Born and raised in Harlem, NY, I grew up listening to old 45's of Sam Cooke, James Brown, The Temptations, The Four Tops and Jackie Wilson. As a teenager, the soulful sounds of 135th St. and Lenox Ave. gave my feet a beat to tap to, my mind a few things to think about and a drive that touched my soul. Prince, Al Green, Rick James, George Clinton and Luther Vandross were my music teachers and from them I learned the true definition of musical expression.As a self-taught musician, I found myself wanting to play any instrument I could get my hands on...please don't ask me to play the saxophone though...:-)As I got older, I did the norm, went to college (Boston College), graduated. Then went to school again for myself...(Berklee College of Music), graduated! Before long, I began to become the musician that has long been inside of me.Today, I sing with a band called Busta Groove (www.busta-groove.com) and have finally finished my first solo project, Words and Beats. The music and the words represent my life as it has been so far. I hope you enjoy it, listen to the words, feel the beat, then...repeat!Stay beautiful.IB