Kevin Toney
Encyclopedia
Kevin Toney is an American pianist and composer, known as an original member of The Blackbyrds
and now is a solo artist and performer.
. He was performing with the groundbreaking jazz-fusion group The Blackbyrds when he received his B.A. in Composition and Jazz Studies from Howard University
. Seven albums were recorded with the group, three of which were certified gold. Many of their hit songs including "Rock Creek Park" and the Grammy nominated "Unfinished Business" were written by Toney.
In the years between the Blackbyrds and his subsequent career as a solo recording artist, Toney was a conductor and arranger for recording and performing artists including: James Ingram
, Patti Austin
, Michael McDonald
, Marilyn McCoo
and Billy Davis, Jr.
, Carl Anderson, Edwin Hawkins
and Isaac Hayes
. He also served as conductor and arranger for productions of: Ain’t Misbehavin’, Five Guys Named Moe, Sophisticated Ladies, Harlem Suite, Wild Women Blues (featuring Linda Hopkins) The Magic Of Motown: A Tribute To Barry Gordy and Atlanta. He has also recorded and/or performed with Aretha Franklin
, Whitney Houston
, Frank Sinatra
, Stevie Wonder
, Seal, Annie Lennox
, Shirley Caesar
, Ray Charles
, Ray Parker Jr., Pink, Kenny Burrell, Nancy Wilson and O.C. Smith to name a few.
Although Toney released his first solo recording, Special K, in 1982, his career as a solo artist really began to take off in 1994 with the release of Lovescape, which yielded two major smooth jazz radio hits in "Kings" and "Aphrodisiac". His follow-up was the 1995 release of Pastel Mood, which featured Carl Anderson, and subsequent releases of: Extra Sensual Perception, Strut, Sweet Spot, 110 Degrees and Rising and Retrospectives, which was released in 2006. The 2002 Winter Olympic Committee selected the Strut CD as part of its official music. Toney’s collaboration with Unwrapped producer Tony Joseph on the compilation Def Jazz, a smooth jazz interpretation of rap classics, was released in 2005 on Def Jam Records.
Toney’s current project titled A Grateful Heart is his first solo piano recording. Toney recently released the Kevin Toney Collection Volume 1, which includes 24 of his most popular recorded compositions, and scored a full length feature film titled Kings of the Evening.
Kevin Toney is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
“Throughout his career as a pianist and composer, Kevin Toney has continually demonstrated why he is one of contemporary jazz’s brightest and most inspiring talents.
- 'Kenny Burrell, Jazz Guitar Legend, Director UCLA Jazz Studies Program
“Toney’s intricate compositions and sophisticated piano playing are evidence of his rich and solid jazz, blues and gospel roots”
- Jazz Times
“ To my amazement, Toney’s magic tap dances gracefully from corner to corner of the almighty ivories”
- Abyss Jazz Magazine
Soundtracks
- Grammy Award Nomination Best R & B Song, Walking In Rhythm-The Blackbyrds, 1976
- RIAA Certified Gold Album “Action” - The Blackbyrds, 1978
- RIAA Certified Gold Album ”Unfinished Business”, The Blackbyrds 1977
- RIAA Certified Gold Album, “City Life” with The Blackbyrds, 1976
- NAACP Image Award Best Jazz Group - The Blackbyrds, 1977
- Billboard Magazine Award #1 Pop Instrumental Group - The Blackbyrds, 1976
- Record World Award #1 Jazz Group - The Blackbyrds, 1976
- National Endowment For The Arts Fellowship Grant for Jazz Composition and Performance, 1981
- Keys To the City” Awards Detroit, New Orleans, Los Angeles
- Madison Who’s Who In America 2008
- Service To The Community Honor Inglewood Unified School District Visual & Performing Arts Theatre, 2008
- Division Marshall 37th Annual Black History Parade - City Of San Bernardino, 2006
- Certificate Of Commendation College Bound Program, Los Angeles, CA 2001 & 2002
- Who’s Who In America 1984, 1992
The Blackbyrds
The Blackbyrds were an American rhythm and blues and jazz-funk fusion group, formed in Washington, D.C. in 1973.-History:The group was inspired by trumpeter Donald Byrd and featured some of his Howard University students: Kevin Toney , Keith Killgo , Joe Hall , Allan C. Barnes , and Barney Perry...
and now is a solo artist and performer.
Biography
Toney was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan where he attended the prestigious Cass Technical High SchoolCass Technical High School
The Cass Tech Technicians football team is a high school football program in Division 1 Public School League, representing the prestigious Cass Technical High School in Detroit, MI. Cass Tech High School has long been recognized nationwide for its extraordinary football program dating back to its...
. He was performing with the groundbreaking jazz-fusion group The Blackbyrds when he received his B.A. in Composition and Jazz Studies from Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
. Seven albums were recorded with the group, three of which were certified gold. Many of their hit songs including "Rock Creek Park" and the Grammy nominated "Unfinished Business" were written by Toney.
