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Episode 77. Host Troy Saunders has his latest conversation with an artist who has been on the indie soul scene since 1999. We love her sound, her music, and her spirit, and her name is Hil St. Soul.

Hil was born in Zambia and moved with her family to the United Kingdom at a very young age. Being from an African family, education was extremely important, and she studied biology and chemistry, along with literature, although she never planned to pursue a career in the sciences. As she was finishing university, she started to focus on her musical path, and her songwriting benefited from her background in English literature and her ability to tell a story and express her emotions.

Hil’s goal from the beginning was to make music that was timeless, like the idols she grew up listening to. She has always been drawn to powerful female vocalists like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, and Gladys Knight, and continues to love artists like Lauren Hill, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott.

St. Soul tells the story of how when she first started to pursue her music career, she had no idea how to get into the industry. She found a studio in some music magazine and recorded a demo. The owner of the studio heard the demo and told her she had an amazing voice and should start working with producers. The demo wound up in the hands of an A&R person for Dome Records, which ended up being the first label to sign her.

She has released six records during her career. After her Dome Records debut, “Soul Organic” (1999), she followed up with “Copasetik and Cool” (2002), “SOULidified” (2006), “Black Rose” (2008) - which earned her highest chart position, #21 in the U.S. Billboard Hip-Hop and R&B chart, “Release” (a 2009 compilation album), and her most recent release, “Back In Love” (2022).

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Episode 76. Host Troy Saunders has his latest conversation with bass player, producer, TV composer and engineer, “Keeper of the Low Notes,” Melvin Lee Davis. Did you know that Melvin’s playing on the classic “Soul Train” theme from the 1980s? That’s just one amazing fact you’ll learn about the baddest bass player you’ll ever hear.

Davis shares the story of how he started working with Don Cornelius, and basically became the staff bass player for Don Cornelius Productions for several years.

Davis’ philosophy is to avoid writing for specific genres. He plays and writes what he feels at a particular moment. At one time, he hated being called a “funk bassist,” because he feels it limited him to that genre. When making music, it’s important to be able to wear many hats, representing all of the different genres, and be open to all forms of music. This lets a musician be able to step into any session or opportunity and not be mediocre.

Davis is one of the few bass players who plays a seven-string instrument. Davis designed his seven-string bass on his own, and had it custom made by Ken Smith Bass to his specifications. Why does he need seven strings? It gives him more range in his role as a bass player, allowing him to play in higher and lower ranges when the song calls for it.

Davis’ latest project is Output/Input, which he founded with Hamish Stuart from Average White Band, Chaka Khan, and Paul McCartney. They have been releasing singles, and their debut  album, “Forward Motion,” is coming soon.

Los Angeles native Melvin Lee Davis was discovered at the tender age of 16 by Buddy Miles, when a horn player from Buddy Miles' band heard Melvin playing in a local club. Buddy Miles flew Davis to New York to audition for his band and immediately hired him. After playing the New York club circuit, Melvin found himself working with Don Cornelius of “Soul Train”. He has toured and recorded with the Pointer Sisters, Lee Ritenour, Bryan Ferry, David Benoit, Larry Carlton, Patti Austin, Gladys Knight, and many other top acts. Notably, he played on a number of Will Downing’s releases, and has served as musical director for Chaka Khan.

Along with "Soul Train's A Coming," Davis wrote the theme for the TV show "The Party Machine," and has appeared on TV with Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Arsenio Hall. Melvin has traveled the world and continues to be in high demand across many genres of music because of his incredible talent and positive demeanor on and off stage.

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Episode 75. Host Troy Saunders has an engaging conversation with soul and R&B singer Noel Gourdin. Gourdin is best known for his chart-topping hit “The River,” but this interview explores a deeper retrospective into Gourdin’s life and stellar 20-year career. Gourdin’s music smoothly incorporates classic soul, R&B, and hip hop, bringing styles from different eras together to create something uniquely his own.

Gourdin signed a record deal with Sony at age 24, releasing “After My Time” in 2008. That massive success was followed by “Fresh: The Definition” (2011), and “City Heart, Southern Soul” (2014). All three albums are worth listening to, as well as various singles and EPs he released over the years.

Gourdin talks about how he makes sure every record he releases isn’t “wasted” and they get the attention they deserve. Troy and Gourdin discuss how important it is to make a great impression for every song that’s released since you never know when someone is hearing an artist for the first time and you want to make sure to earn their attention. Gourdin wants to always be memorable when people hear his records.

Gourdin shares a little-known fact that Frank Ocean (under his original name, Christopher Breaux) was part of Gourdin’s debut album, “After My Time,” and he remembers hanging out with him at Chipotle. Gourdin explains how fortunate he was to make that album with so many talented people and it remains an extraordinary moment in his career. This classic album is still available, so go out and buy it!

What would Gourdin say to someone breaking into the industry now? “Be yourself. Don’t try to be like anybody else.” If someone gives you a no, that means you’re not supposed to be there. But, that yes will change your life. Keep on moving, keep on pushing, and look for those vindication moments. “If you have a passion for it, you will rise. The cream rises.”

