Ahsan Watts

Last updated

Ahsan J.A.
Birth nameAhsan Watts
Born1999 (age 22–23)
Newark, New Jersey U.S.
Genres Soul, R&B
Occupation(s)Singer
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2011–present
Labels Interscope records
Website Official website

Ahsan Watts (born 1999), known professionally as Ahsan J.A., is a teenage soul and R&B singer from Newark, New Jersey. [1]

Ashan Watts gained initial attention when his cover of Smokey Robinson's "Who's Lovin' You" went viral on YouTube and again after a second video featured a surprise appearance by Stevie Wonder that ended in a duet of "Ribbon in the Sky". [2] [3] Ahsan credits classic soul and R&B artists such as Stevie Wonder, Frankie Lymon, and Michael Jackson for inspiring him to join his grandfather, Bishop L. C. Terry Sr, in his Fellowship of Holiness Church choir in Newark, NJ, at the age of five. His godfather, Don Richardson, who signed a contract with Def Jam Recordings as a child, brought attention to Ahsan's voice. [4] [5]

After his signing with Interscope Records in 2012, [6] Ahsan performed a cover of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," featuring Lucki Gurlz. [7] In November 2013, his single "Under" was released. The song gave attention to Ahsan's motivation to avoid succumbing to the ghetto lifestyles of his native Newark. [5] [8] [9] [10]

Among his live appearances are Arthur Ashe Kids' Day and at Stevie Wonder's 17th Annual House Full of Toys Benefit Concert in 2012. [11] He has performed in Newark as guest of Mayor Cory Booker, [12] Newark mayoral candidate, Ras J. Baraka., [13] and Darlene Love at NJPAC. [14] In 2014, Ahsan toured with Ashanti to Jackson Rancheria. [15]

Related Research Articles

Stevie Wonder American musician and record producer (born 1950)

Stevland Hardaway Morris, known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter and musician, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that includes rhythm and blues, pop, soul, gospel, funk, and jazz. A virtual one-man band, his use of synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments during the 1970s reshaped the conventions of R&B. He also helped drive the genre into the album era, crafting his LPs as cohesive, consistent socially conscious statements with complex compositions.

Ashanti (singer) American singer and actress (born 1980)

Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was first discovered as a teenager and later signed to Murder Inc. Records in 2002. That year, she was featured on Fat Joe's "What's Luv?" and Ja Rule's "Always on Time", both of which became two of the biggest hit songs of 2002. She became the first female artist to occupy the top two positions on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously with "Foolish" and "What's Luv?" at numbers one and two, respectively.

Minnie Riperton American singer-songwriter (1947–1979)

Minnie Julia Riperton Rudolph (November 8, 1947 – July 12, 1979) was an American singer-songwriter best known for her 1975 single "Lovin' You" and her four octave D3 to F♯7 coloratura soprano range. She is also widely known for her use of the whistle register and has been referred to by the media as the "Queen of the Whistle Register."

Don Nix is an American songwriter, composer, arranger, musician, and author. Although cited as being "one of the more obscure figures in Southern soul and rock", he is a key figure in several genres of Southern rock and soul, R&B, and the blues. He played "Memphis soul" sound.

Greg Phillinganes American keyboardist

Gregory Arthur Phillinganes is an American keyboardist, singer-songwriter, and musical director based in Los Angeles, California. A prolific session musician, Phillinganes has contributed the role of keyboards to numerous albums representing a broad array of artists and genres. He has toured with notable artists, such as Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour and Toto, served as musical director for Michael Jackson, and has released two solo studio albums.

Cory Booker American politician and lawyer (born 1969)

Cory Anthony Booker is an American politician, attorney, and author who has served as the junior United States senator from New Jersey since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Booker is the first African-American U.S. senator from New Jersey. He was the 38th mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013, and served on the Municipal Council of Newark for the Central Ward from 1998 to 2002.

Nathan Watts American musician

Nathan Lamar Watts is an American session bassist, best known for his work with Stevie Wonder from the 1970s to the present. He has served as Stevie Wonder's musical director since 1994.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered Im Yours 1970 single by Stevie Wonder

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered " is a soul song, by American musician Stevie Wonder, released in June 1970 as a single on Motown's Tamla label. It spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at number three on the U.S. Pop chart. In the same year, the song was also released on the album Signed, Sealed & Delivered.

Do I Do 1982 single by Stevie Wonder and Dizzy Gillespie

"Do I Do" is a song written and performed by American singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder, first released in 1982 on the album Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I.

Amiri Baraka African-American writer

Amiri Baraka, previously known as LeRoi Jones and Imamu Amear Baraka, was an American writer of poetry, drama, fiction, essays and music criticism. He was the author of numerous books of poetry and taught at several universities, including the University at Buffalo and Stony Brook University. He received the PEN/Beyond Margins Award in 2008 for Tales of the Out and the Gone.

