When Darryl D'Bonneau sings, his silky tenor and three-octave range make you think of the greats-Sam Cooke, Al Green, and Isaac Hayes. You can sense it in his style, the way he channels the spirit of the gospel music he grew up with, while giving off a smoldering, unapologetic sexiness. But more important, unlike today's cookie-cutter crooners, with their formulaic beats and manufactured passion, D'Bonneau's music is straight from the soul. And whether he's belting out a funky pop ballad, some smooth R&B stylings, or heart-pounding dance music, his audiences feel it. A Charleston, South Carolina, native, D'Bonneau started singing at age 4-though it wasn't until he was 10 years old that his career took off in earnest. Then his grandmother pass that raised him from a child so he moved to New York and his natural singing ability got the attention of Rev. Jerry Burns. Under his supervision D'Bonneau recorded his first gospel record, "Love at Open Door." D'Bonneau would later bring that energy to the clubs, where he quickly developed a following. One day, while laying down tracks in the studio, choreographer Jamale Graves heard him singing and contacted his friend, Martha Wash. D'Bonneau went on to lend his vocals to a few of the famed lyricist's projects, as well as those of Taylor Dayne, Diana Ross, and Barbara Tucker. His duet with Tucker, "Stop Playing With My Mind," scored the number one position on the Billboard Club Play chart for Strictly Rhythm Records in February 2000. Now Darryl is helping to create a new fusion of music, mixing old soulful R&B vocals over a contemporary club sound. The multitalented singer (he's just as comfortable on the dance floor as he is behind a mic) has released recordings with labels such as Nu Faze, Trunk Funk, New Generation, Jellybean, Kult, Nervous and Easy Street. He's ready to use his experience on TV (Tops of the Pops, and the Arsenio Hall Show) and in the clubs to take his career to the next level. And he's beckoning listeners to come with him on the journey.