The D is also musically influential because of the people you don’t see. Detroit has contributed some of the most innovative and gifted music producers on the planet.

From early Motown staff producers like Smokey Robinson and Norman Whitfield, to funk maestro transplant George Clinton, to techno pioneers Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, to rock legend Don Was, to hip hop genius J Dilla—these and other local producers have set the global standard for quality, creativity, musicality and innovation.

Whether or not lovers of soul, gospel, R&B, hip hop, jazz or electronica know it, producers from Detroit consistently reshape and reinvent music. Year after year, they are leaders in the development of new sounds that resonate with music fans around the world.

Because the nature of record production is behind the scenes, producers tend to be unsung heroes. They are often more responsible for the sound of a hit song than the artist whose voice is on the record, but their contributions may go unrecognized by the general public.

READ MORE AT BLACDETROIT.COM

EAPro’s Nadir Omowale is a featured music columnist for BLAC Detroit magazine (formerly African American Family). Since January 2009 he has written about some of the Motor City’s most notable veterans and its most promising up and comers. He’s also penned features about the unsung heroes of Motown and Grammy winner John Legend.

Click below for a sampling of Nadir’s writings (in PDF format).

FEBRUARY 2010 Cover Story:
John Legend – “Star Light”

JANUARY 2010 SOUND:
David Blair – “Blairing Urban Folk”

SEPTEMBER 2009 SOUND:
Lola Morales – “The Melange of Lola Morales”

OCTOBER 2009 SOUND:
Pathe Jassi – “Son of Senegal”