Peabo Bryson and Friends

Peabo Bryson is one of the premier male vocalists in contemporary music. Thanks to his rich, almost operatic voice, the two-time Grammy Award winner has enjoyed an ongoing career despite changing musical trends. With more than 20 albums to his credit, he is the first artist in music history to have separate recordings topping four different charts. He made his San Francisco Symphony debut in December 1993.

Bryson, who is also a songwriter and producer, was born in 1951 in Greenville, South Carolina. He spent much of his childhood on his grandparents’ farm in nearby Mauldin. He caught his first break in a recording session for Atlanta’s Bullet, a subsidiary of Bang Records, where he soon signed a contract as a writer, producer, songwriter, performer, and arranger. In 1976 he released his self-titled debut, which featured nearly all original songs (some co-written with Thom Bell) and a young Luther Vandross among the background vocalists. From that point on, Bryson produced a string of major R&B and crossover hits, including “Feel the Fire,” “I’m So Into You,” “Tonight I Celebrate My Love,” “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again,” and “Can You Stop the Rain.”

A skilled actor, Bryson starred in the touring production of the Tony Award–winning Raisin and played the role of The Wizard on tour with The Wiz. In 1998 he appeared in the Michigan Opera Theater’s 100th anniversary production of Porgy and Bess.

Sheena Easton was born in Bellshill, Scotland, and has sold more than 20 million records worldwide. She has received two Grammy awards, was the first artist to have top five records on five major Billboard charts, and was recently inducted into the Las Vegas Hall of Fame. She made her San Francisco Symphony debut in December 1994.

Easton’s acting credits include a five-episode appearance on Miami Vice, a costarring role in John Carpenter’s Showtime trilogy Body Bags, a guest starring role on Highlander, and a starring role in UPN’s Ghost Stories. Other appearances have included guest roles on Brisco County and TekWar, as well as a starring role on Showtime’s The Outer Limits.

On Broadway, Easton starred as Aldonza/Dulcinea in Man of La Mancha and as Rizzo in Grease. The 2017 season saw her return to the UK as she starred as Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal in London’s West End.

The R&B, pop, and gospel singer Ruben Studdard rose to fame in 2003 after winning the second season of American Idol and receiving a Grammy nomination for “Superstar” in the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance category. In the years following Idol, he has released eight studio albums, including his platinum-selling debut, Soulful, and the top-selling gospel follow-up, I Need an Angel. His hit singles include “Flying Without Wings,” “Sorry 2004,” and “Change Me.”

Studdard has also worked in television and theater. He toured with Robin Givens in the comedy-drama I Need a Hug, and in 2008 starred as Fats Waller in a national touring revival of Ain’t Misbehavin’, the soundtrack for which received a Grammy nomination. Recent recordings include Unconditional Love and Ruben Sings Luther, a tribute to Luther Vandross.

Studdard was born in Frankfurt, Germany, where his father was stationed with the US Army. He grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and sang for the first time at age three in the Rising Star Baptist Church. He continued singing gospel in church, performing solos while his mother sang in the choir. He received a scholarship to play football for Alabama A&M University and joined the Omicron Delta chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the men’s music fraternity of America. In 2015 he received an honorary master’s degree from his alma mater. He made his San Francisco Symphony debut in December 2013.

Award-winning trumpeter, vocalist, songwriter, and producer Ilya Serov has a musical vision and passion for jazz that transcends its traditional origins. His professional journey has led him from performing popular standards of the Great American Songbook to creating and producing a collection of his own original songs. In 2014, he was awarded Best New Artist at the Hollywood International Music Awards. He makes his debut at the San Francisco Symphony with this performance.

Serov’s recently-released fourth album, Colors, fuses soul-jazz, R&B grooves, and Brazilian jazz instrumentals. He has performed at the Newport Beach Jazz Festival, Catalina JazzTrax Festival, Berk’s Jazz Festival, Mallorca Smooth Jazz Festival, and the Daytona Jazz Weekend. On film, he has cowritten a theme for Creed II and has recording credits on Deadpool 2 and Addams Family 2, among others. Serov’s most recent two albums feature him playing a unique instrument, the jazzohorn, which he invented with trumpet maker Andy Taylor, fusing a flugelhorn base and saxophone shape.