JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – June marks Black Music Month, and News4JAX is shining a spotlight on Jacksonville’s evolving music scene and the creatives helping shape its sound with a new original series.
Black Music Month traces its roots to 1979, when President Jimmy Carter designated June as a time to honor the cultural, historical and artistic impact of Black musicians on American music.
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“Behind the Board” is News4JAX’s newest original series featuring Jacksonville music innovators — from producers and engineers to musicians and rising artists shaping the city’s sound and culture.
Each week, “Behind the Board” goes beyond the music, taking viewers inside the creative process while sharing the personal journeys behind the sound.
The series explores how Jacksonville’s culture, communities and musical legacy continue to influence artists across multiple genres and inspire the next generation of talent.
From the studio to center stage, the series showcases the River City’s growing influence on the soundtrack of today and the artists driving Jacksonville’s music scene forward.
Here are the artists that will be featured in “Behind the Board”:
- André Troutman: Serves as music director for rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, for his current stadium tour. His collaborations on Ye’s Bully earned him his first two entries on the Billboard Hot 100. Troutman is also carrying on the legacy of his cousin, Roger Troutman, of the legendary funk band Zapp & Roger, by incorporating futuristic vocals through the talk box.
- Dwayne Richardson II: Professionally known as D Rich, the Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum producer stands out with his horn-driven sound and instrumentation, leading to Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 projects for artists like Future and Metro Boomin. Other credits include Rick Ross’ “Box Chevy,” which was filmed in Downtown Jacksonville, and Jeezy’s chart-topping his “All There,” featuring the late Bankroll Fresh.
- Jahaan Sweet: The Grammy Award-winning, Billboard chart-topping producer, songwriter, and pianist’s unique sound has landed him collaborations with artists like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Travis Scott. Sweet was recently honored with a spot on the Jacksonville Riverfront Music Garden Walk of Fame.
- Darien Bankhead: The producer and artist known as Boyband has built a genre-blending sound that fuses hip-hop, alternative, and electronic music. In 2020, he earned his first Grammy nomination for Album of the Year for his work on Lil Nas X’s 7.
- Bobby Wintons Jr.: Known as Bob On Keys, Wintons was born in Apalachicola, Florida, before moving to Jacksonville, where he got his start as a jazz and church musician. The Billboard-charting producer has worked alongside artists like Boston Richey, Nardo Wick and Melvin Crispell III. He’s also toured internationally in Jeju Island, South Korea, Cancun, Mexico, and the Bahamas.