Robert Glasper

Robert Andre Glasper was born on April 5, 1978, in Houston, Texas. His musical development was significantly influenced by his mother, Kim Yvette Glasper, who was a professional jazz and blues singer and the music director at East Wind Baptist Church. This early exposure to various musical styles, including Baptist, Catholic, and Seventh-day Adventist services, helped him develop a unique approach to harmony, mixing church and gospel aesthetics with jazz. Glasper attended Elkins High School and the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. In 1997, he participated in the Vail Jazz Workshop, and later pursued higher education at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City. During his time at the New School, he formed a musical connection with neo-soul singer Bilal, which facilitated collaborations with hip-hop and R&B artists.

Glasper’s career began while he was still a student at The New School, touring as a sideman with jazz figures such as Christian McBride, Terence Blanchard, and Roy Hargrove. He also served as music director for Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def). His debut album, “Mood,” was released in 2002 on Fresh Sound New Talent, featuring original compositions and jazz standards. In 2005, he signed with Blue Note Records, releasing “Canvas” and “In My Element” in 2007. His 2009 album “Double-Booked” showcased his versatility, presenting both his acoustic piano trio and his electric group, The Experiment, which included Derrick Hodge, Casey Benjamin, and Chris “Daddy” Dave. The track “All Matter” from this album earned a Grammy nomination in 2010.

His groundbreaking album “Black Radio” (2012) marked a significant turning point, blending jazz, hip-hop, and R&B with performances from artists such as Lupe Fiasco, Bilal, and Erykah Badu. This album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2013. He continued this success with “Black Radio 2” (2013), which received a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Jesus Children of America” and a nomination for Best R&B Album. Glasper has consistently received critical acclaim and multiple awards, including five Grammy Awards from 11 nominations. He has also scored films such as “Miles Ahead” (2015), for which he won a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media in 2017, and “The Photograph” (2020), and composed music for documentaries like Ava DuVernay’s “13th” (2016), winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for “A Letter to the Free” with Common and Karriem Riggins. His recent works include “Black Radio III” (2022), which won Best R&B Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, and various collaborations and artistic residencies.