Rashaad La’Tjuán Carlton (sometimes known mononymously as RASHAAD), is an award-winning Hebrew-American recording artist, songwriter, model, actor and inspirational speaker. He is best known for his debut single “If You Leave.”
|EARLY LIFE & EDUCATION|
Rashaad was born in Detroit, Michigan into a family of gifted singers, musicians, and ministers. He sang his first solo at age 6 and his first professional recording (“I Love The Lord”) at age 12. Rashaad attended Perkins Middle School before graduating from John R. Buchtel High School in Akron, Ohio, where he regularly performed in the school talent shows as well as directing his high school’s legendary gospel choir (The Buchtel Gospel Choir later known as the Ben Drone Chorale “BDC”).
|MUSICAL CAREER|
After graduating, Rashaad went on to write and record numerous songs as a solo artist as well as writing and recording with “AK’s Finest: 6ix Fyggaz”, a Hip-Hop/R&B group out of Akron, Ohio. He also wrote songs for two gospel albums, both of which he would go on to record the lead vocals. “So Good To Me” was released on the album titled “Worthy” by the gospel group ‘BDC’ and “Hold On To Your Faith”, co-written by Rashaad, was released on Minister Darrell Williams & Anointed Praise’s self-titled album respectively.
In 2004, Rashaad moved to California to pursue a spiritual calling and further his music career. He quickly became one of Sacramento’s premier voices and was deemed by many of his fans and peers alike as a consummate vocalist. Rashaad has since gone on to bring his vocal magic to various stages, including legendary ‘Yoshi’s Oakland’ and LA’s ‘Whiskey a Go Go.’
In 2012, Rashaad was nominated for three awards (Best R&B Artist, Best Male Urban Soul Artist and the Rising Star “Verge” Award), won the award for “Best Urban Soul Artist” at the Sounds Of Soul Music Awards and in 2015, was nominated and won “Best Male Artist of the Year” at the Taste of Soul Music Awards. In January 2016, his single, ‘If You Leave’ was awarded the prestigious “Akademia Music Award” for Best Song (Soul).
Rashaad has developed a following in the US, the UK as well as various other countries around the world. His live, soulful performances have garnered him the honorific title “Prince of Soul” by his fans.
During the summer of 2013, Rashaad became one of the founding members of a new super group consisting of legendary platinum recording artists Ricky Bell (New Edition, Bel Biv DeVoe), Dalvin DeGrate (Jodeci), and Shazam Conner (H-Town) called ‘Abbey Road’.
In 2016, Rashaad recorded a song written by the legendary Quincy Jones and produced by veteran super producer Derek “DOA” Allen titled, “I Thank Heaven” for the Robert Brookins tribute album, “LEGACY”.
Rashaad sites Marvin Gaye, Rachelle Ferrell, Donny Hathaway, Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston as a few of his biggest musical influences.
www.facebook.com/RashaadLive
www.twitter.com/RashaadLive
www.Instagram/RashaadLive
www.RashaadLive.com