“I am a 70's disco soul child from the Planet Rock.”

Do you come from a musical family?
Yes, my father is the best vocalist I have ever heard in my life, in addition to all of his family - Everybody sings and plays music.  One of the first groups I was in was with my sisters and one of my brothers.  My father is a minister, so we were his opening group.  We sang for him all over the country from the time I was about 7 until 12, or so.)

What were your musical inspirations?
I was and remain inspired by gospel, jazz, disco, and seventies soul.  I love hearing beautiful arrangements and tight harmonies- chord progressions, rolling bass.  I'm very moved by so many different elements of music.  I try to live inside the sound.)

How did you get into the house sound?
I've loved house as long as I can remember.  I hear house as a hybrid of all the types of music I love, mainly gospel, jazz and disco.  House music is a feeling and when I hear house, I make a connection that I don’t quite have with any other genre of music.  I love house like its a person, like Florida Evans loves James.)

What was the first house track you sang on?
Well, if I could just provide some clarity to that.  My first time out of the gate, I wasn’t brought in to sing on a track.  I recorded my song- written, arranged, and conceptualized by me. Quite a difference, yes? I feel its good to be clear about how tracks are conceived, because all artists dont work in the same manner. That first song was "The Right Way" on Look-at-You Records & Slip-N-Slide.  It was released in 1998.)

Do you write most/all of the songs you sing?
Yes, songwriting is one of my favourite parts of this business.  I've written or co-written all but one of the songs I've ever released.)

What vocal artists do you admire?
There are so many. Its hard for me to narrow down to just a few, but I will give some examples from dance music.  First and foremost, I have a great deal of admiration and respect for Sylvester, Martha Wash and Izora Armstead.
Inaya Day has been by voice of inspiration for 10 years now. Everytime I hear her is like the first time and I am completely awestruck.  Ce Ce Peniston
posseses a gift that cant be compared to anyone, and I love how she uses it.  Nobody can put on a show like Barbara Tucker.  Dawn Tallman has the "church" in her voice that I grew up hearing, and I respond to that. Ultra Nate' I admire because she is the consummate profesional.  Just a star if ever there was one. Jody Watley opened up my mind to dance music. Kenny Bobien, Su Su Bobien, Byron Stingily, Byron Burke, Dajae, Adeva, Jamie Principle, Michelle Weeks so many many artists that I absolutely admire and love and draw so much inspiration from)

What producers do you enjoy working with?
I have sincerely enjoyed working with everybody I have ever worked with. There is always something positive for me to take away from a collaboration.  George Jackson is my frequent collaborator and I love working with George because he really understands my voice and how I would like to use my gift and he gets inside the music with me.  Our business relationship is developed because we have an open communication that I feel is key in keeping a connection musically.  Outside of the studio, I'm friends with him, his wife & family and he is acquainted with my family as well, so we both know each others elements and when we go into the studio, we are both keenly aware of what our motivation is for doing what we do.)

What would be your three records you couldn’t be without?
"When Can Our Love Begin?" Kimara Lovelace-Timmy Regisford Shelter Anthem mix, "I Need You" Sylvester, Ron Hardy mix and "Nobody Else" by CeCe Peniston.)

You had a long term relationship with the Pound Boys - How did you hook up with them.?
DJ Eldon (Feldman) connected us after I told him I wanted to begin recording. I sent them a demo which later became "The Right Way", and I was off and running.)

You have recorded tracks on many top labels giving you a tremendous catalogue of work, what have been your favourites you have done?
"Happy" on Bumpin' City Records Chicago, "Be With You" on Look-at-You Records & MediaRecords/Italy, and my two new tracks - "Its Alright" and "Warrior".

Do you do regular live performances?
Yes, I try to perform as much as possible.  The live performance is my favourite part of being an artist.  I love to feel the energy of my audience and allow them to feel me. A gift is meant to be given and is worthless if not shared, so I try to share as much as I can.)

What would you be doing if you weren't involved in the music scene?
I can't imagine not doing music.  But I am involved in real estate and I do love that as well, so I would guess I would be in real estate development if I wasn’t in music.)

Do you have any album plans?
The idea is being discussed and I am open to it, just has to be right.
I love when Byron Stingily did "The Purist" and Kim English did "Higher Things".  I would have to do something on that level in order for it to make sense to me. )

You have some exciting new releases that came out in March. “It‚s Alright”(Generate Music US) co-written by Ce Ce Peniston and produced by Dave ‘Red Soul‚ Wareing and “Warrior” (Ruff-N-Tuff Records  produced by George Jackson with mixes by Ron Carroll dub and the legendary E-Smoove are these releases going to be big ones for you.?
Wow, I pray they are! I've been hearing a lot of phenomenal feedback, but I don’t want to allow myself, personally to get trapped in the hype bubble.  They are both solid records.  I poured myself out on the studio floor, and that’s all I can do.  I want everyone to hear these because I am so proud of both of them.  I have never been more proud of anything I have ever done.)

What are you working on at the moment?
At the moment my focus is on my collaboration with Craig C.  I am so excited to be working with him again and what we are working on is coming along so beautifully, I can hardly wait to finish so I can play it for you.)

Do you have any particular achievements in mind over the next few years, is there anyone you would really like to work with?
I want to work with so so many people.  Let me just throw out this fishing line and see what happens: Inaya Day, Frankie Knuckles, DJ Pierre, DJ Dove, Barbara Tucker, DJ Spen, Grant
Nelson, Ultra Nate', Jada, Jasper Street Company.....any bites? HA! Oh, and I want to work with Phoebe Snow, I'm hoping she will allow me to carry her guitar onstage for her, thats it, thats all I could do next to her- she would sing me into oblivion, I Wouldn’t be able to make any sound come out.)

What is your ideal way to take time out away from the music?
I love spending time with the kids- they are 14 & 11, I spend a lot of time online, myspace is addictive, you can find me there at www.myspace.com/garagesounds, I love to travel, I enjoy fine dining, movies, and just quiet time. I love to go to a house set when its gets real deep and just get lost in the music.  A lot of people have never been moved to tears on a dance floor.  The first person that ever did that to me was David Morales. I was trapped in his set and I didnt want to get out. I love to have that experience, when I can. Its rare.)

What was the last movie you watched?
Crash was the last good movie saw.  It was amazing.

What is you favourite food?
Grilled Salmon with roasted garlic, mmm.

Are you a trainers or shoes man!?
Trainers except when I'm onstage.  I tried that before, they don’t like that from me. Ha!)