Meet the Artists

An award-winning singer and songwriter, Walker debuted with the Cincinnati Symphony and has sung dramatic soprano roles worldwide.

The career of the longest-serving Black radio personality spans more than 50 years as a music and talk show host and program director who coined the popular radio phrase "I Got It."

Launched in 1953, Cincinnati's first Black music radio station featured influential broadcasters such as Lincoln Ware, Buggs Scruggs, Jack ‘The Rapper’ Gibson and Everett Cork.

In 1878, she became the first Black artist to perform at the White House. The singer lived in Cincinnati and took voice lessons here.

With a percussion style drawing from African and South American rhythms, the Cincinnati jazz musician has played with Miles Davis, Ray Charles and others.

An R&B songwriter-singer in the 1950s and 1960s, Ballard recorded on Cincinnati’s King Records and wrote “The Twist,” famously covered by Chubby Checker.

Father of singer Penny Ford and longtime record company executive and producer credited with discovering Kool & the Gang.

The Cincinnati choir director and organist, known for innovative keyboard styling, worked with the ‘King of Gospel,’ James Cleveland.

Flamboyant blues singer-pianist and bandleader who double-billed with B.B. King and Tiny Bradshaw. Ferguson recorded on Cincinnati’s King Records label.

A popular American female vocal trio known as the ‘Supremes of Cincinnati,’ made the Billboard Music charts in 1961 with the song “What Kind of Girl (Do You Think I Am?).”

"Boogie Nights," on its debut album, reached #5 on the R&B charts in 1976. Johnny Wilder co-founded this funk-disco band in 1975.

This Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is known for recording the timeless Christmas holiday hit "Please Come Home for Christmas" at King Records.

A composer and educator, she was the first African American graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

The gifted gospel singer-songwriter released his first album in 1994. Artists from Hezekiah Walker to the Love Fellowship have covered his songs.

Another Level (2004) is among the influential albums released by the pastor, gospel artist and prolific songwriter. Dunn also wrote hits for Marvin Sapp.

Weaving together funk and fantasy, the Dayton, Ohio band often included playful characters in its songs, such as featuring Robin Hood in “Shot of Love” (1978).

A Grammy winner for Best Traditional Gospel Album (2007), Lawrence studied at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Graduate of Princeton High School, Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee, industry executive, former Vice President of Sony Gospel and the current CEO of I Hear Music, Inc.

A Cincinnati native, global entertainer, singer, songwriter and producer known as ‘Mr. Southern Soul.’ At age 11, Robb became the youngest DJ on a Cincinnati radio station, WAIF Radio. He was also a member of Roger Troutman & Zapp.

A singer, songwriter and actress, hailing from Southwest Ohio, Jones was produced by and toured with Prince, appearing in the 1984 film Purple Rain. She also performed with and wrote for national recording artist Teena Marie.

A vibrant music teacher at Cincinnati’s Hughes High School, and a vocalist himself, Brown mentored aspiring performer and future music executive L.A. Reid.

The popular close harmony trio formed at Cincinnati’s Hughes High School around 1964 and performed at local entertainment venues and events.

The Cincinnati-born jazz performer and composer toured with jazz legends such as Art Blakley and co-led the esteemed Cohesion Jazz Ensemble.

A songwriter, pastor and former Xavier University basketball standout, David Minor is Director of Worship Arts & Media at Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church in Woodlawn, Ohio.

Between 2009–2013, the Cincinnati-born gospel singer topped the Gospel Albums charts three times and earned a Grammy nomination for his album Withholding Nothing.

Famed for their extravagant live shows featuring dazzling light effects and futuristic synthesized sounds, this prolific R&B-funk band from Dayton, Ohio formed in 1976. They are celebrated for their hit song, "Live on, Dream On."

The Cincinnati-born Jasper is a multi-award-winning R&B singer, composer and producer, and was a key part of the Isley Brothers’ distinctive sound.

American singer, pianist and drummer, Hatcher has been featured on America’s Got Talent, Sunday Best and American Idol. He has toured with artists Tamar Braxton and Le’Andria Johnson.

A Pastor, singer, songwriter and radio host, Hilton has written and recorded with Evangelist Dorothy Norwood and the Mississippi Mass Choir. His album God Did That Thing was nominated for a Stellar award and charted on Billboard.

The Cincinnati jazz pianist played with greats such as Duke Ellington and Rosemary Clooney and was inducted into the Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame (2017).

A Cincinnati native and music executive, Wright co-founded the Black Music Association with Kenneth Gamble, prompting President Carter to declare June as Black Music Month in 1979. He was a WCIN announcer and Elektra Records’ first Black executive.

A Southwest Ohio resident, the Creator and Executive Producer of the nationally televised Gospel Superfest is himself a respected musician. Cartwright is also a former member of the Ohio Players.

The Cincinnati native, songwriter, artist and music director shared the stage with performers such as Stevie Wonder and Prince, and was keyboardist for the Isley Brothers and others.

Though it specialized in funk and soul, diverse local and national artists from Bootsy Collins to Prince recorded at this Cincinnati studio in the 1970s–1980s.

A Cincinnati native, performer at the International Jazz Festival and recording artist. Lindsey-Warren is a former co-producer on the production team for the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame ceremony (2022–2023).

Prolific Cincinnati songwriter for top Motown artists nicknamed ‘The Queen of Northern Soul.’ Gladys Knight and the Pips recorded her biggest hit "If I Were Your Woman,” which was nominated for a Grammy.

