Songwriter/Musician James "Big Jim" Wright Passes Away

The music world has lost another Great.

Grammy Award-winning producer, composer, songwriter, musician, arranger and singer James "Big Jim" Wright was found dead in his Illinois home. There are no details on his passing at this time.

Over the course of Wright's musical career, he has written, produced or composed on over a dozen of albums from artists such as Sounds of Blackness, Celine Dion, Usher, Janet Jackson, Justin Bieber, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Boyz II Men, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, which he served as bandleader and music director on her '#1 to Infinity Tour'.

#NewMusic: Devon Culture 'Off The Ground' & 'For The Culture (MASH UPs)' Available Now

Earlier this year we interviewed emerging artist Devon, who now goes by Devon Culture. Devon has recently re-released his ‘Tug of War’ EP to all digital and streaming platforms under the title “Off The Ground.’

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As a *SPECIAL* #TBT My 1st Project “Off The Ground” (which came out in 2016) is now available On Apple Music, iTunes & Spotify! Worked with some RIDICULOUSLY talented people & have grown tremendously as an artist! The development between then & now is unreal & humbling. I’m even more excited for my Fam to hear this NEW MUSIC but until than enjoy this #Throwback Ep! Special thanks to all who where apart of this process! @jaylien we gotta get back to work bro, we created something special with this one 🙏🏽 #DevonCulture #OffTheGround #TugOfWar

A post shared by Devon Culture (@devonculture) on Sep 27, 2018 at 5:37am PDT

Also as a treat for fans, Devon Culture put up his For The Culture (Mash Ups) collection in their entirety on his SoundCloud. 

New Music: Elle Varner - Loving U Blind

After a lengthy hiatus from music, Grammy-Award winning Singer/Songwriter Elle Varner returns with her heartfelt comeback single, "Loving U Blind".

"Loving U Blind" and the corresponding black and white visual is Varner's first releases from her forthcoming project due in the Fall via eOne.

#NewMusic: Ryan Destiny Debutes New Single "The Same"

Today, actress and singer Ryan Destiny, from Fox's hit musical drama Star debuted her single "The Same." The song echoes the sentiments of not wanting to give up on a relationship, as she begs her lover to show some kind of affection while coming to grips with all men act 'the same.'  

"I let you keep this up way too long

Check my phone, three unread; two missed calls

I don't wanna give up on you

Give me something..."

Stay on the lookout for Ryan Destiny's forthcoming EP "On One's Own," until then "The Same" is available here and on all streaming platforms.  

New Album: Marsha Ambrosius – Nyla

Grammy-nominated British singer/songwriter Marsha Ambrosius has released her third solo LP Nyla via Human Resources/eOne.

On the follow-up to 2014’s Friends & Lovers, Ambrosius teamed up with The Stereotypes, Ivan “Orthodox” Barias, Darhyl “DJ” Camper, Benny Cassette, Harmony “H-Money” Samuels, and Bernard “Focus” Edwards Jr.

Earlier in the year Ambrosius released the lead single “Luh Ya”, followed by subsequent single “Old Times” and the more recent single “Flood”.

Marsha Ambrosius is currently on tour with Maxwell for 50 INTIMATE NIGHTS LIVE!

9/28 - Durham, NC - The Art of Cool Festival

9/29 - Atlantic City, NJ - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

10/2 - Pittsburgh, PA - Heinz Hall

10/4 - National Harbor, MD - The Theater at MGM National Harbor

10/5 - National Harbor, MD - The Theater at MGM National Harbor

10/6 - Baltimore, MD - MECU Pavilion

10/8 - Norfolk, VA - Chrysler Hall

10/9 - Charlotte, NC - Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre

10/10 - Augusta, GA - Bell Auditorium

10/12 - Atlanta, GA - State Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park

10/13 - Jacksonville, FL - Moran Theatre at Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts

