Raphael Saadiq on Tour

A preeminent R&B performer, songwriter and producer of the last three decades, Raphael Saadiq reached a new level of achievement with the 2019 release of Jimmy Lee, his critically acclaimed fifth solo album. Although inspired by family tragedies and personal challenges, the songs on Jimmy Lee are filled with the verve, energy and ingenuity that have been trademarks of Saadiq's work since his beginnings in the multiplatinum-selling 90s group Tony! Toni! Toné!.

Saadiq continues to be that rare artist who combines his love and knowledge of classic soul and R&B with fresh ideas and musical innovations. These talents make him a vital artist in his own right as well as an invaluable collaborative partner for such superstars as D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige, Solange and John Legend.

Raphael Saadiq in Concert

Few contemporary artists have done as much to uphold the cherished virtues of old-school soul and R&B as Raphael Saadiq. Yet the Oakland native has also been at the musical vanguard ever since his earliest professional foray — as part of Sheila E.'s backing band on tour with Prince in the late ‘80s.

Barely out of his teens, Saadiq established himself as a uniquely talented songwriter and performer as the lead vocalist and bassist in Tony! Toni! Toné!. In the ‘90s, the multiplatinum trio became a preeminent R&B act and a trailblazer for the neo-soul movement. Through this time, Saadiq also became much in demand as a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer for a wide range of artists, including Whitney Houston, D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, John Legend and Macy Gray.

In 2002, Saadiq released his first solo album, Instant Vintage, to wide acclaim. Steeped in the influences of Motown and Stax, his 2008 album The Way I See It was nominated for three Grammy Awards.

After a string of collaborative projects that included his Oscar-nominated music with Mary J. Blige for the movie Mudbound, Saadiq released his eagerly anticipated fifth album, Jimmy Lee, in the summer of 2019. It marks another career peak with its combination of intensely personal songwriting, musical sophistication and exhilarating performances.