When I am looking for new R&B artists to add to my playlist, the radio is usually the last place for me to search. My local R&B station loves to rotate the same old school classics from back in the day, and while I definitely appreciate the good music from the '70s and '80s, the perpetual throwbacks of "grown folk’s R&B" on the air, often give little room for new artists to move the genre forward.
Earlier last week, I was ready to switch the radio station after hearing "Let's Groove Tonight" for the umpteenth time, but then the DJ played “March,” an attention-grabbing and powerful ballad by new artist George Tandy, Jr., which was a refreshing change of pace. Although new to me, "March" was released in fall 2013, so I am just a little behind in learning about this beautiful musical gem and finding out all that I can about this burgeoning talent.
George is passionate about creating sophisticated, mature and honest music, which is evident in his music video. The visual depicts Tandy passionately playing a beautiful red piano as his lyrics illustrate diverse stories of perseverance, resilience and hope in the face of adversity. I particularly love the use of black and white imagery with a pop of color as well portraying the different ways people rely on the power of love to relentlessly move forward even as the struggle continues.
Most recently, the soulful singer has gained new attention due to the highly successful radio hit. Last week "March" was #2 on iTunes' Top 10 Soul Songs and #4 on the Billboard's Adult R&B songs. Signed to the independent label RedStar Entertainment, George is working on his debut album, The Foundation, which is good to know because I am really looking forward to hearing more from this gentleman. If you haven't been introduced to R&B's next leading man yet, get ready to fall in love. There's no word on the date of his album release at the moment, but you can download his single on iTunes now.