10/14 - Mobile, AL - Saenger Theatre

10/16 - Orlando, FL - Dr Phillips Center

10/17 - Hollywood, FL - Hard Rock Live at the Event Center

10/18 - St. Petersburg, FL - Mahaffey Theater

10/20 - Huntsville, AL - Von Braun Center Concert Hall

10/21 – Jackson, MS – Thalia Mara Hall

10/24 - New Orleans, LA - Saenger Theatre

10/25 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theatre

10/27 - Irving, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

10/28 - Sugar Land, TX - Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land

10/29 - San Antonio, TX - Majestic Theatre

11/1 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre

11/2 - San Diego, CA - Humphreys Concerts by the Bay

11/3 - Reno, NV - Grand Theatre at the Grand Sierra Resort

11/4 - Las Vegas, NV - The Pearl @ Palms Casino Resort

11/8 - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theatre

11/9 - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theatre

11/10 - Los Angeles, CA - Microsoft Theater

11/14 - Kansas City, MO - Arrest Bank Theatre at the Midland

11/15 - St. Louis, MO - Stifel Theatre

11/18 - Nashville, TN - Schermerhorn Symphony Center

11/20 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater

11/21 - Minneapolis, MN - State Theatre

11/23 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Palace

11/24 - Northfield, OH - Hard Rock Live

11/26 - Toronto, ON - Sony Centre for the Performing Arts

11/28 - Montclair, NJ - The Wellmont Theater

11/29 - Westbury, NY - NYCB Theatre At Westbury

12/1 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre

12/2 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre

12/3 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre

12/5 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre

12/7 - Wallingford, CT - Toyota Oakdale Theatre

12/8 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theater

12/9 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre

Purchase Tickets HERE!



New Video: Leon Bridges - If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be)

 

 

Earlier in the year Grammy-nominated Singer/Songwriter Leon Bridges released his sophomore LP, Good Thing via Sony Music which features previous singles, "Bet Ain't Worth the Hand", "Bad Bad News" and "Beyond".

 

Bridges returns with the dance-filled visual to his latest single "If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be)."

 

 

Directed by Hugo Jouxtel and filmed in Paris by acclaimed French production company La Blogothèque, Bridges puts his dancing skills on display.

 

In other Leon Bridges news, he's set to appear on the big screen in the Neil Armstrong biopic First Man (Starring Ryan Gosling) premieres October 12th.

#IndieArtistSpotlight: Shawndella

Our next #IndieArtistSpotlight goes to singer-songwriter Shawndella. Shawndella is a multi-genre singer-songwriter who resides in Atlanta, Georgia. She has previously worked with artists such as Kenny Lattimore and Whitney Houston, during her time in A&R at Arista Records under the guidance of L.A. Reid.

Shawndella recently showed her versatility when she released her three singles 'Impatiently Waiting,' 'Fly,' and 'Dealin.'

'Impatiently Waiting' is an R&B single with retro vibes and produced by DC-based DJ Phanatic.

  

Shawnadella collaborated with Matthew Rhys Daniel, who produced 'Fly,' which is her neo-soul/ jazz-infused single.

  Lastly, Shawndella's first single of the year, 'Dealin' produced by Kebomusic is still generating international love and notoriety.

Shawndella latest singles are available for purchase here!

New Music: Lion Babe – Just Me

New York-based R&B duo Lion Babe which consists of vocalist Jillian Hervey and producer Lucas Goodman contributes “Just Me” to the third installment of Insecure: Music from the HBO Original Series, Season 3 via RCA Records.

 

 

Lion Babe took to Instagram to add:

“Honored and so excited to continue our musical journey with our new song “JUST ME” for @insecurehbo. Writing an original song for @issarae and her narrative on the show was so dope, so very connected! We hope you enjoy it!”

 

Insecure: Music from the HBO Original Series, Season 3, also includes new music from an array of artists such as Miguel, Childish Major, Nao, Leikeli47, Victoria Monet & more!

