Chris Campbell is a broadcast personality/nationally-renowned tastemaker and host of the multi-genre electronic music program The Progressive Underground. He is also a correspondent for NPR (National Public Radio) curating global underground music for national segments such as "Heavy Rotation" and "Songs We Love."  Campbell is the host of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s “Paradise Jazz Series,” “Concerts at the Cube,” and is co-host of the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre’s “Jazzy Wednesdays Summer Concert Series.”   

He has also hosted events including the Detroit International Jazz Festival, Charivari Detroit Electronic Music Fest and has curated/hosted Detroit Performs LIVE on WTVS-Channel 56 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), along with hosting/moderating a variety of concerts, industry showcases, artist album releases, panel discussions, movie screenings, and press unveilings.

Campbell is also an author and music journalist who has written for national and international publications such as Smooth Jazz News, Upscale, and Examiner.  He is a published author as his books “The Essential Neo-Soul” and “Essential Neo-Soul 2.0” spotlight the modern-day progressive soul music movement and are the only publications of their kind to cover the history of the modern/alternative soul community.

Alice Coltrane Expands the Sonic Realm of Jazz

Born in Detroit in 1937, the young Alice McLeod was a musical prodigy. She played organ at Mount Olive Baptist...

Exploring the Fusion of Danceable Techno and Funk Through the Group Deee-Lite

The trio of Lady Miss Kier, Supa DJ Dmitry and jungle DJ Towa Tei, otherwise known as Deee-Lite, started out...

Iconic Producer and Rapper Q-Tip Blurs Genre Lines to Push Hip-Hop Forward

Wikimedia Commons Iconic producer, rapper and tastemaker Kamaal Ibn John Fareed or, as he's more publicly known, Q-Tip, found his passion...

Amp Fiddler, Motown’s Progressive Funk and Soul Man, Connects the Dots of Detroit’s Rich Musical Heritage

Growing up as one of five children steeped in Motown, soul and jazz, Joseph "Amp" Fiddler was surrounded by music from...

Discover the Smooth Sounds of Legendary Composer, Arranger and Producer Norman Connors

Growing up in Philadelphia, like many artists, Norman Connors began exploring music at an early age. He learned how to...

Explore the Dexterous Lyricism of Bahamadia

Antonia Reed, widely known as Bahamadia, began her music career DJing in the mid-1980s at house parties in Philadelphia. Her skills...

Exploring the Soul and Rock Genius of RES

Classically-trained Philly-native RES grew up on sound stylings of Gamble and Huff, Bobby Womack and Teddy Pendergrass. After graduating from Temple University,...

Rediscovering the Soulful Sound of The Stylistics

Philly soul was known for its funk influences and lush instrumentation, and few groups exemplified this style like The Stylistics. Known...

Discover the Atmospheric Sounds of Detroit Deep House DJ Rick Wilhite

Rick Wilhite has been active in the music industry for over 30 years as a producer, historian and cultural event producer....

Remembering the Legacy and Influential Work of the Late Rapper MF Doom

Known for his mysterious and masked persona, Daniel Dumile, best known as MF Doom, passed away at the age of 49...

Discover the Atmospheric Sounds of Globally Renowned Osunlade

From an early age, Christian Carolos Warren, also known as Osunlade, found his way in the presence of music. The...

Liner Notes: Exploring the Genius of Digable Planets’ “Blowout Comb”

Welcome to Liner Notes, a collection of audio thumbnail essays that tell the story behind seminal albums that you know...