Byron Motley

Byron Motley is a singer/songwriter/filmmaker/photographer and author! •A sought after session singer, Byron can be heard on several jingles and recordings throughout the United States, Japan & Europe. He has performed and recorded with such luminaries as Natalie Cole, Dionne Warwick, Celine Dion, Barry Manilow, Barbra Streisand, Donna Summer, Melissa Ethridge, Joe Cocker and American Idol winners Fantasia Barrino, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken. He performed on Broadway alongside Patti LuPone in the acclaimed show "Patti LuPone On Broadway”. He has also lent his vocal talents to movie soundtracks including “Ghosts of Mississippi”, “Amistad”, “Frozen Assets” and “Men of Honor”. •Byron's one-man-musical & Symphony show "Hitmakers, Heroes & Homeruns • A Musical Celebration of Jazz and Negro Leagues Baseball", marks his personal tribute to a century to these phenomenal moments in American history. The story is placed in historical context examining five decades of music and events, from the turn of the century performances of vaudevillian Bert Williams to the historic signing of Jackie Robinson into the major leagues in 1947 through the emergence of the artistry of Paul Robeson and Nat King Cole. •With diverse interests and talents, Byron is also producing a television documentary about the historic Negro Baseball Leagues entitled “The Negro Baseball Leagues ? An American Legacy”. He has had a long fascination and appreciation of the Negro Leagues having heard many tales about the leagues from his father Bob Motley, who umpired in the leagues for several years. •He recently co-authored his father's memoir "Ruling over Monarchs, Giants and Stars: Umpiring in the Negro Leagues and Beyond" (Sports Publishing, LLC), which is slated for publication in February 2007. •His work as a photographer has been featured in Vanity Fair Magazine, galleries and shops in the US as well as Europe. His work can be viewed on his website at www.ByronMotley.com