Certified Classics to Re-release Maxwell’s Embrya Album In Celebration of 20th Anniversary

 

 

 

Sony Music’s Certified Classics, Legacy Recording’s division for the celebration of Sony Music’s Hip Hop and R&B catalogue, will re-release Maxwell’s Embrya on September 28th. The release will include a 2-LP white vinyl package and a new 12-page booklet featuring unseen photos from the original Embrya photoshoot shot by Mario Sorrenti. The audio has been newly re-mastered by Maxwell and Stuart Matthewman, who has worked with Maxwell for over 20 years and who mixed and co-produced the album in 1998. Additionally, it has been resequenced, moving the original opening track to the end.

 

Embrya, which was originally released in 1998, reached #2 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #3 on the Billboard 200 and went Certified platinum. It also garnered Maxwell a GRAMMY Award nomination for best R&B album.  The album remains an integral chapter in Maxwell’s career canon. He switched up from the jazzier leanings of Urban Hang Suite to stronger basslines, lush strings, electronic beats and more pulsating beats and grooves versus melodies - with Hawaiian guitar riffs and Latin accents thrown in for good measure. And whereas the retro-souled Suite’s concept revolved around romance, Embrya takes the musical discussion to the next level: the gestation of love and spirituality.

Pre-order Embrya HERE!



New Music: Carvin Winans - Once In A Lifetime

 

Multi-GRAMMY Award winning recording artist and songwriter, Carvin Winans has released a new single entitled “Once in a Lifetime”.



The song which is available via all major digital providers is the first track from Winans’ debut solo album, In The Softest Way, which will release at the top of 2019.

MAJOR. Announces 2018 'Better With You In It Tour'

 

MAJOR. has announced headlining tour dates for his 2018 fall tour 'Better With You In It' in support of his recently released debut album, Even More. The 'Better With You In It' tour will take the R&B/Soul crooner across North America from October through November.

 

Kicking off Oct. 21 in Detroit, the tour will make stops in 12 cities including Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles with more dates to be announced.

 

Tickets are available for purchase at: http://nowthatsmajor.com/#live-1

#NewMusic: LaToiya Williams "Save Your Love"

R&B veteran songstress LaToiya Williams recently released her newest single “Save Your Love.” 

LaToiya Williams has an extensive resume of collaborations with artists such as Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Whiz Khalifa, and Anthony Hamilton to name a few. She has also sung background for the Empress of Soul Gladys Knight and gospel vet Yolanda Adams. 

As William’s is gearing up for the release of her forthcoming album Blue Rose, you can stream and purchase her two singles “Vintage Love” and “Save Your Love” here. 

New Album: Anthony David - Hello Like Before: The Songs Of Bill Withers

 

Grammy-nominated R&B/Soul singer Anthony David has released his seventh LP Hello Like Before: The Songs Of Bill Withers.

 

Hello Like Before: The Songs Of Bill Withers is a 10-track collection of cover songs which pays homage to the living legend Bill Withers’ remarkable repertoire.

 

The album was led by the single “I Can’t Write Left-Handed” and the recent single “Lovely Day”.

 

 

Hello Like Before: The Songs Of Bill Withers is available on all digital music platforms.



New Music: Raheem DeVaughn “What It Feels Like” + Announces Upcoming Album ‘Decade of a Love King’

 

Earlier in the year Soul crooner and Grammy-nominated artist Raheem DeVaughn released his Summer hit “Don’t Come Easy” and now he returns with “What It Feels Like”, a celebration of love and happiness in the all new visual:

 

 

On the song, DeVaughn says:

“‘What It Feels Like’ is the flashback story of how two people first met and years later they run into each other and simply take it all the way back to that special day.”

 

DeVaughn’s sixth album Decade of a Love King drops October 19^th.



New Album: Macy Gray - 'Ruby'



 

Grammy Award-winning Singer/Songwriter Macy Gray has released her tenth LP Ruby via Mack Avenue.

 

The 12-track album features production assistance by Johan Carlsson (Michael Bublé, Maroon 5), Tommy Brown (Jennifer Lopez, Fifth Harmony, Travis Scott), and Tommy Parker Lumpkins (Janet Jackson, Justin Bieber).

