With an upbringing that included singing gospel in church, and the sounds of vintage R&B and 1980s new jack swing, Noel Gourdin developed his impressive vocal skills by his early 20s. After building a name for himself in the Boston area, Gourdin had his first major break in 2004 when he was tapped to contribute a song, “Family Reunion,” to the film THE COOKOUT, His gospel-soul-flavored single “The River” then appeared in 2007, and climbed the R&B charts. The artist’s full-length debut, AFTER MY TIME, was released the following year, and revealed Gourdin’s sophisticated mix of classic soul inspiration, adult contemporary smoothness, and urban, hip-hop-inflected production.