Berkley the Artist

Berkley the Artist is a professor of music, vocalist, songwriter, actor, author and creative director. He earned a BA in Vocal Music performance from Dillard University and MS in Speech Communication from Minnesota State University.

Berkley is a 2017 & 2018 Billboard Magazine artist for the albums “We Are Stars” and “Say Yeah! Live at the Blue Nile ft. The Madonnas,” as the former lead singer and songwriter for Water Seed. In 2020, he was featured on the GRAMMY nominated, ‘Tank and the Bangas’, remake of “What the World Needs Now” featuring PJ Morton and David Shaw.  Berkley has toured with Chinese and Korean pop-soul stars, Jane Zhang and Annale.  In 2010, Berkley was mentored by his idol, Kirk Franklin, placing in the top 10 contestants of BET’s Sunday Best.

Berkley’s academia contributions include several distinguished professorships of pop/commercial music and speech communication.  Roc Nation School of Music for Long Island University, Loyola University New Orleans, Dillard, and Xavier University rank as his most memorable. During a year-long South Korean residency, he founded the first Gospel-Soul choir on Jeju Island at the North London Collegiate School. Fall 2022, Berkley made his debut performance at the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club in Greenwich Village, New York. Winter 2023, Berkley co-conducted with Delfeyo Marsalis as vocal musical director for “The Color Purple” in New Orleans at the historic Le Petit Theater.

Berkley is a New Orleans native. He learned to sing mimicking his father at their small church on the bayou where his grandmother would sing and play the piano. As a child, his mother groomed his talent by enrolling him in music lessons. His career began. Berkley is devoted to music and arts education.  In 2023, Berkley was signed to XIX Entertainment as teacher and talent by Simon Fuller for the Academy of Pop.

“Help someone do what you wish you could have done easier.” – Berkley the Artist