This is Ric Wilson, the leader of Mandrill and a lion of music who has been influencing the world for 50 years. I spent yesterday afternoon at his home, he shared his newest album with me, and we talked at length about how his music is connected to the social/political/cultural movements of today. Mandrill is the most sampled band in history, and their music is ever-relevant with Eminem, Kanye, Snoop Dogg, Black Eyes Peas, and many others. This legend has played with Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and Michael Jackson among others. Some “smaller” artists that opened for Mandrill are Earth Wind & Fire, Tito Puente, Lionel Ritchie, and Curtis Mayfield. I was a small part of his latest album (orchestration for brass and orchestra recording sessions) and it’s truly an honor to work with this man.