The Music That Made Me - Season 3 Revealed
Our landmark series which looks at the influences and important songs in the lives of superstar musicians returns
Last updated 31st Aug 2022
The Music That Made Me, our highly acclaimed series which focuses on the music and lives of superstar artists, is returning for a third season.
The new season of The Music That Made Me explores a further six key jazz figures who are instrumental to the genre. Each week they’ll present an in depth look into the most hidden corners of their lives and musical passions that in turn have made them the artists they are today.
This season will see conversations with US West Coast nu-jazz superstar Robert Glasper, bassist, producer and one-time sideman of Miles Davis Marcus Miller, legendary soul singer and keyboardist Patrice Rushen and fellow vocalists Madeleine Peyroux, Macy Gray and Curtis Stigers. Between them, they have been nominated for an impressive 37 Grammy® Awards, with 11 wins.
In this season, Curtis Stigers speaks about discovering his voice via the great jazz pianist Gene Harris, whilst Patrice Rushen reveals that her record company hated the music that became her biggest hits. One guest reveals their love of 1980s pop, while another tells us that they should be writing screenplays because music came along as a total accident!
The programme will once again be hosted by Jazz FM’s breakfast show presenter Nigel Williams.
All episodes of The Music That Made Me are available on Jazz FM Premium.
The Music That Made Me - Season 3 broadcast dates:
Patrice Rushen
Born in Los Angeles in 1954, Patrice was only three years old when she began playing the piano, and by the time she was six, she was giving classical recitals. After winning a competition at the age of 17 that enabled her to perform with her band at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Rushen signed with the Prestige label, releasing three albums with them. Rushen was the first woman to serve as music director for the 46th, 47th, and 48th Grammy Awards.
Broadcast date: Sunday, 24 July at 9pm (BST).
Curtis Stigers
Stigers was born in Hollywood. He started his music career as a teenager, playing in rock and blues bands, as well as receiving an education in clarinet and saxophone in high school. He acquired much of his motivation for pursuing jazz from jam sessions led by Gene Harris. After receiving his diploma, he moved to New York City, intending to become a rock musician, having the worldwide hit “I Wonder Why”, but he spent more time in jazz clubs singing and playing saxophone.
Broadcast date: Sunday, 31 July at 9pm (BST).
Robert Glasper
An American pianist, record producer, songwriter, and musical arranger with a career that bridges several different musical and artistic genres, mostly centered around jazz. Glasper's earliest musical influence was his mother, Kim Yvette Glasper, who sang jazz and blues professionally. She took him with her to club dates rather than leave her son with babysitters. To date, Glasper has won four Grammy Awards and received nine nominations across eight categories.
Broadcast date: Sunday, 7 August at 9pm (BST).
Madeleine Peyroux
An American jazz singer and songwriter. When she was thirteen, Peyroux's parents divorced, and she moved with her mother to Paris. Two years later she began singing with street musicians in the Latin Quarter. She sang vintage jazz and blues songs before finding mainstream success in 2004 when her album Careless Love sold half a million copies.
Broadcast date: Sunday, 14 August at 9pm (BST).
Macy Gray
Born Natalie McIntyre, Macy Gray is heavily influenced by vocalist Billie Holiday. While attending the University of Southern California, she agreed to write songs for a friend. A demo session was scheduled for the songs to be recorded by another singer, but the vocalist failed to appear, so Gray recorded them herself.
Broadcast date: Sunday, 21 August at 9pm (BST).
Marcus Miller
American multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer best known for his work as a bassist. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist David Sanborn, among others. Miller spent approximately 15 years performing as a session musician. During that time he also arranged and produced frequently. He was a member of the Saturday Night Live band between 1979 and 1981. In 2012 Miller was appointed a UNESCO Artist for Peace, supporting and promoting the UNESCO Slave Route Project.
Broadcast date: Sunday, 28 August at 9pm (BST).
The Music That Made Me - Seasons 1 & 2:
Since 2020, our landmark show, The Music That Made Me, has been exploring the lives, careers and influential music that has forged the music titans. All episodes are available below, on Jazz FM Premium.
Pat Metheny
Born in Kansas City in 1954 into a musical family and starting on trumpet at the age of 8, Metheny switched to guitar at age 12. By the age of 15, he was working regularly with the best jazz musicians in Kansas City, receiving valuable on-the-bandstand experience at an unusually young age. Pat Metheny first burst onto the international jazz scene in 1974.
The Music That Made Me with Pat Metheny airs on the 5th September 2021.
Christian McBride
Born in Philadelphia in 1972, Christian McBride is an American jazz bassist, composer and arranger. He has appeared on more than 300 recordings as a sideman and is a seven-time Grammy Award winner. By the time he was 22, McBride played in the bands of older musicians such as Watson, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson and George Duke as well as playing alongside his peers Roy Hargrove, Benny Green, and Joshua Redman.
The Music That Made Me with Christian McBride airs on the 12th September 2021.
