October London, Lalah Hathaway, et Eric Benét

As the daughter of soul singer Donny Hathaway, Lalah was destined to follow in her mother’s footsteps, through her versatile, dynamic and technically strong voice. She arrived on the music scene in 1990, with her self-titled debut album, impressing listeners right from the start. The release was a commercial success, gaining a top ten single with “Heaven Knows, which peaked at number three on the Billboard R&B charts, with the album itself peaking at number 191 on the Billboard Hot 200. This was followed by 1994’s “A Moment,” which again drew positive critical acclaim, with the album debuting at number 34 on the R&B charts.

After this initial success, Hathaway took a break from recording music, not returning until 1999, where she collaborated with legendary jazzman, Joe Sample for the GRP album, “The Song Lives On.” Into the new millennium, Hathaway released a steady stream of records, with 2004’s “Outrun the Sky” (Sanctuary Records), “Self Portrait” (2008, Stax) and “Where It All Begins” (2011, Stax). These releases continued to prompt praise from critics for Hathaway’s talent and diversity in her music, collaborating with the likes of Mike City, Rahsaan Patterson, Rex Rudest and Dre & Vidal. “Self Portrait” and “Where It All Begins” were Hathaway’s most successful releases, peaking at number 63 and number 32 respectively, in the Billboard Hot 200 Chart.

Widely regarded as on of the finest vocalists of her generation, Hathaway made the perfect choice for her collaboration with R&B/Soul outfit, Snarky Puppy. Working together on the song, “Something” in 2013, the partnership went on to secure Hathaway with her first Grammy Award, receiving the award for ‘Best R&B Performance’ at the 2014 awards.

Born in Mobile, Alabama on 15 October 1966 and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the late 1980s Benet sang with a Top 100-style group called Gerard, and then in 1992 formed a band with his sister, and cousin called Benet. Together they released a self-titled album, which went on to sell over 100,000 copies. Eric Benet then went on to pursue his solo career, having signed a deal with Warner Bros. Records. He released his first solo album in 1996 entitled “True To Myself.”

His second album, “A Day In The Life,” was released in 1999 and the single, “Spend My Life With You,” went on to earn a Grammy nomination in 2000. Additionally, the album also won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Male. Benet also took part in various side projects such as recording with Earth, Wind and Fire, as well as releasing an album with his label-mates called “Somethin’ For The People.” In 2001 he released his next album, “Better and Better,” but due to the controversy about change in music style that this album had and lack of creative freedom, Benét changed to Reprise-distributed label Friday Records and recorded his next album, “Hurricane.”

“Hurricane” was followed by “Love & Life” in 2008 which earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album, as well as Best R&B Male Performance for "You're the Only One," a single from the record. On June 5, 2012 Eric then released his latest album “The One,” which won him the SoulTracks Readers' Choice Award for Best Male Vocalist. In 2014 Benet released an international album, “The Other One” in which he teamed up with the European production collective.