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Aaron Akins Jazz Reel

Aaron Akins performs jazz music
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Aaron Akins R&B and Soul Reel

Aaron Akins R&B and Soul music performance
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Aaron Akins Bio

Aaron Akins is a singer and songwriter hailing from Chicago. He has been a twice featured performer at the annual Music Benefit Concert and Awards galas of the American Society of Young Musicians and nominated for Broadwayworld.com award.

He has worked throughout his career with many of Hollywood’s finest performers, writers, and producers, including Stan Lathan (director/producer of The Steve Harvey Show, etc.) and Darryl Jones, who now plays for the Rolling Stones. Aaron was also awarded the Golden Star Halo Award for his singing and composing abilities.

 

Aaron Akins was told he could sing at age nine and began his career singing at church, soon becoming the choir’s staple soloist and bringing church members near and far to hear him and his interpretations of traditional Gospel Music.

Aaron’s musical ambitions led him to Southern Illinois University, where he completed an undergraduate studies in Music Business. During his time at the university, he made an impressive performance in basketball, though his true passion was for music — leading him to move hundreds of miles to Los Angeles.

There, he attempted to make his mark in the music industry, landing roles in a number of music videos, television specials, and movies such as Black Butterfly, which is available on Netflix, and Split Decisions with Gene Hackman.

Interview with actor and jazz performer, Aaron Akins
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Black Butterfly Movie - Featuring Aaron Akins Song I Just Wanna Luv You
Black Butterfly - Featuring "I Just Wanna Luv U" Written, Composed & Performed by Aaron Akins

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.

Aaron Akins Performs Into the Cole At Joe's Pub Manhattan
Aaron Akins at Joe's Pub in Manhattan, New York
Lisa Marie Presley with Aaron Akins Jazz Singer and Actor
Lisa Marie Presley and Aaron Akins at Jazz Performance - God Made Women Beautiful

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.