 

The album is led by the single “Sugar Daddy” which peaked at No. 21 on the Adult AC Chart:

 

 

Macy Gray is also headlining An European Tour in support of Ruby:

30 OCT – Astra – Berlin, Germany
01 NOV – Mojo Club – Hamburg, Germany
02 NOVEMBER – La Madeleine – Brussels, Belguim
03 NOVEMBER – Theater der Künste – @JAZZ NO JAZZ – Zurich, Switzerland
05 NOVEMBER – PAARD – Den Haag, Netherlands
06 NOVEMBER – TivoliVredenburg – Utrecht, Holland
07 NOVEMBER – Salle Pleyel – Paris, France
09 NOVEMBER – Ronnie Scott’s – London, UK
10 NOVEMBER – Ronnie Scott’s – London, UK



New Music: Sevyn Streeter – Yernin’

 

R&B Singer/Songwriter Sevyn Streeter has released her latest single, “Yernin” which comes courtesy of HBO’s hit series Insecure Soundtrack.

 

The infectious Kevin “KP” Pridgen produced song samples The Gap Band’s original classic, “Yearning For Your Love”.

 

 

Sevyn Streeter is currently in the studio preparing a new music project titled, Drunken Wordz x Sober Thoughtz which will be available later in the year.



New Video: Lloyd – Excited

 

R&B vet Lloyd has unveiled the visual to his latest S.O.S. Band sampled single, “Excited”.

 

The video really exemplifies his youthful demeanor, but more importantly, it exemplifies his general openness as a sensory being present in "nature" if you will.

 

 

“Excited” is the current single from Lloyd’s  latest project Tru via Young Goldie.



#NewMusic: RĀI - 'Fall Back' (Remixes)

Our recent #IndieArtistSpotlight RĀI is back on the scene with two remixes for his song 'Fall Back,' from his debut album Love's On The Way. One remix features Eric Penn, and the other is a UK Soul Bop remix. Brandon John produces both remixes. RĀI's 'Fall Back (Remix)' featuring Eric Penn is available here. 

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Out Now Link in bio Fall Back (B. Jhon Remix featuring Eric Penn) 09.20.18 @iambrandonjhon @ericpenn_

A post shared by RĀI (@raimusicworld) on Sep 20, 2018 at 4:24pm PDT

New Video: Ella Mai – Trip

 

British based singer/songwriter Ella Mai scored her first top 5 Billboard hit, “Boo’d Up” earlier this year and follows it up with the DJ Mustard produced single, “Trip” which is accommodated with a sultry video:

 

 

“Trip” which is currently No. 23 on the Billboard chart is the official lead single from her full-length debut album due this fall.



New Video: Lalah Hathaway Feat. Redman - Call On Me (Remix)

Grammy Award-winning R&B Songstress Lalah Hathaway linked up with rapper Redman for the remix of "Call On Me" and has unveiled the touching and thought-provoking visual:

"Call On Me" (Remix) is featured on the deluxe edition of Lalah's current album, honestly.

#NewMusic: Eryn Allen Kane 'Feel The Need'

Eryn Allen Kane recently released her new single ‘Feel The Need’ from her forthcoming EP Imperial Soul. This soulful yet funky song will undeniably place you in a good mood.


Eryn Allen Kane is known for infusing elements of timeless R&B energy into her projects and had the opportunity of working with the late icon Prince and teamed up with rap sensation Chance the Rapper. She has garnered praises from the legendary Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross as well.

Imperial Soul will consist of eight tracks and is expected to release September 28, 2018. Check out the full trackless below, until then be sure to purchase or stream Eryn Allen Kane’s ‘Feel The Need’ now on all digital platforms here.

IMPERIAL SOUL TRACKLISTING 1. "Intro" 2. "Feel The Need" 3. "Fragile" 4. "Spare Some Change" 5. "Gill Interlude" 6. "Hummingbird" 7. "Let Me Breath" 8. "With You"