Special Thanks

First and foremost L!SSEN would like thank God for assembling 13 souls from 13 different backgrounds and putting them together to share 3 common bonds: love, life, & music. L!SSEN and all artists alike are nothing but instruments that you work through to show the rest of the world how beautiful and truly splendid you are. Of course we are eternally grateful.

To the family of L!SSEN that has showed patience beyond normal limits, and allowed us to try to become and be a part of something greater than ourselves. To the Marshall family who literally let us bang and scream into the wee hours of the morning for years while we found our identity and purpose. Without people like you, our dreams would've never had a chance to be tangible. To the Holland -Haynes family for being the initial birthplace of L!SSEN, and a constant source of support and love. To James C. Grady for keeping the "Players" playing and for not allowing the "evils" of this city to pierce the armor we created. Your heart is pure. To Michael "Pat Boone" Ford, Johnny Moore, Noland Matthews. The "right hand men" of the HJB. Where would we be without you? That's easy, nowhere. To Brenda Ford, the undisputed #1 supporter of L!SSEN, who probably hasn't missed a show yet, but has definitely been to more than everyone else. You are our rock, and inspire us beyond mere words. We are because people like you are.

To the teachers, Joseph Russell (R.I.P), Bruce Edwards, Tracy Cutler, Anthony Boyd, Jacques "Saxman" Johnson, Charles Hankerson, & Adolph Wright. You gave us the gift of music and discipline in you own unique and beautiful way. You also gave us a great example of a man and what responsibility is all about. Our greatest wish is that we ascend to a small percentage of the men that you were when you taught us the gift that is music. You are no doubt the core of our gift and directly responsible for the nurturing of that gift.
To the predecessors, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Chuck Brown, Wynton Marsalis, Boyz II Men, Lauryn Hill, Jimmy Hendrix, JJ Johnson, Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, Sam Cooke, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Babyface, Aretha Franklin, Mint Condition, Take 6, Donny Hathaway, Luther Vandross, Kim Burrell, Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, D'angelo, Common Sense, Notorious BIG, Tupac Shakur, Jam Master Jay, The Isley Brothers, James Brown, Quincy Jones, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Phil Collins, Anita Baker, & the great Bob Marley. You have laid down the blueprint for musical greatness that is simultaneously difficult to follow, and easy to understand. We only hope to inspire others as you have inspired us.
To the business men and women who help sustain L!SSEN. Positive Black Men Coalition, Bink & Friends, Mel, Mahmoud Jerry, Charles Smith, Uptown Productions, Norman, Cassandra & AJ Productions, the entire Ebony Barbers crew, Bobby Marshall and the entire RCM staff. Ihkand and Ignatius Mason at Infant Eyes, Chocolate City, Madness, Warren and Club U, Omar Kashif, and Tony Keene at FLY. Thanks to Takoma Station, Murali's, Newton White Mansion, Cada Vez, 94th Aero Squadron, The Convention Center, Bohemian Caverns, 2K9, VIP, Zanzibar, The Blackburn Center, Zero27 in Phila, PA., and big shots out to the men and women that we will definitely do business with in the near and distant future. Let's get this dough!

To our respected peers in the game. Terrence Cooper and the "Bad Boys" of go-go themselves, Backyard Band, the "Wickedest Band Alive" Rare Essence, The "Godfather" of go-go himself Chuck Brown, The Optimystic Tribe, & The Uncalled For Band. Let's continue to change the landscape of live performance in this city. Being fans and supporters of all of your stage exhibitions, we can no longer call them "go-go shows" or "parties" with a clear conscience. They were and they will forever be "concerts." Thank you for inspiring L!SSEN.
Rest in Peace to Mr. Edward "Wyld E" McQueen the eternal "14th Member" of L!SSEN, firefighter Antoine Marshall of Engine 19, Alexander Brown, Angela Dobbs, and Nicole Brown. Your Memories will always be with us. Big one goes to Anthony "Tone-Tone" Morrison, Sam Capies, and Joe Plater. It's not the same on the outside without you, but we count the days 'til you come back to the world.

Last but definitely not least to the fans and supporters of L!SSEN. Without a doubt too many to name but not too many to thank. The commitment that a true fan and supporter gives an artist is an intimate one almost comparable to the relationship between a mother and a child. They're there from the beginning, they nurture their growth, they let them know when they go down the wrong path, they scold them when necessary, but above it all they offer the artist an unconditional love that is unbreakable if you truly capture their hearts.
This is the dedication and commitment that L!SSEN experiences every night. If the predecessors are the lifeline of our inspiration, and the family are the structure that gives us support, then the fans and supporters are definitely the foundation that keeps us grounded and stable. We hope we can give you the gift of memories and music everlasting. Again we say one thousand times over, thank you. To any of the men and women that we may have forgotten, please charge it to our forgetful minds and not to our loving hearts.

Love always,

"The Players"
L!SSEN