Will Downing

A fine soul singer in the classic mold, Will Downing combines old school talent with a rare integrity to keep making the music he wants to, rather than bow down to the latest trends and fads. This same musical integrity has had a mixed effect on Downing's career; he has a sizable following and moves enough product to keep the major labels happy but will probably never become a household name. Bucking the system, he has completely side-stepped the prevalent hip-hop culture, preferring silky backings that recall the sophisticated sounds of Anita Baker, Luther Vandross or Teddy Pendergrass rather than allowing his sessions to be overpowered with beats and rap breaks from performers of dubious worth. This means that a white America completely obsessed with modern black culture has ignored Downing, though his largely African-American fan base keeps his albums on the top of the adult contemporary and smooth jazz charts. Contrarily, British audiences have a long appreciation for soul singers and a sizeable U.K. female fan base has shown much torrid enthusiasm for Downing.