R&B/Neo Soul Singer, Musician, SongWriter and Producer.

The silence has ended.

Consummate writer, arranger, producer, and performer Langston has returned to the studio and emerged with the release of his long-awaited first single.

“LL Cool J said it best, ‘… Don’t call it a comeback; I’ve been here for years,” the Richmond native jokes, reminiscing over his long and successful relationship with music. No matter what else I have done in my life, music has always been by my side.” Langston adds. A life of music is precisely what Langston has had -- performing first, at the ripe old age of 11, with a group of neighborhood friends. Together, they formed the band Perspective, with its youngest member featured on rhythm guitar, background, and lead vocals. Essentially a cover band, Perspective made their bones, performing songs from the top R&B groups of the period, including Slave, Cameo, and Earth, Wind & Fire. The EWF songs were the young musician’s favorites to perform, as his prepubescent voice could deliver Philip Bailey’s unmistakable falsetto with relative ease and uncanny accuracy. The band developed a following and performed steadily throughout the Richmond metropolitan area. Unfortunately, Perspective disbanded after only six years together.

The end of Perspective, however, opened the door for the young musician to pursue his education at Howard University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Like most young men his age, school offered not only book knowledge but also life experience. Well into his freshman year, he fell in love with a young woman and, along with it, his first heartbreak. To resolve his inner turmoil, he again turned to his first love, music. But this time, not as a performing artist but as a writer and record producer. “I just needed a safe space to work out my emotions,” but once seated behind that soundboard, it was as if someone had flipped a switch,”   remembers Langston. 

He began leveraging his expertise as a carpenter for studio time and rehearsal space so that he could start producing original material. Finally equipped with an entire portfolio of original songs, he reached out to like-minded musicians and formed his own band, Langston.  The new group was tenacious—spending hours and hours rehearsing to create a stage show that would set them apart from the other bands in the area. Even with the success of Langston, the band’s founder continued to submit his solo material to record labels in New York and Los Angeles. Not satisfied with local success, it became apparent that he would need to go to where these companies were headquartered. So he left his band, packed up, and set off for LA. The young musician hit the streets for nearly a year, attempting to meet with record executives. “In hindsight, I should have had representation,” admits Langston. Unfortunately, the City of Angels proved to be not so welcoming, and he began yearning for a friendly face, familiar surroundings, his family, and love.

Upon returning to Richmond, Langston quickly employed the main lesson LA had provided and immediately secured representation from local radio host and television personality Jay Lang. Lang was familiar with the group Langston and immediately took steps to get the group back in the studio. He also had the inside track of promoting the band on television and radio. The increased exposure led to the group being invited to the Jack the rapper Music Conference in Atlanta, GA. The performance was spectacular, and conference attendees were all abuzz about the youngster from Virginia’s capital City. 

Still riding high from a fantastic showing in Atlanta, Langston met producer Rodney Shelton -- well known for composing and producing the single “Kissing You” -- recorded by Keith Washington. The collaboration of Langston and Shelton would facilitate three more original tunes, all of which garnered attention from MCA Records execs. This was the tipping point and opened the door for Howard Rosen of the Los Angeles-based Take-Out Management to sign Langston to a Management deal and subsequently secure a development deal with MCA records. The icing on the cake: Two of their songs were selected and placed with the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara. 

Just as things were progressing musically, love had already fully matured in the young musician’s life. Langston had met his soulmate, Shelia, just prior to forming the band Langston. Shelia was actually the individual who introduced him to his keyboard player. When things warmed with the Record Labels and their issues in placing Langston and his music amongst the race and ethnicity dilemma they created, Langston chose to focus on another of his lifelong dreams – of beginning and raising a family with his beautiful wife. Who has always been and continues to be a driving force in Langston’s musical journey.  “There are no regrets. The love of my wife and children has proven to be the most valuable investment and accomplishment in my life,” added Langston. Just as heartbreak had pushed Langston to return to music in his early life, marital bliss and a full heart are bringing him full circle—back into the spotlight—with this new single, “Take a Chance,” and that is exactly what I am doing with this return to music. 

Comparing Langston’s sound to any one of today’s artists would be difficult, as he is an amalgamation of many influences. However, if you wrap Maxwell, Eric Benet, Mint Condition, and Silk Sonic into one, you’d get an artist like Langston. More importantly, this is a new beginning for an artist who knows exactly who he is and is very aware of the blessed life he has led.