Cincinnati native credited for influencing Ted Riley. An original member of the R&B group BLACKstreet, founded in 1991. He co-wrote and performed on the group’s first single, “Baby Be Mine,” in 1993.

Celebrity host, pop culture expert and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning Sherri Shepherd Show, Murray served as the first national host of the annual Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame induction ceremony.

Originally from Cincinnati’s Avondale neighborhood, the American doo-wop group performed at New York’s Apollo Theater and recorded hit songs like “I’m So Young,” which was later covered by the Beach Boys.

Master trumpeter who was also proficient at playing multiple instruments. Most known as a Cincinnati Public Schools music educator for notable musicians including jazz saxophonist Ed ‘Sax’ Thomas. He is well known for his popular Eddie Love ‘Swing’ Big Band and session work.

Known locally for singing the jingle “It’s Skyline Time,” the Cincinnati native’s most notable recording is “Take That to the Bank,” a duet with Jody Watley of Shalamar.

A jazz vocalist and Cincinnati Purcell Marian High School alumni, Kinely sang with the Frank Vincent Trio and worked with Henry Mancini, Tony Bennett and Uncle Al.

The Cincinnati blues pianist garnered critical acclaim for his LP Cincinnati Stomp in 1979 and won a National Heritage Fellowship in 2005.

As founder and songwriter for Billy Ward and The Dominoes, a top R&B group of the 1950s, he scored two #1 hits on the R&B charts in 1951 and 1952 with hit songs like "Sixty Minute Man."

The jazz entertainer founded Women in Jazz, a Cincinnati arts organization that promotes instrumental and vocal performances.

A graduate of Cincinnati’s School of Creative and Performing Arts, the keyboardist, guitarist, vocalist and co-founder of the Free Nationals is a four-time Grammy nominee.

Vocalist, keyboardist and songwriter. A member of the Ohio Players, he also performed with Kool and the Gang.

Renowned as a studio drummer at King Records, Paul toured with top jazz artists and, in 2016, was inducted into the Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame.

A Withrow High School graduate, CEA Music Hall of Fame inductee, soul singer, musician, songwriter and producer. Smith’s 1971 hit, “Lord What’s Happened?,” led to a hosting role on the TV show Soul Street. He wrote “Think Before You Walk Away,” later re-recorded by the Platters.

Known for her hit song “Finally,” the singer, songwriter and actress scored five #1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music Club Play in the 1990s. In December 2016, Billboard listed her among the 100 top dance club artists of all time.

The soul band performed around Cincinnati in the late 1960s. Around 1972, Ditalians evolved into the band 24-Carat Black.

The Cincinnati native, songwriter, concert promoter and graduate of Indian Hill High School has worked with top music artists around the world.

Cincinnati music producer Sal Dali has worked with legends such as Hi-Tek and received a 2023 Grammy for Beyoncé’s album Renaissance.

Cincinnati blues artist Albert Washington released his first album in 1972 and has been cited by France's prestigious Académie du Jazz.

A native of Covington, Ohio, bassist Ed Conley was a regular on the Cincinnati jazz scene and worked as a session musician for Cincinnati’s King Records.

Known as Cincinnati's ‘Queen of the Blues.’ Mixes blues and gospel influences in vocals for albums such as Comin' Home to the Blues (1994).

The Stellar Award winner and Cincinnati-born gospel soloist topped the charts with Broken (2003), Worshipper (2005) and Champion (2010).

An international soprano and concert soloist from Wyoming, Ohio, Waters trained at the New England Conservatory of Music and performed in Paris and Cincinnati venues such as Music Hall, Memorial Hall and Emery Theatre throughout the 1930s.

The legendary Cincinnati label was home to many Black producers, executives and artists—including ‘Godfather of Soul’ James Brown—and is credited as the first racially integrated workplace in Cincinnati.

The musician, singer, producer and Chair of the King Records Legacy Foundation was the last member added to the Charms, a group founded by his father, Otis Williams.

A Cincinnati native, Davis was a producer and songwriter at Motown Records for over 30 years, co-writing and producing hits like “I’ll Be There” and “Dancing Machine” for Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5.

Located in Lockland, Ohio, the Cincinnati studio (1950–1958) introduced a custom label program empowering local musicians to commission records affordably.

The King Records vocalists, Sisters Geneva ‘Gigi’ and Denise Kinard, together with cousin Roberta DuBois from Cincinnati, were King Records vocalists and sang backup for artists including James Brown and Vicki Anderson.

Cincinnati native and winner of nine Dove Awards and two Grammy nominations, the singer-songwriter’s fourth album, Talk About It, was certified gold in 2008.

A musical director and internationally acclaimed percussionist hailing from Cincinnati, Cornwell has completed over 400 tours with artists including Janet Jackson, The O’Jays, New Edition and Lionel Richie. He also recorded with Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur.

R&B duo of Cincinnati, Ohio. Brothers Reggie and Vincent Calloway had a major hit in 1990 called “I Wanna Be Rich.” They have written for artists from NSYNC to Gladys Night, whose hit song “Love Overboard” won a Grammy.

Cincinnati Hughes High School graduate, music executive, songwriter and producer. Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid has won several Grammys. He was a member of the hit-making group The Deele and co-founded LaFace Records with Kenneth Babyface Edmonds.