Devotion to music won out in the long run though and Aaron began performing in nightclubs and other venues, where he sang his Into the Cole show — a tribute performance to one of Aaron’s great musical inspirations, Nat King Cole.
The show later became his first album. His performance was reviewed by BWW reporter Don Grigware and described as “striking and charismatic, Akins doesn’t copy but seems to have an uncanny ability to produce the same high-pitched vocal stylings of Nat King Cole.”
He was also billed as “a performer who really cares about his audience” and makes his live performances fun and friendly with humorous anecdotes of his experiences in and around the LA musical scene between musical numbers.
Henry Nemo, renowned songwriter best known for works sung by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole and other greats, solicited Aaron to record some of his original recordings.
The album, titled Mr. Nostalgia & Friends, was released on Nemo’s independent label Omen Records and contains tracks that had never before been released.
Aaron also formed NAKICO records, producing his own contemporary version of Nat King Cole’s hit ‘Mona Lisa’, which was immediately picked up by radio stations and so well received that it was placed in multi-category high rotation.
While he does sound amazingly similar to Nat King Cole and have an amazing flare for jazz, Aaron’s own style is often described as an innovative mix; jazz, Urban, hip-hop, and R&B combined. One of his favorite compositions is ‘God Made Women Beautiful’, which carries an immensely positive message to his listeners and was considered for a Grammy.
Christmas 1999, Aaron was honored to perform the Vatican for the Pope, along with such artists as Siedah Garrett and Darryl Phinnessee. He said it remains one of the most memorable experiences of his life.
His music can purchased and found online through Spotify and Pandora, as well as YouTube.