Let’s Groove Tonight: Motown and the Philly Sound

Crystal Monee Hall (s/h/h) is a singer/songwriter, composer and vocal director/arranger/producer based in NYC. Recent credits include Goddess (Berkeley Repertory Theatre), ALLSWELL the Movie (Dir. Ben Snyder), Choir Boy (Philadelphia Theatre Company), Darius De Haas’ You Send Me: The Songs and Soul of Sam Cook (92Y Lyrics and Lyricists), Where We Dwell (New York City Center), Ayodele Casel’s Chasing Magic (American Repertory Theater), Walker (CW network), “A Beautiful Noise” (Gospel Arrangement), Ben Platt: Live From Radio City Music Hall (Netflix), PBS Kids (Donkey Hodie, Nature Cat), Black Ink Crew (VH1), HBO’s High Maintenance, Stars on Stage: Brandon Victor Dixon (PBS), Cynthia Erivo: Live From Lincoln Center (PBS), Mickey Hart (The Grateful Dead), RENT (Nederlander Theater), Kristen Chenoweth, Thomas Rhett, Renee Elise Goldsberry, John Legend, Patti Austin, Oleta Adams. Awards include The Lilly Awards’ 2021 “Go Write a Musical” award and the Black Theatre Coalition’s inaugural Composer Fellowship in 2022. 

www.crystalmoneehall.com, @crystalmonee.

Chester Gregory is an award-winning singer, actor, and producer, who was last seen starring in Motown The Musical as Berry Gordy on Broadway. Gregory’s additional Broadway credits include Hairspray (Seaweed), Tarzan (Terk – Original Broadway Cast), Cry-Baby (Dupree – Original Broadway Cast), and Sister Act (Eddie – Original Broadway Cast). His national tour credits include roles in Dreamgirls and Sister Act, as well as his one-man show, The Eve of Jackie Wilson. Gregory’s acting credits include roles in August Wilson’s Fences and Two Trains Running.

Gregory has received many awards, including the Jeff Award and an NAACP Theatre Award. He has also been presented with the keys to two cities: one for his hometown of Gary, Indiana, and one for East Chicago. Gregory was selected to be an Honorary State Representative for Indiana and received an Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater, Columbia College Chicago.

Brik.Liam, is a R&B/Soul singer/songwriter and visual artist. The young creative credits his sound and influences to be the likes of Marvin Gaye, D’Angelo and Brandy. Born into a military family in Petersburg, VA, as Jacoby J. Williams, Brik’s eclectic style is partially the result of the places he has called home, such as Schweinfurt, Germany, Atlanta, Georgia and Killeen & Houston, Texas.

While attending Clark Atlanta University, Brik.Liam’s creativity intensified as his matriculation was filled with both struggle and inspiration. This increased creativity placed him in high demand to perform in various events and venues. Intentionally focusing on creative growth Brik started the #cre8daily movement, where the goal is to inspire others to continue to create until their creativity creates new spaces and opportunities for them to occupy.

In March 2012 Brik.Liam released his freshman project CobyMeetsWord: Acoustic Heart. The mixtape was recorded with fellow indie artist, producer,and writer Douglas Whatley. With no specific goal in mind other than to #crea8, the project reached over 3,000 downloads within the first two weeks of its release. After returning to Houston, in the winter of 2013 Brik was inspired to change his stage name from Jacoby to Brik.Liam. Brik (brick) simply being a creative synonym for his favorite color, red; and Liam being a nickname for his last name, Williams.

Brik’s sophomore project debuted in March of 2014 #MLN, Mr. Liam’s Neighborhood. Collaborating with his friend, a fellow artist and songwriter Kori James, they paired up to show Brik’s growth and more importantly help others be inspired to grow. With Mr. Liam’s Neighborhood, Brik also showed his visual artistry, adding individual artwork to each song on the project, helping to make it an authentic music and visual experience.

Brik.Liam is currently working on the release of third indie release. He plans to continue to cre8, find inspiration, and be the inspiration.

Brik is a creative director and partner at www.thecre8tivecollective.com A creative consulting firm specializing in graphic and web design.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jon Epcar is a drummer and composer. Epcar has worked with many artists including Bono, Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Rihanna, Natasha Bedingfield, Carly Rae Jepsen, The 8G Band on Seth Meyers, Klangkarussell, Cristian Castro, Matt Morris, Katie Melua, Evan Rachel Wood, SYML, Jesse James, Joan Osborne, John Cameron Mitchell, Taryn Manning, Madison Beer, and Danielia Cotton, among others.

Epcar was a founding member of Interscope recording group, Carney. On Broadway, he originated the drum chairs for Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, Amelie, and Tina Fey’s Mean Girls. Epcar’s debut album as a songwriter, bandleader, and producer, MORNING DRONE, was released in 2017, and his sophomore release SOLO DUO TOOT was released 2021. Jon appreciates the great people at Paiste Cymbals, Craviotto Drums, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Reflexx Drumpads, and Aquarian Drumheads for their support and incredible craftsmanship.