Lin Rountree

Soul Trumpeter Lin Rountree, an accomplished performer and recording artist, is a pioneer helping to frame the new sound of Soul-Jazz. Direct from the 'new' Detroit music factory, his playing has been described as soulful, funky, and sensual. Be it R&B/Soul or Groove Jazz, he has an innate ability to connect his music to his listener's soul. And his charm, intelligence and wit make him a great entertainer on and off of the stage. Lin began playing the trumpet in Alexandria VA., when he was just 11 yrs. old. He frequently attended music development programs at The Duke Ellington School for performing arts in Washington DC. Upon his graduation Lin was recruited into the Music program at Florida A&M University where he performed with the famed Marching 100' under the direction of William P. Foster and Dr. Julian White. Lin credits his abilities to practice, prepare and perform to the training that he received at FAMU. Likewise the school is also where he started to develop a deep appreciation for Jazz music and began studying some of its masters. Lin cites trumpeters Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Tom Browne as huge influences on both his playing and writing styles. After his graduation and after several stops around the country he found his home in Detroit, Michigan a city with a rich tradition in R&B, Soul and Jazz music. Lin hit the music scene hard by sitting in and learning from well established Detroit musicians. The next few years Lin played in a several top 20 Motown bands but quickly realized that Trumpet players were not typical side-men in smaller R&B units where soloing opportunities were more plentiful, so he formed his own working group, "Up Close" which featured vocalist Michele Nicole. For the next 6 years, then band-leader, Lin worked the tough Detroit club circuit as Up Close quickly became one of the most sought after and top performing bands in the city. In 2004 Lin had a chance encounter with two accomplished producers, Dana Davis and Billy Meadows who after listening to a demo of original songs written by Lin decided to work with and eventually sign him to BDK records. BDK went on to ink a distribution deal with Ryko/Warner Bros through Nu-Millennium records. This after Nu-Millennium owners and industry heavyweights Kindall Minter and Hank Caldwell were blown away with the quality of Lin's material. Lin has released two solid projects for BDK Records Groovetree and Sumthin' Good that both propelled him into the industry as a driving force in the new generation of instrumental soloists, and put on display, his talents as an innovative composer and polished recording artist. Both projects garnered chart topping singles like: "For Your Love" (feat. Tim Bowman), "Candie", "Sumthin' Good" and "Seldom Sunday". The success of these records has afforded Lin the chance to travel and perform all over the world, as well as the opportunity to play and record with some of the industry's top musicians including: George Benson, Tim Bowman, Kem, Dwele, and Conya Doss among others. After BDK Records was dissolved in 2010, Lin continued to push forward and released his most audacious project to date: Soul-Tree, The Soul-Jazz Experience in early 2011. This R&B/Soul based Jazz project written and produced by Rountree along with Dana Davis, Jeff Canady, Tony Gordon and Monica Marie Jones. This groove-filled set has 12 tracks including 6 vocal collaborations and 2 popular instrumental covers. The record features R&B sensations Conya Doss, L'Renee, Aaron "AB" Abernathy, Valencia, Michele Nicole, LaRae Starr and Kendrick Jackson. Featured soloists include flautist Althea Renee, pianist Gail Jhonson and renowned guitarist Darryl Dixon. The first single is a rockin' version of Michael Jackson's "You Rock My World" which features Dixon playing a lights-out guitar solo at the end. All of the songs on Soul-Tree represent a new direction in instrumental soul and as a driving force in the new generation of instrumental soloists and polished recording artist.