Singer, songwriter, drummer, percussionist and founder of Newban (later changing its name to Atlantic Starr), the Rhythm and Blues hit machine from the '70s and '80s, Porter Carroll, Jr. with Wali Ali & The Tambourine Band are bringing "The Evolution of Cabaret" to The Metropolitan Room on February 25, 2017 at 9:30 PM.
As drummer and one of four singers with Atlantic Starr, Porter Carroll, Jr. helped make the hits that made the group and its amazing vocals, tight production and energetic stage performances famous worldwide. Porter performed with his childhood friends and family until the mid eighties, contributing his musicianship to such popular tunes as Circles, When Love Calls, Send for Me, Am I Dreaming, Let's Get Closer, Touch a Four Leaf Clover and others. Today, renowned hip-hop/soul artists including Mary J. Blige, Keith Sweat, and Erykah Badu are remaking Atlantic Starr's hits. Porter was also the drummer on the disco classic This Time Baby for Jackie Moore.
Porter branched out on his own in the mid-1980s and produced a critically acclaimed album, Porter Carroll II, for Island Records, that set produced theme songs for Video Vibrations and Midnight Love on the BET cable TV network.
Other credits include background vocalist for chart-topping recording artists Shania Twain, Spyro Gyra, Melba Moore, Donny Osmond, Michael Bolton, Howard Hewett, Marion Meadows and Bob Baldwin among others. Porter's vocals have also enriched Levar Burton's Reading Rainbow television show and the hit children's show Puzzle People.
As a composer for Sony Music Publishing, Porter evoked the heart of R&B and Pop with thought-provoking song arrangements. Top names have covered his compositions, including Luther Vandross, The Temptations, Denise Williams, and Grover Washington. Porter also co-wrote and co-produced for blues great Taj Mahal. He has written for Will Downing, the legendary jazz keyboardist Bob James, Atlantic Starr, former Atlantic Starr lead vocalist Sharon Bryant, Smooth Jazz saxophonist Marion Meadows, pianist Bob Baldwin, Jane Fonda, and Jennifer Love Hewitt. He's also written music for the animated cable television movie People, performed by Peabo Bryson and long running soap opera's, As The World Turns and The Guiding Light.
Carroll is working on two great projects: He has joined the number one selling duo in music history, Daryl Hall and John Oates (www.hallandoates.com), performing worldwide in a brand new roll as percussionist/background vocalist. Along with this venture, he is a regular on the MTV Live channel and internet smash, Live From Daryl's House, starring Daryl Hall (www.livefromdarylshouse.com).
In between tours with the pop icons and the television show, he is the lead singer for an innovative night club act co-developed with Stanley Turrentine and Donny Hathaway guitar standout Wali Ali. This show puts a new spin on popular classics not yet seen on the jazz club and cabaret circuit.
For tickets and more information, click here.
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