Nearly every past, present and future R&B music king has graced the ESSENCE Festival stage.
From undisputed greats like Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder and Barry White, to those who christened the 90s & 2000s sound like Maxwell, Usher and D’Angelo, to the present-day trailblazers who are putting in the work to continue carrying the torch like Miguel, Chris Brown and Daniel Caesar, we’ve had the cream of the crop.
As the R&B King debate continues to heat up and we gear up to celebrate 25 years of ESSENCE Festival in 2019, here’s a look back at over 50 R&B crooners who have touched the ESSENCE Fest stage. Who do you think should carry the crown of R&B King of ESSENCE Festival?
01
Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross played ESSENCE Fest in 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002.
02
Maxwell
Maxwell performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1997, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2016.
03
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1996 and 2003.
04
D’Angelo
D’Angelo performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1998, 2000 and 2012.
05
Charlie Wilson
“Uncle” Charlie Wilson performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
06
Usher
Usher performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1998, 2003, 2011 and 2015.
07
Gerald Levert
Gerald Levert performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1995, 1999, 2002 and 2003.
08
Musiq Soulchild
Musiq Soulchild performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2003, 2006 and 2008.
09
Carl Thomas
Carl Thomas performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2001 and 2005.
10
Barry White
Barry White performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1996.
11
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002.
12
Al Green
Al Green performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1996, 2002 and 2009.
13
Anthony Hamilton
Anthony Hamilton performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2004, 2012 and 2018.
14
Trey Songz
Trey Songz performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
15
Eric Benet
Eric Benet performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2011 and 2012.
16
Daniel Caesar
Daniel Caesar performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2018.
17
Babyface
Babyface performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2002 and 2016.
18
Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2003 and 2018.
19
Chris Brown
Chris Brown performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
20
Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1996.
21
Miguel
Miguel performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2011 and 2018.
22
Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2005, 2009 and 2014.
23
Joe
Joe performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2001 and 2010.
24
Bobby Brown
Bobby Brown performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2006.
25
Tevin Campbell
Tevin Campbell performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2014.
Article continues after video.
26
Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2005, 2007 and 2010.
27
Kenny Lattimore
Kenny Lattimore performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2007.
28
Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2003 and 2006.
29
Jaheim
Jaheim performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2003 and 2006.
30
John Legend
John Legend performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2005, 2009 and 2017.
31
Omarion – Nov. 12
32
Ron Isley
Ron Isley performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2002 and 2007.
33
Raphael Saadiq
Raphael Saadiq performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2009 and 2010.
34
Robin Thicke
Robin Thicke performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2007 and 2009.
35
Ro James
Ro James performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2017.
36
Tyrese
Tyrese performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2000 and 2013.
37
Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2008.
38
Raheem DeVaughn
Raheem DeVaughn performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2015
39
Tank
Tank performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018.
40
Ginuwine
Ginuwine performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2013.
41
Luke James
Luke James performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2012 and 2013.
Maury Phillips/Getty Images
42
Dave Hollister
Dave Hollister performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2018.
43
PJ Morton
PJ Morton’s self-released album, Gumbo: Unplugged (LIVE), received three nominations total in the categories of Best R&B Album, Best R&B Performance and Best Traditional R&B Performance.
44
Montell
Montell Jordan performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2000.
45
Rahsaan Patterson
Rahsaan Patterson performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2002 and 2007.
46
Chico DeBarge
Chico DeBarge performed at ESSENCE Festival in 1998.
47
Mali Music
Mali Music performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018.
48
J. Holiday
J. Holiday performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2008.
49
Freddie Jackson
Freddie Jackson performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2004.
50
BJ the Chicago Kid
BJ the Chicago Kid performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2016 and 2017.
51
August Alsina
August Alsina performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2014.
52
Eric Roberson
Eric Roberson performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2012 and 2015.
53
Jeremih
Jeremih performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2016.
