Matt Cusson
Encyclopedia
Matt Cusson is a contemporary jazz artist whose musicical array features a combination of Jazz, R&B, and Pop.
to parents who were a classical piano teacher and choir director/arranger, music of all different genres was introduced to Cusson at an early age. Cusson attended St. Joseph High School
and Berkshire Community College
. He later studied at Berklee College of Music
in Boston
where he played with John Mayer
, Ryan Leslie
, and was chosen to participate in the Singer Showcase, a forum highlighting Berklee’s best vocalists. Cusson has one brother and a sister.
In 2004, Matt was chosen as the only male singer to perform with Christina Aguilera on her summer tour “Exposed”. Cusson has also performed on “The Daily Beat” with Allure, “BET Live” with Avant, as well as “Bobby Jones Gospel” and the 2003 U.S. Open Tennis Tour with well-known group Here II Praise.
In 2009, while on tour with his mentor, Brian McKnight
, Matt Cusson was awarded the Maxell Song of the Year and the John Lennon Songwriting Contest Best Jazz Song for his original composition "One of Those Nights"., while his single "Every Step" performed in the top three in the R&B category. In that same year, his self-titled album was a pick for top 10 albums of 2009 in the Japanese Magazine BMR. Cusson has shared stages and studios with James Taylor
and Livingston Taylor
, Stevie Wonder
, Stanley Clarke
, Babyface, and Bebe Winans
. He has performed live on “The View” and “Live with Regis and Kelly
” and was one of the 12 people chosen out of hundreds to perform at the historical and highly competitive “Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre” in New York City, and went on to win the competition three times.
Cusson signed with Spectra Jazz in 2010 to release worldwide his single "One Of Those Nights". Additionally, Cusson performed as a member of the international "Michael Jackson
- "Man in the Mirror" Tribute tour. Soon following, Cusson received a "2011 Song of The Year" nomination from the Oasis Contemporary Jazz Award committee for his composition of "One Of Those Nights".
Biography
Born and raised in Pittsfield, MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to parents who were a classical piano teacher and choir director/arranger, music of all different genres was introduced to Cusson at an early age. Cusson attended St. Joseph High School
St. Joseph Central High School (Pittsfield, Massachusetts)
Saint Joseph Central High School is a private, college preparatory, Roman Catholic high school in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Saint Joseph offers a co-educational intensive college preparatory curriculum to students in grades 9 through 12. SJCHS has a strong international student community, but...
and Berkshire Community College
Berkshire Community College
Berkshire Community College is a two-year community college in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It offers associate degrees as well as a transfer program for students to earn credits for transfer to other colleges...
. He later studied at Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
where he played with John Mayer
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
, Ryan Leslie
Ryan Leslie
Anthony Ryan Leslie, known professionally as Ryan Leslie, is a Grammy nominated American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, entrepreneur, and singer. Founder of the media company NextSelection Lifestyle Group, Leslie has produced singles for a number of artists in a variety of genres...
, and was chosen to participate in the Singer Showcase, a forum highlighting Berklee’s best vocalists. Cusson has one brother and a sister.
Career
In 2000, Cusson was discovered by one of his biggest musical inspirations, Brian McKnight, who a day after hearing Cusson perform his original music, flew Cusson to his home in Los Angeles to collaborate musically.In 2004, Matt was chosen as the only male singer to perform with Christina Aguilera on her summer tour “Exposed”. Cusson has also performed on “The Daily Beat” with Allure, “BET Live” with Avant, as well as “Bobby Jones Gospel” and the 2003 U.S. Open Tennis Tour with well-known group Here II Praise.
In 2009, while on tour with his mentor, Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet....
, Matt Cusson was awarded the Maxell Song of the Year and the John Lennon Songwriting Contest Best Jazz Song for his original composition "One of Those Nights"., while his single "Every Step" performed in the top three in the R&B category. In that same year, his self-titled album was a pick for top 10 albums of 2009 in the Japanese Magazine BMR. Cusson has shared stages and studios with James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
and Livingston Taylor
Livingston Taylor
Livingston Taylor is an American singer-songwriter, born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He attended the Westtown School in Pennsylvania...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Stanley Clarke
Stanley Clarke
Stanley Clarke is an American jazz musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on double bass and electric bass guitar as well as for his numerous film and television scores...
, Babyface, and Bebe Winans
BeBe Winans
Benjamin "BeBe" Winans is a gospel and R&B singer. He is a member of the noted Winans family, most members of which are also gospel artists.-The PTL Club:...
. He has performed live on “The View” and “Live with Regis and Kelly
Live with Regis and Kelly
Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception...
” and was one of the 12 people chosen out of hundreds to perform at the historical and highly competitive “Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre” in New York City, and went on to win the competition three times.
Cusson signed with Spectra Jazz in 2010 to release worldwide his single "One Of Those Nights". Additionally, Cusson performed as a member of the international "Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
- "Man in the Mirror" Tribute tour. Soon following, Cusson received a "2011 Song of The Year" nomination from the Oasis Contemporary Jazz Award committee for his composition of "One Of Those Nights".