They close out with his latest single, “Get To You,” along with “Gatcha,” both of which will be included on his upcoming EP. Be sure to check out the latest from this amazing artist.

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Episode 74. Host Troy Saunders interviews soul singer and songwriter, Cornell CC Carter. He’s always smooth and on point and we’re here for it! Cornell called in from the United Kingdom, where he’s working on collaborations and promoting his new single, “It’s So Nice”. He starts off by expressing how important it is to him to build upon the legacy of the amazing artists who have come before him.

For many years, he was devoted to taking care of his family. While he was always on stage and performing, working as a session and background singer, he didn’t dedicate himself to his own music career until his children were old enough for him to put himself out there and follow his passion for music. He has opened for legendary artists including James Brown, Ray Charles, The Whispers, The Temptations, Natalie Cole, and Kool and the Gang.

Cornell has dedicated his entire career to his older brother Donald, an incredible talent with an amazing voice who was tragically killed in a car accident at age 18. Cornell still feels his brother’s presence every time he opens his voice to sing.

Troy plays tracks from Cornell’s debut album, “Vindicated Soul,” followed by “One Love,” the album that put Cornell on the map and remains his most popular release. If you discovered Cornell’s music on “One Love,” be sure to check out the rest of his catalog.

Troy and Cornell engage in a deep discussion that everyone needs to hear about the legacy of Black music and the difference between those who appreciate and honor it and those that try to appropriate it. They delve into how vital it is for today’s artists to look back at what they are building on and how important that musical foundation is to the culture. This discussion alone is worth your time to check out this episode.

Cornell has a vault of songs recorded for his upcoming sixth album, “Let It Go”. That album is dedicated to people who have things going on in their lives that they need to let go. He’s also working on collaborations with DJs in the UK that will be released in the coming months.

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Episode 73. Host Troy Saunders interviews the Queen of Sophisticated Soul, Candace Woodson. They start by talking about how a small-town girl from Kentucky became a queen. Candace explains that she grew up in a family that loved all genres of music. She went to school and learned about the music industry while continuing to develop her craft to pursue her epic award-winning career. Candace wants everyone to know that she is that little girl holding a brush in the mirror, singing those great songs where you need to know every note and how to express what makes the song special. Candace Woodson has a lifelong passion for performing and a talent for resilience she calls “stick to it-ness”.

Candace shares amazing advice given to her by Pam Sawyer, the songwriter who penned “Love Child” for the Supremes. Sawyer told her, “You want to find a song that when somebody is in the car, that they don’t get out until they hear all of that song until the end. You don’t want a song that when someone is driving to the store and the radio is in the middle of the song, they get out of the car anyway. You want the song where they have to listen to the end.” That’s an amazing lesson for everyone looking for a career in music.

Candace’s chart-topping singles include “The Answer Is No,” a defiant female empowerment ballad. “The Answer Is No” hit #1 on the UK Soul Chart Top 30 and has continued to receive airplay on Smooth Jazz Radio as well as other top stations. “Midas Touch (Ooh Ooh),” which hit the #1 spot on the UK Soul Charts, is an up-tempo track perfect to help get the party started.

Another hit for Candace is “Free,” a funky old-school dance anthem that conveys hope and positivity in the wake of adversity. This is a message she conveys stemming from her own experience and feeling after receiving her last cancer treatment at the Medical University of South Carolina. With the help of UK promoter Steve Ripley, who has worked on hits for Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Maxwell, and Jody Watley, “Free” rose to #12 on the UK Soul Chart Top 30.

This interview is a joy, with so much fun and happiness. That’s what music is all about.

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Episode 72. Host Troy Saunders interviews the GRAMMY-nominated producers and songwriters, plus amazing singers, Helen Bruner and Terry Jones. They have been in the business for over 30 years, entering the world singing as part of large talented musical families. They share with Troy the story of how they met and became lifelong sisters and collaborators, beginning with their first song “I Ain’t Got Time”. Troy surprises them by playing the track, which shows how their exceptional talent was there from the very beginning. If this track don’t make you move, nothing will!

Helen and Terry share stories of overcoming disappointment and failure in the music industry and the value of moving forward. It’s so important to understand both the creative side, as well as the business side, such as how publishing works.

One of the best stories of this episode is when they attended a Warner Brothers Music Grammy party and met the legendary Diana Ross. Ross took their hands and spent 20 minutes sharing pearls of wisdom about being Black women in the music industry that they still use today. “This is your name,” Ross told them. “When they’re gone, it’s still your brand and you need to protect it.”

Helen Bruner and Terry Jones have produced a number of critically acclaimed songs and albums. Their work spans many years, and they've collaborated with various well-known artists in the industry. They are especially known for their ability to blend soul, R&B, and dance music into a unique and catchy sound.

They were nominated at the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2008 with singer Linda Jones for their single "Baby I Know" for Best Traditional R&B Performance.

Their latest album is “2nd Overture,” and its lead single "I Can't Call It," which has been climbing charts around the world. It’s new, it’s fresh, it’s funky, it’s hot. Get it!

