the intention of continuing her pursuit of a music career. Three years later, Tulsa World Magazine cited the singer/keyboardist and songwriter as one of Nine Oklahoma Musicians to Watch. What happened in the span of those three years? Stephan rediscovered her love for songwriting.

(February 14, 2019) Ask music fans about the great funk groups of the past half century, and it won’t be very long before the name Cameo comes up. With decades of funky greatness and hits like “Word Up,” “She’s Strange,” “Sparkle” and many, many more, Cameo has a permanent place in the pantheon of funk greatness. And there from the beginning was singer and songwriter Tomi Jenkins, who, in addition to his years as part of the core of Cameo has also established a solo singing career.

(February 13, 2019) O'Bryan Burnette was one of the more popular pop/soul singers of the mid-80s and landed a handful of hits under the moniker "O'Bryan" during his recording career.

(February 13, 2019) It’s been a few years since we introduced SoulTrackers to singer and songwriter K.Avett, and we have proudly watched the ascension of the the Texas-based artist ever since. SoulTrackers flipped for her debut album, Revelations, and went even stronger for her most recent one, Lioness.

The hallmarks of K’s work are incredible songwriting, a real message in the lyrics, and, of course, top notch vocals over it all. The sounds is just right for adult soul music fans of today.

(February 12, 2019) Whoever said that funk is dead never listened to Karl Denson. Even before I had to pleasure of reviewing Brother’s Keeper, the great 2009 album by Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe or his work with Zbonics on the 2013 album Time to Do Your Thing, I knew there good funk out there. KDTU just confirmed it.

(February 12, 2019) Behind every classic soul music hit, there was a team of people who made it happen. And one of the people who helped make it happen many times during the 1970s was singer, songwriter and producer Harvey Scales, who sadly died today at at 77.

The Arkansas-born, Milwaukee-raised Scales made a name for himself principally as a songwriter, working with such notable acts as The Dramatics, The Dells, Instant Funk, The O’Jays and Johnny Taylor.