Louis York

A rare R&B duo active during the 2010s, Louis York is a free-spirited outlet for Charles Harmon (aka Chuck Harmony) and Claude Kelly. The two were well-established by 2009, when they met during sessions for Chrisette Michele's Epiphany album. Harmon, a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter, had worked with Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, and Ne-Yo, among others. Kelly's work as an arranger, background vocalist, and composer included credits on releases by Peabo Bryson, Leona Lewis, and Britney Spears. After wrapping up Epiphany, they continued to support high-profile artists, sometimes in tandem, behind the scenes. Along with Grammy nominations they earned separately, they were nominated together in 2011 and 2012 in the category of Best R&B Song for co-writing Fantasia's "Bittersweet" and Ledisi's "Pieces of Me." Combining parts of the names of their native cities -- Harmon is from East St. Louis, Illinois, and Kelly hails from New York City -- they started recording as a duo. They established a label called Weirdo Workshop and began issuing stylistically unrestricted EPs and singles. A three-part series of EPs, Masterpiece Theatre, was released from 2015 through 2017, incorporating breakbeat-propelled hip-hop soul, acoustic jazz, and even a little house among slicker commercial R&B and pop sounds. ~ Andy Kellman