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Episode 71. Host Troy Saunders interviews one of the baddest singer/songwriters out there today, Rebecca Jade. If you do not have her latest album, “A Shade of Jade,” in your playlist, you better go get it. It’s insane from beginning to end. This also happens to be the first record where Rebecca wrote all of the lyrics.

Rebecca talks about growing up in a musical home, and being exposed to a broad range of artists, genres and styles, as well as her ongoing training both as a vocalist and learning to play bass. She explains that it’s very helpful for anyone who wants to be part of the music industry to learn music theory, especially for singers. Rebecca graduated from UC Berkeley on a full basketball scholarship with a degree in Theatre & Performance Studies, has earned her MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix, and advanced her musical education by studying Jazz Theory and Classical Voice at Grossmont College.

In 2022, Rebecca Jade earned “Breakout Artist of Year” from Smooth Jazz Network and “Debut Artist of the Year” by JazzTrax, and two San Diego Music Awards (SDMA) for “Best Music Video” and “Best R&B, Funk, or Soul Song” for “What’s It Gonna Be,” the first single off of “A Shade of Jade”. She was nominated for five SDMAs in 2023, and took home “Best R&B, Funk, or Soul Album” for “A Shade of Jade”.

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Episode 70. This is one of those shows, y’all. It’s off the hook, informative, and enlightening. In this episode, host Troy Saunders interviews multi-genre artist RAHBI, R-A-H-B-I, all capital letters, no small letters here! Did you know that Rahbi is his real name? Listen and learn its powerful meaning. 

His musical mission is to always lead people to love, which began at his grandfather's church in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia. Still proudly representing Atlanta, RAHBI unites beautiful people with dynamic live shows and a versatile vocal range where he perfectly blends the smooth sounds of R&B, energy-packed pop/rock and sophisticated funk.

Troy and RAHBI discuss his early career, where RAHBI met legendary music executive LA Reid while still in middle school, and penned his first major record deal with the group 4th Avenue. After 4th Avenue disbanded, RAHBI embarked on his successful solo career, which is still going strong today. As always, Troy plays samples from RAHBI’s most popular tracks, and encourages everyone to add the full songs to your playlists.

RAHBI provides Troy with a wonderful break-down of his GoldenChild EP Trilogy, which is split into three “trimesters”. They also discuss RAHBI’s amazing costumes, and how he took his own distinctive style and was influenced by theatre, set design, drag culture, Studio 54, and many other factors to create his signature look.

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Episode 69. Host Troy Saunders interviews his fellow Erasmus Hall High School alum, Hubert Eaves IV. Hubert is a multi-talented instrumentalist, composer, and producer, perhaps best known for his infectious pocket bass playing on Erykah Badu’s live album. He’s also recorded and worked with artists ranging from Will Downing, Alex Bugnon, Freddie Jackson, The O’Jays, Seal, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, D Train, Glenn Jones, Lisa Lisa & the Cult Jam, and Snow.

Hubert shares some history about his famous father Hubert Eaves III, keyboardist, songwriter and record producer, who played with D Train and Mtume and produced Miles Davis, Stephanie Mills, Madonna, Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Phyllis Hyman.

Hear Hubert’s story about being on tour with Freddie Jackson and meeting an imposter Bootsy Collins after one of the shows. The entire band swore it was the real Bootsy, but Hubert blew him off to everyone’s shock. Shortly afterwards, they saw a news report about the fake Bootsy being arrested for writing bad checks. Years later, at a show with Erykah Badu, the real Bootsy was backstage and Hubert was able to meet him and share the story with his idol.

Hubert talks about the creative process behind his amazing solo tracks, including “Radio,” “Incubated Funk,”, “Dot-D-Dah!” and “Let's Get Serious”. He also drops news about an unreleased single featuring Will Downing that he’ll release “when the time is right”. Troy plays a few clips of Hubert’s music and hopes everyone will check out the full songs and make them part of your playlists.

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Episode 68. Host Troy Saunders interviews singer, songwriter, composer, comedian and playwright Kelli Sae. Kelli Sae has released three solo albums independently on her own Kwurk Arts Group Entertainment label. She has toured the world as lead vocalist for Global Jazz Funk Collectives Count Basic and Incognito.

Her voice has perhaps been most widely heard as principal vocalist for the hit television show “Dancing With The Stars.”

Born of Puerto Rican and African descent, her music is a masala of sounds, cultures and influences that drive her instincts. Kelli has worked with Tina Turner, Paul Simon, Seal, Michael Buble, Bishop Briggs, Adrienne Bailon, Jordan Sparks, Chaka Kahn, Eddie Palmieri, La India, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Lionel Richie, Angelique Kidjo, Sheila E, Eric Gadd, Ashford & Simpson, Philippe Saisse, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Meshell N’Degeocello, Darlene Love and many more. She’s been the voice of jingle campaigns for Bounty, Dow Products, Levi’s, Chevrolet and others.

Follow and listen to Kelli Sae on Spotify.

Listen and subscribe to the BAAS Entertainment Podcast via the BAAS Entertainment website, www.baasentertainment.com, and all podcast platforms.