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Raphael Saadiq
History: With his first-ever
solo album release, INSTANT
VINTAGE, Saadiq is the writer-producer behind such stellar hits
as Angie Stone's "Brotha" and D'Angelo's "Lady"
and the Grammy Award-winning "Untitled," among numerous
immortal R&B tracks he's produced for others. As the co-founder/producer/member
of multi-platinum success artists Tony! Toni! Tone! and Lucy Pearl,
Saadiq is touted as a pioneer of 'neo-soul.' "I don't think
it represents what the artists before me would like it to be called,
really," says the versatile bassist, guitarist, keyboardist,
and drummer. Now he's back to create a whole new sound he calls 'gospeldelic' on
"INSTANT VINTAG."
Saadiq's road to success started at the age of six, when he played bass at church, school and community events in his hometown, Oakland, California. At 18, he stepped onto the world stage when he was chosen, out of hundreds of musicians, to play bass for Prince and Sheila E. on their "Parade" world tour. It was on this tour that Saadiq had the inspiration for what would later become one of the most ground-breaking groups in R&B history, Tony Toni Tonè (whose five albums sold over six million records worldwide). Next he formed and produced the supergroup Lucy Pearl (whose gold-certified album was nominated for a Grammy Award, an American Music Award, two Soul Train Awards and two NAACP Awards). His music has always been more
than skin-deep. It's about making people feel, and about building
something fresh from what's come before. On INSTANT VINTAGE, he
employs his talent for drawing from the old school, not just to
rehash, but to re-inform the new school with the kind of album such
giants as Marvin Gaye, Al Green, and Stevie Wonder made back in
the day. Saadiq is owner of a label (Pookie Records) and a production company (Whiskey Slew). Acclaimed producers Jake & The Phatman have been signed to Whiskey Slew. Jake & The Phatman contributed their skills and talents to the Lucy Pearl album, co-producing hits such as "Dance Tonight", "Trippin", and "LaLa". Lucy Pearl's debut gold album was released on Raphael's Pookie Records. Saadiq recently directed a video
for the single "Be Here," a duet with D'Angelo who's also
featured in the clip. "I have new challenges that I never,
ever had in my life," he says. "Like, as an artist, learning
how to balance business and art, but not lie to myself." In
fact, Saadiq seems quite confidently true to himself. "All
I'm doing is what I can, what God is letting me do. To me, that
way is funky, it's gospeldelic. I love that."
Current Credits: Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and record producer Raphael Saadiq has announced the release of his fifth studio album Stone Rollin’ on March 22, 2011 on Columbia Records. Sadique's “old school” R&B returns with a new release that celebrates the classic sounds of 60’s and 70’s soul with a futuristic twist. Raphael debuted the video for the track “Radio” The song is available on iTunes. Featuring ten new tracks, Stone Rollin’ is the follow up to Saadiq’s 2008 solo album The Way I See It, which boasted four Billboard R&B chart singles and was nominated for three GRAMMY Awards including Best R&B Album. The album was also selected by iTunes as their ‘Album of the Year’ in 2008. With the release of The Way I See It, Raphael Saadiq truly made his mark as a touring artist, striking a universal chord with audiences around the world through multiple performances at festival dates throughout Europe and the States — including Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza, SXSW and Voodoo Experience– as well as a recent opening slot on the Dave Matthews Band’s amphitheater tour. VICKIE
CHARLES
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