Divinity Roxx | |
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Background information | |
Also known as | MC Divinity, D. Walker, Debbie Walker |
Born | February 5 |
Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
Genres | Rap rock, soul, hip hop, funk, rock, Children's Music Family Music |
Occupation(s) | Musician (bass), entertainer, rapper, singer, producer, performer, composer, musical director, author, entrepreneur |
Instrument | Bass Guitar |
Years active | 1993–present |
Labels | iRoxx Entertainment |
Website | www |
Divinity Roxx, (1976- ), born Debbie Walker to Beverly Walker and Raymond Walker Jr. in Atlanta, GA, is a two-time Grammy-nominated American recording artist, producer, composer, and musician. [1]
She is known for touring and performing with Beyoncé Knowles (2006–2011) as her bassist and Musical Director for "The Beyoncé Experience" [2] and "I Am... World Tour". [3] On the "I Am...Sasha Fierce" World tour, Divinity also helped compose music alongside Bibi McGill, Brittani Washington and Rie Tsuji. [4] She has appeared in three DVDs with Beyoncé including The Beyoncé Experience Live , [5] I Am... Sasha Fierce , [6] and I Am... Yours . [7] She has also appeared in two videos, "Irreplaceable" and "Green Light". [8] Divinity has performed with Beyonce at The White House for President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama during a State Dinner for the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon. [9] She also performed with Beyonce during her Glastonbury performance. [10] [11] She has also performed on the Grammy's, The BET Awards, MTV Music Awards, Ellen , The Oprah Winfrey Show , Saturday Night Live , Good Morning America , The Today Show and countless other television shows with Beyonce. [12] In 2014, Divinity played bass on The Arsenio Hall Show and The Queen Latifah Show with Atlanta born rapper, B.o.B. [13] Divinity has also appeared on Big Morning Buzz Live With Nick Lechey [14] [15] and The Wendy Williams Show with singer [K.Michelle]. [16]
Divinity founded a hip-hop group in high school called DATBU (Divinity and the Breakfast Unit) alongside her friends Corey Peyton (Kornbred), Chad Browning (Clever Love), Kamal Studdard (Cheezy Feets), and Lewis Miller (Pogo). The group eventually morphed into a trio, Divinity, Clever, and Pogo. They released an independent album, FoolProof, in 1997. Produced by DJ Kemit. [17]
In October 2000, Divinity attended Victor Wooten's Bass Nature Camp at Montgomery Bell State Park near Nashville, Tennessee. There she met Victor Wooten and his brothers Regi, Joseph, Roy, and Rudy. Once the camp was over, Victor asked Divinity to tour with him. [18] She began touring with Wooten's band where she was a featured part of the show from 2000-2005. [19] She is recorded on Wooten's Live in America (2001) [20] and Soul Circus (2005) albums [21] under the names D. Walker [22] and MC Divinity. [23] She also appears on Victor Wooten's album, Words and Tones (2012) [24]
Divinity's first solo album Ain't No Other Way was self-released in 2012 while touring with Victor Wooten. The album featured production from will.i.am, DJ Lethal, and Mike Elizondo.
Divinity's second EP, The Roxx Boxx Experience, was released in October 2012. [25] The album featured Divinity Roxx (bass, lead vocals), Matt McMoots (guitar, backing vocals, backing bass), Omar Gusmao (guitar, backing vocals), and Carlos McSwain (drums, backing vocals). The album was mixed by Eric Racy and Mastered by Chris Gehringer for Sterling Sound [26]
Divinity released ImPossible (album) April 19, 2016. This is album features elements of funk, soul, rock, hip-hop and jazz. [27]
Divinity released Ready Set Go! November 5, 2021. This was her first Children's music album that featured elements of hip-hop, and positivity. [28]
Ready Set Go! was nominated for a 65th Grammy® Award for Best Children's Music Album. [29]
Divinty released World Wide Playdate August 9th, 2024. The album was the follow-up to her debut children's music album. The album features production by Wayne Gerard (Dr. Fink, Don Was) and hit songwriter Mary Brown (songwriter) who co-wrote, vocal produced, and sang background vocals on the album. The album also features Divinity's long-time mentor and friend Victor Wooten, Malcom Jamal Warner, MuMu Fresh, Tank 'Tarrionna" Ball, Teemanay, The Genesis Innovation Academy Cheer Squad, as well as her niece and goddaughter. [30]
World Wide Playdate was nominated for a 67th Grammy® Award for Best Children's Music Album. [31]
Divinity composed, performed, and co-produced the theme song for the PBS Kids show Lyla in the Loop [32] which premiered on PBS Kids Television on February 5, 2024. The show was created by Dave Peth.
