Releasing his first disc at the end of the so-called neo-soul era, Van Hunt’s singles “Down Here in Hell (With You),” “Dust” and “Seconds of Pleasure,” were inspired by blues, Bowie and boogie down funk. The album would go on to be nominated for a Grammy Award. Born in 1970, Van Hunt came from Dayton, Ohio. In Dayton, the blackadelic city that gave the world with funk bands Slave, Lakeside and Zapp, baby boy Van he was not only rhythmically blessed, but his daddy was also tight with the mighty Ohio Players.

Indeed, the same group, whose blistering singles “Funky Worm,” “Fire” and “Love Rollercoaster” served as the soundtrack for my own youth, was like an uncle to the kid. “Growing-up, those cats were my heroes. My father is friends with the drummer Jimmy “Diamond” Williams, so to have a group like this come from my hometown is incredible,” Hunt told me in the winter of 2004.

At the time of our interview, we were in Williams’ basement where a few of the Players, including lead singer Sugarfoot, were gathered. “Their playing, arrangements, everything, was always dynamic. When I was a kid, I used to draw pictures of their Mr. Mean album cover.”
After graduating from Fairview High, Hunt went down south to Atlanta, where he played on sessions for supa producers Dallas Austin, Organized Noize and Jermaine Dupri, but it was when he hooked-up with singer Dionne Farris (as well as her then-manager Randy Jackson that his musical life began to change. “I met Dionne when I heard she was looking for a guitar player and a keyboardist” Hunt said. After touring with Farris, he was asked to write the singer a song for the Love Jones soundtrack. That track, “Hopeless,” was a smash. “That was the first song I ever sold, which was so encouraging.”


Five years later, when I received Van Hunt’s debut joint, I’d never heard of him, but was instantly drawn into his expansive and expressive soundscapes that were clearly inspired by a many different types of material, but still retained a funky soulfulness that was his own. “I think it’s a great record,” Diamond said. “The vocals are great; the kid has a lot of talent.”


With the Ohio Players looking on and big daddy Hunt across the room shooting pool, me and Van talked about his world.

http://www.soulhead.com/2...gonzomike/

Great story & I wish Van Hunt much success. I have a few question regarding getting exposure on this forum I never heard of Van Hunt till I joined this forum I've also noticed that I don't hear about many other indie artists if that's what Mr.Hunt is again I think that's a blessing 2 get exposure like the brother gets on this forum. Is it that the brother got the funk or is there more 2 it far as getting exposure on this forum ? Say if I was an indie artist & my funk was just as funky as James Brown Parliament & Prince could I get exposure on this forum like Mr.Hunt or whoever else can get that type of exposure on this forum ? What would 1 have 2 do ? May the Funk invade this forum soon.

[Edited 4/1/15 9:40am]

Nice site. Thanks.