Who Iz Ty Stephens?
A consummate multi-talented entertainer and performer, Ty Stephens has performed around the world, gaining an international audience with a cool, urban-tinged adult-contemporary sound, based on jazz, funk and R&B.
"Stephens' voice is like honey... pure and sweet..."
- The Philadelphia Tribune
"Next came Ty Stephens & (The) SoulJaazz, who, living up to their name, played some accomplished soul-jazz, showcasing frontman Stephens' big personality and often buoyant vocal style."
- Jay Lustig, NJArts.net
"...a must-see band to be experienced live...!"
- The New York Amsterdam News
"The CD ("Deeper In Fantasy") is filled with funk that is laced with a jazzy flavor and wrapped in a soulful blanket... touches on all the emotional buttons of love... once you see Ty Stephens & Romantasy live in concert, you'll be hooked!"
- The City Beat (TCB) Magazine
"Deeper In Fantasy: ...the vocally dexterous Stephens is in total control..."
- Blues & Soul Magazine (U.K)
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Ty Stephens is an award-winning singer/songwriter, entertainer and recording artist (Grand Prize Winner Jazzmobile/Anheuser-Busch Solo Jazz Vocalist Competition, NYC, 2006, and First Place Winner R&B/Blues Category of the International Songwriting Competition 2002 for "Somethin' Strange"), co-writer and original cast of "From My Hometown," co-writer/production, choreographer and star of the long-running "Shades Of Harlem" revue show, and co-writer/production, choreographer and currently starring in the new off-Broadway hit "On Kentucky Avenue" (Songbirds Unlimited Productions/StepForward Entertainment).
He has appeared on Broadway in the original productions of "Sophisticated Ladies" and "Marilyn, An American Fable". He has recorded with industry legends Harry Belafonte, Peggi Lee, dance music icon Dan Hartmann, disco pioneer Nile Rogers ("Beevis & Butthead"), master drummer Baba Olatunji, renowned trumpeter Chuck Mangione, singer Gwen McCrae, Def Jam premier artist Alyson Williams, among others.
"Deeper In Fantasy: "The whole album seems to be a sort of musical aphrodisiac..."
- The St Croix Avis (U.S. Virgin Islands)
"Jazz-influenced baritone, with its haunting gospel overtones..."
- The Sunday Mail Magazine (Zimbabwe)
"Deeper In Fantasy: It's the best album by a male artist I've come across this year..."
- Soul Express Magazine (Finland)
Ty studied dance and performed with John Hines Dance Theatre (Philadelphia), in New York at the Alvin Ailey School, The Rod Rodgers Dance Co., Fred Benjamin Dance Co., Chamber Dance Ensemble, and has also appeared in "The Wiz" (summer stock) and "The Genius of Ray Charles" (Spirit Productions - London, (UK), Lyon (France), Mumbai (India), Niagara Falls (Canada)), to name a few.
He has also starred in numerous TV & radio commercials, including KMart, AT&T, Burger King, McDonald's, Yugo cars, Colt 45 Malt Liquor (with Billy Dee Williams), Mars Bars (with Luke Perry), Crystal Light, SOS Soap Pads, and many more.
Ty appears regularly in Russia as a guest artist with Russian drummer Oleg Butman's jazz trio and sax great Igor Butman's Big Band. He celebrated his fifth tour of Japan with superstar Toshi Kubota's 25 Anniversary "Gold Skool" tour 2011-2012, a sixth tour, "L.O.K.," in 2015, and a seventh in the summer of 2017!
"Aquarian Mind: Smooth and extraordinary vocalist backed by great soulful music... very true to the art of music."
- GHP Radio (Oklahoma)
"Aquarian Mind: ...worth the waiting... above bar... magnificent!"
- Soul Express.Net (U.K)
With his band (the) SoulJaazz, Ty has spent six seasons at the world famous Sporting Club in Monte Carlo as the Sporting Orchestra and enjoyed four tours of eastern Russia through the U.S. State Department and The Vladivostok Philharmonic, and most recently, a second tour of Busan, Korea, also with the U.S. State Department.
Ty's original recordings include "Aquarian Mind," "Deeper In Fantasy" and "Musichameleon", plus the brand-new "Good Medicine". The band is currently completing two new releases: a spiritual LP and a standard jazz CD.