Divinity and long-time friend and collaborator Eugene Russell IV co-wrote the music for the of The Boy Who Kissed the Sky book by Idris Goodwin. The show was a co-production between The Alliance Theatre (Atlanta) and The Seattle Children's Theater. [33]
Divinity composed 'Fresh Greens' for the Alliance Threatre production of Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit Story The work follows the beloved characters of Peter Rabbit's world as they gather for a surprise party. They quickly realize that Mr. McGregor, who owns the garden above the rabbit's den, has terrible plans for the surrounding land. The tale encourages audiences to acknowledge fears and work together to overcome challenges. [34]
Divinity appeared on the television show The Soul Man alongside the musical guest B.o.B. [37] while playing bass on his Promo Tour for the album Underground Luxury.
Divinity has been the bass player in the house band for the BET-produced television show Black Girls Rock! (2014-2016), backing such artists as Erykah Badu, Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, Brandy, Monica, Jazmine Sullivan and more.
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, is an American singer, songwriter and businesswoman. Regarded as one of the most influential cultural figures in music history, she has transformed the sound of popular music with her vocal ability, live performances and artistic innovations.
Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final lineup comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limited success, the original quartet comprising Knowles, Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett were signed in 1997 to Columbia Records as Destiny's Child. The group was launched into mainstream recognition following the release of the song "No, No, No" and their best-selling second album, The Writing's on the Wall (1999), which contained the number-one singles "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Say My Name", alongside successful singles "Bug a Boo" and "Jumpin', Jumpin'". Despite critical and commercial success, the group was plagued by internal conflict and legal turmoil, as Roberson and Luckett attempted to split from the group's manager Mathew Knowles due to favoritism of Knowles and Rowland.
William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonists Wayne Shorter and David Sanborn, among others. He was the main songwriter and producer on three of Davis' albums: Tutu (1986), Music from Siesta (1987), and Amandla (1989). His collaboration with Vandross was especially close; he co-produced and served as the arranger for most of Vandross' albums, and he and Vandross co-wrote many of Vandross' songs, including the hits "I Really Didn't Mean It", "Any Love", "Power of Love/Love Power" and "Don't Want to Be a Fool". He also co-wrote the 1988 single "Da Butt" for Experience Unlimited.
Tenitra Michelle Williams is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame in the early 2000s as a member of R&B girl group Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling female groups of all time with over 100 million records, of which more than 60 million copies sold with the trio lineup that included Williams. During her time in the group she earned several accolades including a Grammy Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Soul Circus is the fifth album by Victor Wooten, released in 2005. Wooten claims he took inspiration from what played in radio stations in the 1970s, so most songs have lyrics to them.
"Me, Myself and I" is a song by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé from her debut solo studio album Dangerously in Love (2003). It was written by Beyoncé, Scott Storch and Robert Waller and produced by Storch with guitar played by musician Aaron Fishbein. Beyoncé decided that she wanted a deeper and more personal song as the third single; the song was sent by Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment to contemporary hit radio in the United States on October 19, 2003. "Me, Myself and I" is an R&B song about dealing with a philandering partner and learning from the consequences.
"At Last" is a song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film Sun Valley Serenade (1941). Glenn Miller and his orchestra recorded the tune several times, with a 1942 version reaching number two on the US Billboard pop music chart.
Live in America is an album by Victor Wooten, released in 2001. The double disc contains highlights of the Yin-Yang tour.
"Get Me Bodied" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé for her second solo studio album B'Day (2006). It was written by Beyoncé, Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, Sean Garrett, Makeba Riddick, Angela Beyincé, and Solange Knowles, while the production was handled by Dean, Beyoncé and Garrett. Beyoncé was inspired by her sister Solange and former Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for the writing process. Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment released "Get Me Bodied" as the album's fifth single in the United States on July 10, 2007.
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The Beyoncé Experience Live is the third live and fourth video album by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé. It was released through Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment on November 16, 2007. It was filmed at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on September 2, 2007 during her world tour The Beyoncé Experience. It features guest appearances from rapper Jay-Z on "Upgrade U" and former Destiny's Child bandmates Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland on "Survivor". The show featured on the album was broadcast on different channels; for one night only on November 19, 2007, the film was shown in ninety-six theaters across the United States, while Black Entertainment Television (BET) aired an edited version of the concert on Thanksgiving Day, with AEG Network and 3sat also airing the concert.
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Eric Racy is a platinum selling Mixing Engineer and producer.
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