In the years between the Blackbyrds and his subsequent career as a solo recording artist, Toney was a conductor and arranger for recording and performing artists including: James Ingram
James Ingram
James Ingram is an American soul musician. He is best known as a vocalist. He is also a self-taught musician who plays piano, guitar, bass, drums and keyboards...
, Patti Austin
Patti Austin
-Life and career:Austin was born in Harlem, New York. She made her debut at the Apollo Theater at age four and had a contract with RCA Records when she was only five. Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington have proclaimed themselves as her godparents....
, Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (singer)
Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
, Marilyn McCoo
Marilyn McCoo
Marilyn McCoo is an American singer, actress, and television presenter, who is best known for being the lead female vocalist in the group The 5th Dimension, as well as hosting the 1980s music countdown series Solid Gold...
and Billy Davis, Jr.
Billy Davis, Jr.
Billy Davis, Jr. is an American musician, best known as a member of The 5th Dimension. Along with his wife, Marilyn McCoo, he had hit records during 1976 and 1977 with "I Hope We Get to Love in Time", "Your Love", and "You Don't Have to Be a Star "...
, Carl Anderson, Edwin Hawkins
Edwin Hawkins
Edwin Hawkins is a Grammy Award-winning American gospel and R&B musician, pianist, choir master, composer and arranger. He is one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. He are best known for his arrangement of "Oh Happy Day" , which was included on the Songs of the Century list...
and Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
. He also served as conductor and arranger for productions of: Ain’t Misbehavin’, Five Guys Named Moe, Sophisticated Ladies, Harlem Suite, Wild Women Blues (featuring Linda Hopkins) The Magic Of Motown: A Tribute To Barry Gordy and Atlanta. He has also recorded and/or performed with Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Seal, Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...
, Shirley Caesar
Shirley Caesar
Shirley Ann Caesar is an American Gospel music singer, songwriter and recording artist whose career has spanned six decades...
, Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, Ray Parker Jr., Pink, Kenny Burrell, Nancy Wilson and O.C. Smith to name a few.
Although Toney released his first solo recording, Special K, in 1982, his career as a solo artist really began to take off in 1994 with the release of Lovescape, which yielded two major smooth jazz radio hits in "Kings" and "Aphrodisiac". His follow-up was the 1995 release of Pastel Mood, which featured Carl Anderson, and subsequent releases of: Extra Sensual Perception, Strut, Sweet Spot, 110 Degrees and Rising and Retrospectives, which was released in 2006. The 2002 Winter Olympic Committee selected the Strut CD as part of its official music. Toney’s collaboration with Unwrapped producer Tony Joseph on the compilation Def Jazz, a smooth jazz interpretation of rap classics, was released in 2005 on Def Jam Records.
Toney’s current project titled A Grateful Heart is his first solo piano recording. Toney recently released the Kevin Toney Collection Volume 1, which includes 24 of his most popular recorded compositions, and scored a full length feature film titled Kings of the Evening.
Kevin Toney is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Reception
Urban Network says “Kevin Toney has proven himself to be among the most masterful and versatile keyboardist of his generation, playing with a technical proficiency that is at the absolute peak of the contemporary jazz game.” Billboard Magazine notes “Toney's piano skills and ear for melody set him apart from the pack and make him enjoyable and engaging."“Throughout his career as a pianist and composer, Kevin Toney has continually demonstrated why he is one of contemporary jazz’s brightest and most inspiring talents.
- 'Kenny Burrell, Jazz Guitar Legend, Director UCLA Jazz Studies Program
“Toney’s intricate compositions and sophisticated piano playing are evidence of his rich and solid jazz, blues and gospel roots”
- Jazz Times
“ To my amazement, Toney’s magic tap dances gracefully from corner to corner of the almighty ivories”
- Abyss Jazz Magazine
As Leader
- Special K (1982)
- Lovescape (1994)
- Pastel Mood (1995)
- Extra Sensual Perception (1999)
- Satin Doll - Smooth Jazz Plays Duke Ellington (2000)
- Strut (2001)
- Sweet Spot (2003)
- 110 Degrees and Rising (2005)
- Retrospectives (2006)
- A Heart Of Gratitude aka A Grateful Heart (2008)
- New American Suite (2011)
With Blackbyrds
- Blackbyrds (Fantasy, 1973)
- Flying Start (Fantasy, 1974)
- Cornbread, Earl and Me (Fantasy, 1975)
- City Life (Fantasy, 1976) (RIAA Gold LPRIAA certificationIn the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
) - Unfinished Business (Fantasy, 1977) (RIAA Gold LP)
- Action (Fantasy, 1978) (RIAA Gold LP)
- Better Days (Fantasy, 1981)
- Happy Music (Concord, 2007)
- Lovebyrds (Concord, 2007)
With Various Artist
- Bobbi Humphrey Live: Cookin' with Blue Note at MontreuxBobbi Humphrey Live: Cookin' with Blue Note at MontreuxBobbi Humphrey Live: Cookin' with Blue Note at Montreux is a live album by American jazz flautist Bobbi Humphrey recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1973 and released on the Blue Note label.-Track listing:# "Virtue" - 9:06...
