Rona R. Rawls
Singer/Songwriter/Producer
From an early age Rona Rawls knew her purpose for
living was to sing. She comes from a musical family; her father a professional
musician, and mother a prolific writer. They both fostered and nurtured her
passion and Rona grew up being exposed to many forms of music. From this
spawned a deep yearning to one day be a famous entertainer and she would always
tell her parents that one day she was going to "Hollywood"! She
taught herself to play piano, and at age 9 wrote her first musical composition.
Today, that passion is just as intense as it was
before. As well as being a wonderful songstress, Rona is also a producer,
writer and vocal arranger. Her melodic voice soothes your soul and takes your
mind off your worries. Her music is a collective sound of Jazz, Soul, R&B,
and Hip-Hop, and promises to stimulate all your senses. Her writing is
simplistic in nature but gives profound views on topics of love, politics,
nostalgia, and religion. Her vocal arrangements are harmonic and splendid, and
are a treat for any listener.
In
2005, she launched a production company called 3RProductions and she's
currently affiliated with SESAC as a writer and publisher. She currently writes
for a label called 3rdSide Productions. In 2009, Rona created a band called The
Brown Sugar Project which showcases her brand of Soul, R&B, Jazz and Hip
Hop and highlights her original compositions. Check out the website
http://www.thebrownsugarproject.com for more information and contacts. In 2010,
Rona released her first album entitled Colors of Love, a project that creates a
musical canvas for the highs and lows of being in a relationship, and is creating
quite a buzz in Japan, United Kingdom & other places abroad as well
as in the US.
Currently, Rona is set to start recording her next
untitled project in 2012 and continues to perform, write, colab and perfect her
craft. Rona has worked locally and abroad with a host of bands, singers,
producers and musicians including but not limited to Anthony Hamilton, Kelly
Price, Raheem DeVaughn, Karen Clarke-Sheard, Deborah Bond, Kokayi, Eva Kennedy &
Tanya Blount. Her biggest influences include but are not limited to Donny
Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Phoebe Snow, and Billy Joel.
Clayton Taylor (Keys)
Clayton Taylor(Claythoveen), a classically trained pianist began his journey with the piano at the early age 5. He has always had a great love for piano growing up and has always loved the art of composing songs. He wrote his first song on his grandmothers 41 key Casio keyboard with 7 note polyphony. It wasn't until the age of 13 when his mother signed him up for his first piano lesson under the tutelage of Nevilla Ottley in 1998 at the Ottley Music School in Hyattsville Maryland. His First lesson was on June 8th 1998. From that day forward he took off with his piano studies. After 2 years of lessons, he had his first solo debut in concert playing the Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor with full orchestra at the NIH Masur auditorium. Since then Claythoveen has branched off into gospel piano playing along with his classical studies. He now plays for several churches in the DC metropolitan area and teaches private lessons.
Jamie Marshall- (Bass Guitar)Musical Director
Troy Sol Edler (Vocals)
Jessica Rawls (Vocals)
Jessica Rawls, 25, is a native Washingtonian. She grew up with a healthy respect for the performing arts, but it wasn't until attending college did she realize her tenure there would spring forth a deep desire to become an opera singer. She honed and developed her talent and upon graduating with honors from Norfolk State University, Jessica continues to be a featured soloist,recitalist and chorister both here in the United States and abroad.
David Hammet
