I edited my profile with Thomas’ Myspace Editor V3.6 ! Kevin Edwards wants to make real music. "These days you don't hear a whole lot of quality music," said Edwards. "I wanted to make music like we listened to in the '70s. Authentic music with real instruments, not machines with a lot of programming and sampling."
Apparently, he must be doing something right. Edwards' group Level Rizon has a steadily growing following in the metropolitan Detroit area and has just released their debut CD - That Vibe.
Edwards was born in Hamtramck, Michigan in 1959. As a young boy listening to Jimi Hendrix play guitar on Band of Gypsies, he knew he wanted to be a guitar player. By 16 Edwards, was playing in a high school band and at local cabarets.
In 1979 Edwards played with Sons, a local jazz band. The group played Top 40s in local venues and eventually opened for the nationally renowned group, Brainstorm, which recorded on the CBS label. Sons and Brainstorm merged in 1980 and Edwards toured the national circuit. When Brainstorm broke up in the early '80s Edwards freelanced with several local groups.
His career took a turn in 1984 when he began writing and recording his own music. Edwards drew from his experiences and the R & B and jazz classics he'd grown up listening to as his inspiration for writing.
Two years later in 1986, Edwards expanded his skills even further when he started producing young local talent. He and a partner produced Rhapsody, a rap group that released several singles on the Giant Record Label. The year 1998 saw the beginning of a new era for Edwards when he and long-time friends Darryl Lee and Greg Nance formed Ground Level.
Ground Level enjoyed tremendous success, opening for the Isley Brothers, LL Cool J, Roy Ayers, Ronnie Laws and the funk group Slave. The band received accolades and grew in popularity.
In 2003 the band changed its name to Level Rizon, signifying its new status and the fact that they are no longer at "ground level." Level Rizon took a year off of performing to produce That Vibe.
With That Vibe Edwards feels he has started a whole new genre of music he calls "NuUrban Soul." He describes NuUrban Soul as a unique blend of jazz-fusion and R & B that has not failed to delight audiences of all walks of life.
Edwards has four children and is married to Denise Edwards. He currently resides in the metropolitan Detroit area.