— Bobbi Humphrey (Blue Note, 1973) - Live at Montreux — Alphonse Mouzon (Blue Note, 1973)
- Live at Montreux — Marlena Shaw (Blue Note, 1973)
- Places and Spaces — Donald Byrd (Blue Note, 1976)
- Caricatures — Donald Byrd (Blue Note, 1977)
- "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"You Make Me Feel " is the title of a 1978 single by American disco singer Sylvester James, who performed using just his first name, Sylvester...
" — Sylvester (Honey/Fantasy, 1979) - Scratch My Back — David “Fathead” Newman (Fantasy, 1979)
- Sharon Redd — Sharon Redd (1980)
- You Can Call It What You Want — Bill Summers and Summers Heat (MCA, 1981)
- We Call It the Box — Bill Summers and Summers Heat (MCA, 1983)
- Soul Jazz — Rahmlee Michael Davis (1986)
- After Midnight — Ray Parker, Jr.Ray Parker, Jr.Ray Erskine Parker, Jr. , is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer and recording artist. Parker is known for writing and performing the theme song to the motion picture Ghostbusters, for his solo hits, and performing with his band Raydio as well as the late Barry White.-Early life and...
(Arista, 1987) - Piano in the Dark — Brenda Russell (A & M, 1987)
- Midnite Blue — Phil Upchurch (KICJ [import],1991)
- Joyful Noise — Chester Thompson (Rhino, 1992)
- Get the Feeling — Two Tons: Martha Wash/Azora Armstead (Fantasy, 1993)
- Unforgettable Sax — Hugh Brodie (1994)
- Duets — Paul Jackson, Jr. (Blue Note, 1996)
- Love Letters — Craig T. Cooper (Sin Drome, 1996)
- Street Sax — Chazzy Green (1999)
- Life Changes — Doc Powell (Sampson, 2001)
- Nu Life Stories — Dave McMurray (Hip Bop, 2003)
- The House Of Urban Grooves — Various artists (Peak, 2004)
- Def Jazz — Various artists (Verve, 2005)
- Full Circle — Andre Delano (7th Note, 2005)
- Live at the Funk Lounge — Val Watson (2005)
- I'm Free — Ray Parker, Jr.Ray Parker, Jr.Ray Erskine Parker, Jr. , is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer and recording artist. Parker is known for writing and performing the theme song to the motion picture Ghostbusters, for his solo hits, and performing with his band Raydio as well as the late Barry White.-Early life and...
(Raydio Music, 2006)
As Producer
- Send It On Down (WHHB Records 1985)
- Love In Motion - Jeannie Tatum (Uotahum 2000)
- C-Note - Reggie C (Liquid 8 2003)
- Back To You-Talia Long (TLR 2006)
Soundtracks
- Cornbread Earl and Me Fantasy 1975
- Armed and Dangerous Columbia 1986 (Michael Henderson)
With Andrew White
- Passion Flower AM-5 1973
- Songs For A French Lady AM-6 1974
- Theme AM-7 1975
- Live At The Foolery (Vol I) AM-8 1975
- Live At The Foolery (Vol II) AM-9 1975
- Live At The Foolery (Vol III) AM-10 1975
- Collage AM-14 1975
- Marathon (Vol VI) AM-20 1976
- Marathon (Vol VII) AM-21 1976
- Marathon (Vol VIII) AM-22 1976
- Marathon (Vol XI) AM-23 1976
- Fonk Update AM-37 1979
- I Love Japan AM-38 1979
- Have Band Will Travel AM-39 1979
Awards and Achievements
- Grammy Award Nomination Best Instrumental Song, Unfinished Business - The Blackbyrds, 1978- Grammy Award Nomination Best R & B Song, Walking In Rhythm-The Blackbyrds, 1976
- RIAA Certified Gold Album “Action” - The Blackbyrds, 1978
- RIAA Certified Gold Album ”Unfinished Business”, The Blackbyrds 1977
- RIAA Certified Gold Album, “City Life” with The Blackbyrds, 1976
- NAACP Image Award Best Jazz Group - The Blackbyrds, 1977
- Billboard Magazine Award #1 Pop Instrumental Group - The Blackbyrds, 1976
- Record World Award #1 Jazz Group - The Blackbyrds, 1976
- National Endowment For The Arts Fellowship Grant for Jazz Composition and Performance, 1981
- Keys To the City” Awards Detroit, New Orleans, Los Angeles
- Madison Who’s Who In America 2008
- Service To The Community Honor Inglewood Unified School District Visual & Performing Arts Theatre, 2008
- Division Marshall 37th Annual Black History Parade - City Of San Bernardino, 2006
- Certificate Of Commendation College Bound Program, Los Angeles, CA 2001 & 2002
- Who’s Who In America 1984, 1992