Brian O'Neal

Published: May 22, 2013, 11 p.m.

b'Brian O\\u2019Neal was born July 5, 1965, in Detroit, MI. He first discovered his passion for music at the age of six when he took his first drum lesson. Although Brian (known to his friends as "Bean") learned to play many instruments, including the saxophone, bass, and trombone; he aspired to be a professional drummer. That is until his junior year in high school, when he was asked by his band teacher to fill in on the piano for the band\\u2019s performance. Brian instantly became mesmerized with the idea of mastering such a magnificent and gentle instrument. His grandmother, "Daisy O\'Neal", then bought him his first piano. As a self- taught Pianist, he later received a full musical scholarship to Alcorn State University.\\n O\'Neal has shared the stage with many great musicians over the past two decades including: Will Downing, Morris Day and the Time, India Arie, Ledisi, Fantasia, Angela Bofill, Stevie Wonder, Maze (featuring Frankie Beverly), Alex Bugnon, George Duke, Pieces of a Dream, Chaka Kahn, Najee, Kindred the Family Soul, and Jeff Lorber.\\n O\\u2019Neal won the Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian of the Year award from American Smooth Jazz Awards and Changemaker of the Year 2013.\\n Founded in 2009 by musician/composer Brian O\'Neal & Author/Artist Manager Kelly Adolph, The DO Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that helps homeless individuals, families and children realize or regain a life of self-sufficiency. Their primary initiatives are: providing hands on immediate assistance to individuals residing on the streets, this includes but is not limited to, clothing, meals, personal products, etc. They encourage others to stand up and Do Something through donations, time, resources, transportation or merely an ear to listen.\\nhttp://www.brianoneal.com/\\nhttp://www.dofoundation.net/'