The series exploring the influences and important songs in the lives of Jazz FM’s superstar musicians returns

Six parts featuring Robert Glasper, Patrice Rushen, Curtis Stigers,
Madeleine Peyroux, Macy Gray and Marcus Miller

Premiers Sunday 24th July 2022, 9-10pm for six weeks

Jazz FM’s landmark in-depth interview series ‘The Music That Made Me’ is back for a new 6-week run featuring a host of worldwide superstars as the acclaimed programme returns to the UK’s only jazz, soul and blues radio station.

‘The Music That Made Me’ Series 3 explores a further six key jazz figures who are instrumental to the genre. Each week they’ll present an in depth look into the most hidden corners of their lives and musical passions that in turn have made them the artists they are today.

This series will see conversations with US West Coast nu-jazz superstar Robert Glasper, bassist, producer and one-time sideman of Miles Davis Marcus Miller, legendary soul singer and keyboardist Patrice Rushen and fellow vocalists Madeleine Peyroux, Macy Gray and Curtis Stigers.

Between them, they have been nominated for an impressive 37 Grammy® Awards, with 11 wins.

In this season, Curtis Stigers speaks about discovering his voice via the great jazz pianist Gene Harris and Patrice Rushen reveals that her record company hated the music that became her biggest hits. One guest reveals their love of 80’s pop while another tells us that they should be writing screenplays because music came along as a total accident!

The programme will once again be hosted by Jazz FM’s breakfast show presenter Nigel Williams.

Of the return of the series, Nigel said: “I am very happy to be launching a third series of ‘The Music That Made Me’. The programme gives me the opportunity to deepen the conversation with the artists to the extent that some of them confess they are speaking for the first time about some aspects of their lives. It has also deepened my sense that all music is connected. The artists are influenced by the music they hear and in turn, they influence the next generation. It’s a thought that discredits the very idea of musical genre.”

Jazz FM’s Content Director Nick Pitts adds: ’The Music That Made Me’ has become an annual series that we really look forward to creating. The chance to engage with the superstars of our music at a level they are not used to means that we in turn broadcast some stand-out stories and learn what music has inspired them, making them the musicians they are today. I can’t wait for us to share this series with the listeners”.

The previous two series of ‘The Music That Made Me’ featured revealing conversations with fifteen key musicians including Pat Metheny, Ramsey Lewis, Norah Jones, Gregory Porter, Candi Staton and British jazz star Jamie Cullum. All of these episodes are available to listen to commercial-free on Jazz FM’s Premium platform.

The Music That Made Me, Series 3

Starting Sunday 24th July until 28th August between 9-10pm

Ep 1 – Sunday 24th July – PATRICE RUSHEN

Born in Los Angeles in 1954, Patrice was three years old when she began playing the piano, and by the time she was six, she was giving classical recitals. After winning a competition at the age of 17 that enabled her to perform with her band at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Rushen signed with the Prestige label, releasing three albums with them. Rushen was the first woman to serve as music director for the 46th, 47th, and 48th Grammy Awards.

Choices include Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Prince

Ep 2 – Sunday 31st July – CURTIS STIGERS

Stigers was born in Hollywood. He started his music career as a teenager, playing in rock and blues bands, as well as receiving an education in clarinet and saxophone in high school. He acquired much of his motivation for pursuing jazz from jam sessions led by Gene Harris. After receiving his diploma, he moved to New York City, intending to become a rock musician, having the worldwide hit “I Wonder Why”, but he spent more time in jazz clubs singing and playing saxophone.

Choices include Michael Brecker, The Stranglers, Gene Harris, Elton John

Ep 3 – Sunday 7th August – ROBERT GLASPER

An American pianist, record producer, songwriter, and musical arranger with a career that bridges several different musical and artistic genres, mostly centered around jazz. Glasper's earliest musical influence was his mother, Kim Yvette Glasper, who sang jazz and blues professionally. She took him with her to club dates rather than leave her son with babysitters. To date, Glasper has won four Grammy Awards and received nine nominations across eight categories.

Choices include Miles Davis, Tears for Fears, Human League, Roberta Flack

Ep 4 – Sunday 14th August – MADELEINE PEYROUX

An American jazz singer and songwriter. When she was thirteen, Peyroux's parents divorced, and she moved with her mother to Paris. Two years later she began singing with street musicians in the Latin Quarter. She sang vintage jazz and blues songs before finding mainstream success in 2004 when her album Careless Love sold half a million copies.

Choices include Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles

Ep 5 – Sunday 21st August – MACY GRAY

Born Natalie McIntyre, Macy Gray is heavily influenced by vocalist Billie Holiday. While attending the University of Southern California, she agreed to write songs for a friend. A demo session was scheduled for the songs to be recorded by another singer, but the vocalist failed to appear, so Gray recorded them herself.

Choices include Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu

Ep 6 – Sunday 28th August – MARCUS MILLER

American multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer best known for his work as a bassist. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist David Sanborn, among others. Miller spent approximately 15 years performing as a session musician. During that time he also arranged and produced frequently. He was a member of the Saturday Night Live band between 1979 and 1981. In 2012 Miller was appointed a UNESCO Artist for Peace, supporting and promoting the UNESCO Slave Route Project.

Choices TBA