BLKBOK

Meet the uniquely gifted BLKBOK, a neo-classical piano prodigy from Detroit who uses his dexterous arrangements and melodic scores to audibly illustrate experience, that of his own, and of his community’s across pivotal moments in American history.

“When people see me, they expect me to start rapping, and they’re not 100% wrong…I am a rapper, except I spit lyrics and tell my stories through my hands, with these notes.”

BLKBOK, Charles Wilson III

The name “BlkBok” might make you think of the famous classical pianist Johann Sebastian Bach, but with a melanin twist. And that’s quite literally the point.

Charles Wilson III, known as BlkBok, was brought up in a musical household that he says shaped his sound.

“Detroit has such a diverse music community. Motown, the Gospel community and the jazz community, and all these other people,” said BlkBok. “And I became a part of that. And that very much influenced what I was doing. “

BlkBok’s parents introduced him to classical music as a first building block to understanding other genres. “From 4 to 16 was the fundamental part of everything that has happened in my career,” he said. Classical music “became like the main base of everything I started creating.”

He migrated to jazz and blues, playing in clubs and backing up other bands. His prowess on the keys eventually attracted the attention of Grammy-wining acts.

My touring, being with Justin Timberlake and Rihanna and John Mayer and all these other pop artists, I never imagined that I would [come] back to classical music.”

But he did. His latest album, Black Book, is “an opportunity to have a bit of escapism,” BlkBok said.

He migrated to jazz and blues, playing in clubs and backing up other bands. His prowess on the keys eventually attracted the attention of Grammy-wining acts.

“My touring, being with Justin Timberlake and Rihanna and John Mayer and all these other pop artists, I never imagined that I would [come] back to classical music.”

But he did. His latest album, Black Book, is “an opportunity to have a bit of escapism,” BlkBok said.