Candi Staton
By the age of 11, Candi Staton's vocal abilities were being noticed by her contemporaries and the school's pastor. Amazed by her voice, the pastor paired Staton and her sister Maggie with a third girl, Naomi Harrison, and they formed the Jewell Gospel Trio. As teenagers, the group toured the traditional gospel circuit during the 1950s with the Soul Stirrers, C. L. Franklin and Mahalia Jackson. Candi still performs sold-out concerts this day, even at the age of 81.
The Music That Made Me with Candi Staton airs on the 19th September 2021.
Wynton Marsalis
Hailing from New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, Wynton is the second of six sons (including fellow jazz musicians Branford, Jason and Delfayo) to American pianist father Ellis. Wynton owned a trumpet from the age of six and was educated at Julliard. In 1980, he became one of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers for a European Tour and also worked with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Shirley Horne and Chico Freeman.
The Music That Made Me with Wynton Marsalis airs on the 26th September 2021.
Dianne Reeves
Born into a musical family in Detroit, Dianne Reeves is the cousin of fusion leader George Duke. Whilst in LA during the 1970s and 1980s, Dianne sang and recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Lenny White, and Billy Childs, before signing to Blue Note Records in 1987 where her eponymous album garnered performances from Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Tony Williams, and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
The Music That Made Me with Dianne Reeves airs on the 3rd October 2021.
Nile Rodgers
Born in 1950s in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Nile’s remembers growing up on a diet or Ella Fitzgerald thanks to his Mum Beverley. In the 1970s he joined forces with basis Bernard Edwards and first created The Big Apple Band to provide musical backing to band New York City, which they renamed to Chic in 1977.
Later in life, Nile lent his vast production skills to the great and the good of the 1980s and 1990s including Diana Ross, Madonna, Grace Jones and All Jarreau. He still tours and produces today and is the Chief Creative Advisor of Abbey Road Studios.
The Music That Made Me with Nile Rodgers airs on the 10th October 2021.
Ramsey Lewis - The Music That Made Me
An iconic leader in the contemporary jazz movement for over 50 years with an unforgettable sound and outgoing personality that has allowed him to crossover to the pop and R&B charts. He has recorded over 80 albums and has received five gold records and three Grammy Awards so far in his career.
Dee Dee Bridgewater - The Music That Made Me
Over the course of a multifaceted career spanning four decades, this Grammy and Tony Award-winning jazz giant is ever the fearless voyager, explorer, pioneer and keeper of tradition. She earned her first professional experience as a member of the legendary Thad Jones/Mel Louis Big Band, and throughout the 70’s she performed with such jazz notables as Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon and Dizzy Gillespie.
Kurt Elling - The Music That Made Me
Renowned for his singular combination of robust swing and poetic insight, Grammy winner Kurt has secured his place among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists, having been declared “the standout male vocalist of our time” by The New York Times
Jean-Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick - The Music That Made Me
Born in Mauritius and moved to the United Kingdom when he was ten years old, Bluey has led the British acid-jazz band, Incognito, since its formation in 1979, releasing sixteen studio albums. His production credits include work with iconic artists such as Chaka Khan, George Benson, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Al McKay, Philip Bailey, Leon Ware and Stevie Wonder.
Norah Jones - The Music That Made Me
The multi-platinum selling, 9-time Grammy winning singer, songwriter and pianist talks about her earliest musical influences; through jazz and country and pop music and how it was a chance encounter at university that set her on a path to stardom.
Jamie Cullum - The Music That Made Me
Jamie Cullum is the biggest selling British jazz musician of all time tells us about his early inspirations and where that ‘big break’ came.
Gregory Porter - The Music That Made Me
The multi-Grammy Award-winning vocalist Gregory Porter and long time friend of Jazz FM tells his story so far, detailing his humble beginnings and his growth into a global superstar.
Harry Connick Jr. - The Music That Made Me
With 28 million albums sold worldwide, Harry Connick Jr has won three Grammy Awards, plus two Emmy Awards for his TV work. Known for the soundtrack of When Harry Met Sally, playing Grace’s husband in Will & Grace and key roles in blockbuster movies like Memphis Belle and Independence Day, Harry still classes music as his main role in life along with his philanthropy for his hometown of New Orleans.
Chick Corea - The Music That Made Me
Before his passing in early 2020, we were privileged enough to sit down with Chick Corea.
Beginning his solo career in 1966, Chick Corea was constantly on the frontier of the jazz world as a renowned pianist, keyboardist and composer. The 25-time Grammy Award-winning pianist is the fourth-most-nominated musician in Grammy history, with his style spanning the musical world, not defined by a single genre.
George Benson - The Music That Made Me
Guitarist, singer-songwriter George Benson began his musical journey by enjoying a short singing career as a child radio performer as 'Little George Benson'.
The star rose to prominence in the 1960s, styling himself after his guitar-playing heroes Grant Green and Charlie Christian, when he backed jazz organist Jack McDuff.