Los Angeles was buzzing final weekend as the celebrities rolled in for the annual Breakfast Club Pre-Grammy Brunch, and the visitor record didn’t disappoint. From R&B hitmaker and podcast favourite Tank to legendary singer-songwriter Eric Roberson, the celebration felt equal elements reunion, tribute, and cultural second.
The music trade’s elites additionally paid it ahead, making a scholarship fund for HBCU college students aspiring to interrupt into the trade.
What started as a modest gathering twenty years in the past has grown into considered one of GRAMMY Week’s most cherished traditions. Hosted by multi–award-winning producer Bryan-Michael Cox on Feb. 1, the Breakfast Club Grammy Brunch returned this yr with added which means, marking its twentieth anniversary whereas spotlighting the significance of mentorship, training, and uplifting HBCUs.
This yr’s brunch shone a highlight on three highly effective figures whose affect runs deep throughout the tradition. Music writer Walter Jones, acclaimed recording artist Eric Roberson, and the late Jerrell Allen had been honored for his or her lasting affect on R&B, soul, and the broader music trade.
Walter Jones, Eric Roberson and the late Jerrell Allen had been honored in the course of the brunch.
Jones and Roberson had been celebrated for careers outlined by authenticity, artistic excellence, and a deep respect for the artwork kind. Their contributions have helped form the sound and spirit of Black music, rooted in storytelling, craftsmanship, and a dedication to cultural preservation.
GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer Eric Roberson has lengthy been a trailblazer in R&B and soul music. A proud Howard University alum, he’s widely regarded as a pioneer of the impartial motion, thriving outdoors the confines of main labels and mainstream radio. From writing and producing for artists like Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, Dwele, and Vivian Green to headlining sold-out excursions nationwide, Roberson has constructed a profession rooted in authenticity. With greater than 20 years as an impartial artist, he continues to create change and innovate by way of his model, “Honest Music,” which he launched in 2001.
Walter Jones is a revered music trade government who serves as Executive Vice President and Head of A&R at Sony Music Publishing in Los Angeles. Appointed in February 2022, he oversees U.S. A&R efforts, champions songwriters, and helps information artist improvement. Prior to becoming a member of Sony Music Publishing, Jones was Co-Head of A&R at Universal Music Publishing Group, the place he played a key role in working with and supporting artists similar to H.E.R., Lil Baby, A$AP Rocky, G-Eazy, Alessia Cara, and City Girls.
The brunch additionally paused for a shifting tribute to Jerrell Allen, a visionary music and life-style supervisor and advertising and marketing government whose behind-the-scenes work helped elevate numerous artists and types. For almost twenty years, the Philadelphia native led Urban Architects, incomes a popularity as a trusted strategist with a daring, forward-thinking method. Widely revered as a thought chief, Jerrell was recognized for pushing the trade ahead whereas at all times centering the creatives he served.
Jerrell performed a key function in shaping the profession of vocalist Algebra Blessett, guiding her by way of the discharge of her critically acclaimed debut album, Purpose. The undertaking earned her New Artist of the Year honors and supplied an early glimpse into Jerrell’s artistic management.
In true Breakfast Club vogue, the celebration didn’t cease at honoring the previous; it invested sooner or later. Partnering with HBCU Week as its philanthropic arm, the 2026 brunch raised $50,000 to ascertain the Jerrell Allen Memorial Scholarship. The fund ensures Jerrell’s ardour for training, mentorship, and alternative will proceed to uplift the subsequent era of scholars and creatives in music. Tank led the unbelievable mission, in keeping with Bryan Michael Cox’s Instagram video.
The vibe contained in the room was heat, intimate, and electrical. Conversation flowed simply as trade leaders, artists, and tastemakers related and celebrated collectively. Attendees included Tank, Jon B, Teedra Moses, Estelle, Erik Sermon, Jermaine Dupri, Shyne Barrow, London On Da Track, Yo-Yo, Nefetari Spencer, Gabby Samone, Lauren LaRosa, Jimmy Allen, Algebra Blessett, and Algee Smith, every including to the magic.
While many trade occasions lean on flash, the Breakfast Club Grammy Brunch has at all times been about substance. Two a long time in, it stays an area the place group comes first, legacies are honored, and the tradition is well known with intention, and that’s precisely why it continues to shine.
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