<i>Finally</i> (Blackstreet album) 1999 studio album by Blackstreet

Finally is the third album from R&B group Blackstreet. It was released on Interscope Records on March 23, 1999. Finally was the only album to feature Terrell Phillips, after the departure of Mark Middleton. After the success of their multi-platinum last album Another Level, their label allowed them a bigger budget for the next album. Finally was recorded at Teddy Riley's studio Future Recording Studios based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Originally given the working title Get Higher, the album was scheduled for a November 1998 release until it was pushed back to March 1999.

The Municipal Council is the legislative branch of government for Newark, New Jersey.

Ras Baraka American educator and politician

Ras Jua Baraka is an American educator, author, and politician who is the 40th and current Mayor of Newark, New Jersey. He was previously a member of the Municipal Council of Newark and the principal of the city's Central High School until he took an indefinite leave of absence to run for the 2014 Newark mayoral election, which he won on May 13, 2014. Baraka was sworn in as the city's 40th mayor at ceremonies at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on July 1, 2014, for a four-year term. He won reelection in the 2018 mayoral race.

New Hope Baptist Church (Newark) Church in NJ , United States

New Hope Baptist Church is a church in Newark, New Jersey, located at 106 Sussex Avenue in University Heights.

Luis A. Quintana is an American politician who served as Councilmember-at-Large of the Municipal Council of Newark, New Jersey, first elected in 1994. He served as Mayor of Newark from November 2013 to July 2014, after which he was re-elected to his council seat.

2014 Newark mayoral election

The 2014 Newark mayoral election took place in Newark, the most populous city in New Jersey, on May 13, 2014. The race was characterized as a contest between two candidates, Ras Baraka and Shavar Jeffries, both from Newark's South Ward. Elections for all seats on the nine member Municipal Council of Newark also took place. Luis A. Quintana, who had become Mayor of Newark following the resignation of Cory Booker, did not seek the seat.

Shavar Jeffries is an American civil rights attorney who in September 2015 became the president of Democrats for Education Reform which promotes more charter schools, school funding and stricter teacher evaluations to revamp public education and resigned in 2017. A former assistant state Attorney General, he was a candidate in the 2014 election for Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, after which he became a partner at Lowenstein Sandler in August 2014.

Cant Put It in the Hands of Fate 2020 single by Stevie Wonder featuring Rapsody, Cordae, Chika, Busta Rhymes

"Can't Put It in the Hands of Fate" is a song by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder, featuring rappers Rapsody, Chika, Cordae and Busta Rhymes. Released on October 13, 2020, it is a funk track with lyrics addressing institutional racism, and associated issues such as police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement.

2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election Election for Governor of New Jersey

The 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 4, 2025, to elect the governor of New Jersey. Incumbent Democratic Governor Phil Murphy is term-limited and ineligible to seek a third consecutive term.

References

  1. ↑ "Newark Teen Uses Voice to Prevent Youth from Falling 'Under'". January 14, 2016.
  2. ↑ Plumb, Alastair (May 2, 2012). "14-Year-Old Musical Prodigy Ahsan J.A. Covers The Jackson 5's "Who's Lovin' You"". HuffPost . UK. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  3. ↑ Francis, Alys (December 13, 2012). "Stevie Wonder crashes boy's recording session". Australia: News Nine MSN. Archived from the original on March 27, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  4. ↑ Barker, Lynn (May 28, 2012). "Ahsan: We're "Lovin'" This Soul Man". Kidzworld.
  5. 1 2 "Ashan Under". Hype Access. November 4, 2013. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Ahsan Watts Bio". EP Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  7. ↑ Kulendran, Dayalan "DeeKay" (May 3, 2012). "Young Interscope artist Ahsan covers Jackson 5's "Who's Loving You" [Video]". Soul Culture. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Ahsan's Powerful New Music Video Depicts A Day in the Life on the Jersey Streets". HuffPost . November 19, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  9. ↑ Langevine, Kurt (December 22, 2013). "Ashan Watts; Under". TKB Report. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  10. ↑ Simmons, Russell (November 19, 2013). "The Forgotten Ones by Russell Simmons". Global Grind. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  11. ↑ Baltin, Steve (December 16, 2012). "Stevie Wonder Calls for Stronger Gun Laws During House Full of Toys Benefit". Rolling Stone . Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  12. ↑ Farrell, Tom (March 1, 2012). "Newark mayor Cory Booker delivered his sixth State of the City address at NJPAC". The Star-Ledger . Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  13. ↑ Giambuso, David (March 26, 2014). "Newark mayor's race: Baraka hosts star-studded birthday fundraiser". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  14. ↑ Mr. C (December 24, 2012). "PLANET CHOCKO – art/music/movies/beyond". Planet Chocko. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Ashanti" (Press release). Jackson Rancheria. n.d. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.