Light Bulb

Marcel Leonard Hardeman Jr. wasn’t one of those kids who chose to emulate the popular artists of the day coming up. No, this one was different. He’s the son of a DJ who grew up watching pops dig in crates; he’s one of them who grew up listening to music, real music like funk, jazz, soul and blues. Coming from a musical family has its advantages. It spawns musical genius, makes one live and breathe melody & rhythm. There are always notes floating around, clever cadences come from virtually nowhere, tunes find themselves resonating from a piano’s soundboard, from a front man’s vocal chords. Marcel Leonard Hardeman Sr. was his son’s greatest influence. He single handedly led the youngster into a world where sound translated into love and beauty. Imagine it. Being a kid and watching your old man on the 1’s & 2’s, watching as ear cans indent the course strands of a music man’s afro... And so it began. Discovering innovative ways to track sound and make beats became the order of the day. Singing over live percussion, heavy bass and eccentric guitar licks became the standard. Music became the number 1 priority and by the age of 17 Marcel Leonard Hardeman Jr. went by the name Hollow. Because of his fundamental relationship with the aesthetics of music, Marcel’s reputation as a writer and producer began to flourish. By 1999 he caught the eye of Hot Spot Entertainment and spent much of his time there learning and perfecting his craft. By 2002 tragedy struck, the man who had introduced Marcel to his incomparable edge succumbed to heart failure. The following year, he accepted an internship at Simpatico Records® and it is there that he received his ‘industry education’ through study and hands-on application. Only through experimenting with singular techniques and pushing the envelope on the industry standard did Marcel develop a signature sound that he calls Gator Soul. Gator Soul is a jazz, r&b and hip-hop fusion that was introduced on his first album Son of a DJ. The album, released February 6th, 2007 was dedicated to his father and is a music fiend’s masterpiece. Son of a DJ was 14 tracks of weighty lyrics over Gator Soul. Soon after the Son of a DJ album Marcel left the street life behind to find serenity in Hawaii. This trip proved to be the best move for the creative process. He created his best work yet being away from everything negative in his life. When he returned to Michigan the reinvention had begun. Not so long ago Marcel was a young boy just singing for fun who watched his father turn 12 inches into montages of music from every era and genre. Now seasoned, Marcel’s managed to create a new sound. That sound is the type of soul that’s been influenced by varying musical styles in such a way that makes it extraordinary and special. Today he continues to push the envelope with his creativity, passion and imagination.