Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III is known better as
Aloe Blacc, an American singer-songwriter, although he started out playing a broken trumpet as a child. Later he discovered music and hip hop by listening to LL Cool J. After forming musical duo Emanon with hip hop producer Exile, Blacc launched his solo career in 2003, eventually finding a large audience with 2010’s hit single
I Need A Dollar. In terms of both musicality and social relevance, he is the heir apparent to soul greats like Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. In 2013, the single
Wake Me Up, which Blacc co-wrote and sang with Swedish DJ Avicii, was a number one hit in many countries. His third album,
Lift Your Spirit, also dates from the same year, as well as the EP
Wake Me Up. Although the wait is still on for a new album, Blacc hasn’t rested on his laurels: there were recent singles such as 2018’s
Brooklyn In The Summer, as well as collaborations with Tiësto, among others. Earlier this year he released his latest single
I’m Gonna Sing; he is also featured on
SOS, the new single of the late Avicii.