Biography: Airpushers, Akon, Al B. Sure, Al Bell, Al Blake, Al Caldwell, Al Collins, Al Copley, Al Denson, Al Duncan,

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Airpushers’ members Printz Board and Tim Izo Orindgreff first met in San Diego, CA, in 1996 when Board was looking for a saxophone player for his group, Gravy The two clicked instantly, and the next year they both joined the Black Eyed Peas’ live band, Orindgreff on a variety of instruments and Board as music director and arranger, and on trumpet, accordion, and bass (Board also shared writing credits on “Where Is the Love?,” “Don’t Phunk with My Heart,” and “My Humps”)

Although he was born in St Louis, Aliaune Thiam — aka Akon — grew up in Senegal before he and his family (including his father, jazz percussionist Mor Thiam) returned to the United States and settled in New Jersey when he was seven

During the late ’80s, Al B Sure! enjoyed a brief run as one of new jack swing’s most popular romantic singers Born Al Brown in Boston, he grew up in Mount Vernon, NY, listening to smooth crooners like Marvin Gaye and Johnny Mathis; he later became interested in rap and added that skill to his vocal repertoire

Producer/record executive Al Bell has been a key player in the careers of Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Johnnie Taylor,Sam & Dave, the Staple Singers, and other Stax Records artists, as well as rap acts Tag Team (the four-million-selling single “Whoomp! (There It Is)”) and Duice (the two-million-selling single “Dazzey Duks”) both acts on his Bellmark Records label

Few blues artists go back and preserve the source of the music, tied with the minute splashes of modern themes Big Al Blake is a rare bird in that club As a child in Oklahoma, he heard and fell in love with blues from the radio

Engineer Al Caldwell has worked on both gospel and indie rock sessions, and works in some bass playing on his project with the sanctified duo Chris and Kyle Caldwell is not related to the saxophonist of the same name

Besides the famous blues guitarist Albert Collins, there are several performers in this genre with the same name who utilized the less formal Al Collins This one was active in the ’30s and ’40s, his calling card a homemade instrument simply described as the “homemade bass” or the “imitation bass

Blues pianist and singer Al Copley was born in 1952 in Buffalo, NY Although his family moved several times while Copley was a youngster (first to San Francisco, CA, then Westerly, RI), he was able to take piano lessons on a regular basis

Born in Starkville, MS, singer/songwriter Al Denson released his self-titled debut album in 1989 The project was followed by Be the One in 1990, The Extra Mile in 1992, and Reasons in 1993

This drummer is one of less than a half-dozen key studio legends from the ’50s and ’60s who have sometimes been called “the grandfathers of groove” They are basically the forefathers of all modern timekeeping in rhythm & blues music or any nuts from its branches

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