Anthony Hamilton

It isn't unusual to hear Anthony Hamilton's name mentioned in the same breath with classic soul greats such as Otis Redding and Bobby Womack. With his gritty voice and ballads about hard times and heartbreak, the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter from Charlotte, North Carolina, has earned his spot among the premier names in neo-soul. Hamilton hit it big with the 2003 release Comin' From Where I'm From, whose title track and "Charlene" made him a household name. Hamilton's brand of modern-day blues has kept him on the R&B charts every year since, thanks to the release of two albums of his earlier work (which had been shelved due to problems with his prior record labels) and various side projects such as last year's American Gangster soundtrack.