Primary Instrument: Vocal
Aaron Akins is one of the most versatile vocalists and song writers in the music business.
His background includes the North Sea Jazz Festival in 1997 along with Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock and Eric Clapton, among others; as well as opening for Bob Hope and recording with Henry Nemo (the legendary songwriter of “'Tis Autumn,” “I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart” and “Don't Take Your Love From Me,” recorded by artists like Frank Sinatra, Art Tatum, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Mildred Bailey, Lena Horn and especially Duke Ellington, with whom Nemo worked closely throughout the historical Cotton Club years in the 1930s).
Remarkable are also his collaborations with Darryl Phinnessee ( who had already worked with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, and was going to tour with the King of Pop on his UK tour, starting in July 2009; Frasier, Kids Say the Darnest Things for The Cosby Show and Dancing With the Stars), Darryl Swann (Macy Gray), Anthony Hamilton, Bill Steinway (Natalie Cole), Michael Thompson (Don Henley), Lance Morrison (Alanis Morissette), James Allen (Stevie Wonder) and Angie Stone, among many others.
He performed for the Pope on Christmas Day (2000), during the Great Jubilee, as well as “House of Blues” (June 9, 2005), American Society of Young Musicians, honoring Lisa Marie Presley, Solomon Burke, Common, Josh Groban, The Goo Goo Dolls, Ben Harper and Dwight Yoakam.
Aaron Akins created the concept and was the inspiration for the Nat “King” Cole Re:Generations (King Cole Partners, EMI/Capitol, 2009) recent release CD, that the Cole family, lead by Natalie and the late Carole Cole, has taken under their wing, acknowledging and thanking Aaron on the CDs liner notes as well. This album includes performances by artists such as Will.i.am, Cee-Lo Green, Nas, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Stephen Marley, Natalie Cole and TV on the Radio, among others.
Currently the song “God Made Women Beautiful,” written and recorded by Aaron Akins for his CD Love is All Around, is being played on over 250 internet radio stations on Live365.com, for an audience of over 2,000,000 listeners.
You can also visit Aaron Akins on MySpace and The Jazz Network, where you will find some of his recordings:
As a song writer, Aaron Akins writes for Kurt Farquhar's company True Music (Burn Notice, King of Queens, Lost, Lincoln Heights).
Aaron Akins, Into the Cole (Nakico Records 2004) - produced by Darryl Phinnesee
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