Collaborators
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Keyon Harrold
Keyon Harrold grew up one of 16 children in a family that prioritized music and community across generations. At 18, Harrold left Ferguson, MO for New York City to enrol in The New School. In New York, he landed his first major gig with Common, an experience which he says broadened his musical horizons beyond jazz to include funk, Afrobeats, R&B, and hip hop. Soon he was performing with stars like Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, Beyonce, Rihanna, Eminem, Maxwell, and Anthony Hamilton.
In 2009, he released his solo debut, ‘Introducing Keyon Harrold’ and then won wide acclaim for his trumpet performances in Don Cheadle’s Miles Davis biopic Miles Ahead.
Harrold’s album The Mugician, draws on elements of jazz, classical, rock, blues, and hip hop to create something uniquely modern, unmistakably American. Guests including Pharoahe Monch, Gary Clark, Jr., Big K.R.I.T., Guy Torry, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Robert Glasper add to the record’s eclectic nature.
The Mugician is a portmanteau of “musician” and “magician, a nod to a nickname Cheadle bestowed upon the young virtuoso, and it’s an apt descriptor for a record that pushes beyond the traditional boundaries of jazz trumpet.
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Omari Hardwick
Growing up, sports were Omari Latif Hardwick's world, but early on he knew he had a passion for the arts. By the age of fourteen, Hardwick was writing poetry on a regular basis, a passion he would carry with him into adulthood. In high school, he excelled at basketball, baseball, and football, and went on to play football at the University of Georgia. He shares, "I hugely attribute sports to my success in entertainment business. Being on the field taught me dedication and discipline - Whenever I approach a set, I always feel as though the cast, crew, director, are all part of a team. I have always married athletics and art, two huge parts of my life.”
Hardwick's first big break came in 2003, when he was cast in his first major role as a series regular in Spike Lee's Sucker Free City. Two years later, he landed the feature The Guardian and TNT's Saved - both of which he booked within a three-week span in 2005. Throughout 2007 - 2009 Hardwick worked on various projects, including guest starring on several television series, and filming several movies including Summit Entertainment's Next Day Air and Touchstone Picture's Miracle at St. Anna. In 2008 he landed the role of "Ty Curtis" on the TNT series Dark Blue. Season. His continued success came when he was cast as the lead of the Starz series Power. Omari's performance is critically lauded, and the show went on to produce multiple spinoffs for the network. Having reached a new level of stardom, Omari can most recently be seen in Boots Riley's critically acclaimed Sorry to Bother You, Nobody's Fool opposite Tiffany Haddish, Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead for Netflix, and opposite Toni Collette in Pieces of Her, also for Netflix. He'll next be seen in Netflix projects The Mothership, opposite Halle Berry, and The Mother, opposite Jennifer Lopez.
In addition to acting, Hardwick is a founding member of Plan B Inc. Theater Group, and a co-founder of Los Angeles Actor's Lounge. He has big plans for his production company, Bravelife, as well. Hardwick also continues to work on his poetry, and has written over 4,000 poems.
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Madison Calley
Madison Calley is a classically trained harpist, social entrepreneur, and acclaimed performer based in Los Angeles. Calley gained recognition for her soulful performances of pop and R&B songs, amassing over half a million views on her Instagram profile. She played the harp as part of Roddy Ricch’s 2021 Grammys performance of “Heartless/The Box”; she has also been featured in performances at the BET Awards and the Latin Grammy Awards. Calley developed a love for the harp as a child, first learning piano at age six and pursuing the harp at age eight. She performed as a part of the D.C. Youth Orchestra and studied music at Carnegie Mellon University. Calley built a path of entrepreneurship following her studies when she moved to Los Angeles to establish a swimwear line. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to collaborate with Willow Smith as a featured harpist for a social media video, which eventually led her back to the harp. Calley recently released a debut album, Ethereal, featuring eight covers that showcase the connection between classical and contemporary music. Calley is also passionate about making music, particularly the harp, accessible and affordable for the next generation of young musicians.
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Malcolm Jamal Warner
American television actor, television director, and musician who is best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on the The Cosby Show. Additionally, he appeared as Malcolm McGee on the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie. He is currently starring as Dr. Alex Reed on the new BET sitcom Reed Between the Lines.
With appearances and roles on many television shows and films, he landed his most successful role as Theo Huxtable, the only son of Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable, who was played by Bill Cosby on the NBC-TV's The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992. Warner auditioned for the role on the very last day of the nationwide search and was chosen by Cosby himself.
He also starred in Jeremiah, was the voice of The Producer character on The Magic School Bus and co-starred with comedian Eddie Griffin for four years on the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie. Warner continued his career on the CBS sitcom Listen Up! with Jason Alexander and the host of the literacy-promoting children's show CBS Storybreak. He guest-starred on an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air playing the role of Hilary's boyfriend, and has directed several music videos including British R&B group Five Star's "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons" (1994) as well as many sitcom episodes including The Cosby Show, All That, Kenan & Kel, and Malcolm & Eddie'. Also In 1988 Warner was In New Edition's 1988 Music Video N.E Heartbreak.
In addition, Warner directed the acclaimed, teen-oriented public health video "Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS, and You" (1992), which featured Arsenio Hall and Earvin "Magic" Johnson (among others) discussing the realities of HIV and AIDS and the best ways to prevent its spread.
In 2003, Warner released his debut EP, "The Miles Long Mixtape." In 2007, Warner followed up with his second CD entitled, "Love & Other Social Issues." In 2009 he guest starred in an episode in the new TNT series HawthoRNe. In 2011 he guest starred in an episode of the NBC-TV series Community as the ex-husband of Shirley Bennett (Yvette Nicole Brown). His character subtly referenced his Cosby Show past by wearing a "Cosby sweater" that he stated was from his dad.
He is also a performance poet, and has performed at the National Black Theatre Festival since 2003, in addition to hosting its Poetry Jam.
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Kameron Whalum
Kameron Whalum has been around music all of his life. He started singing at age 4 and picked up the trombone in the 5th grade, and hasn’t put it down since. Leaving Memphis for college, Kameron honed his instrumental and vocal talents at Morehouse College. There he sang in the world-renowned Glee Club, performed with the “House Of Funk” marching band, and the jazz band. Just before being “called up” by international star Bruno Mars, Kameron matriculated at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. His national television debut was alongside Jessie J on Saturday Night Live in March of 2011.
Kameron has performed with Bruno on the MTV EMA’s, MTV VMA’s, Billboard Music Awards, Canada’s Much Music Awards, the GRAMMY’s, The Halftime Show of both NFL Super Bowl XLVIII and Super Bowl 50, also alongside Coldplay and Beyoncé, as well as countless local telecasts. Kameron plays trombone on the 2018 Grammy Album of the Year, 24k Magic and is also a voice and trombonist of the 2015 Grammy Record of the Year, Uptown Funk.
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NiuRaza
Malagasy award winner and Boston based singer-songwriter Niu Raza is known for her unique sound, the perfect blend between her traditional heritage and modern music. She has been using her craft as a catalyst for change whether through women empowerment on social media, teaching and helping the next generation of musicians or advocating for children’s rights with non-profit organizations like Unicef Madagascar. Self-made, she is a music powerhouse by herself. An independent musician, who chose to create her own path, build her own music business journey and has worked with Labels like Sony Music and several Grammy nominated and winners like the multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier, the bass player Victor Wooten, Beyonce’s touring Saxophonist Tia Fuller or the producer Javier Limon. Entrepreneur, she is also an influencer that has worked with several brands within the skincare and fashion industry. A musician beyond sound, beyond expectations.