Lance Tolbert has worked tirelessly in the music industry on every possible level. He is the bassist for superstar Mariah Carey and has performed before millions of viewers on some of the biggest television shows in the world. Lance has appeared with Mariah on Saturday Night Live, Oprah Winfrey, American Idol, Good Morning America, and various nationally televised events for MTV, BET, and Time Magazine. Recently, he has added a number 1 song with Hong Kong pop artist Eric Suen to his writing credit. He has recorded keyboards and bass for R&B artist Charlie Wilson. He has toured in and out of the country with artists such as Van Hunt, Chante Moore, Kevon Edmonds, and After 7. Lance is also a gifted composer and has written string arrangements for artists including Mary J. Blige, pop sensation David Archuleta and actor/singer Chaz Shepherd. He plays multiple instruments with a wide range of artists, and he writes and produces music with some of the best. Lance has been surrounded by music all of his life. Born into a musical family in Indiana, he is the fourth of six sons who are talented musicians, writers, and producers. At the tender age of eleven, he began to play the keyboard in church. His musical interests continued to expand, and within several years he became proficient on acoustic piano, keyboards, Hammond organ, and bass guitar. During his high school years, Lance gained early experience in the recording studio by arranging music and performing bass and drums on two records, one of which was a project with his family. In the fall of 1998, Lance was accepted to Indiana University as a Biology major for Pre-Med. After being exposed to the dynamic jazz department of the IU School of Music headed by Professor David Baker, Lance decided to pursue music as a career. In his years at IU, Lance was influenced by exceptional educators and musicians including David Baker, Steve Houghton, Luke Gillespie, Michael Lucas, Brent Wallarab, Tyron Cooper, Michael Burton, Charleston Sanders, and Ansyn Banks. Lance completed his Master's degree from the prestigious Indiana University School of Music in 2005. During his years of intense study at IU, Lance became a professional at multi-tasking and balancing the seemingly impossible. While earning two degrees, Lance wrote two songs released nationally on EMI ("It's Over There" Lamar Campbell, Confessions of a Worshipper album; "Worship You this Day" Keith O'Neal, We Lift Your Name album). He was employed by Indiana University as Associate Instructor for the IU Soul Revue, a position that allowed him to teach a full rhythm section (keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, percussion) in soulful music from the 1960's era to the present. He served as musical director for Lamar Campbell and Spirit of Praise (EMI Gospel) and Light of the World Christian Church (Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin, Indianapolis, IN). In 2005, Lance produced, recorded, and co-wrote Waiting, the cd for WGCI's Chicago Idol winner Stephani Parker. The cd displayed undeniable musicianship and featured studio and live tracks with the 10-piece band that Lance directed. Lance also began touring with R&B group After 7 as their bassist in 2004. He plays an integral part in the Unity Performing Arts Foundation as keyboardist, bassist, and programmer. Despite all of his work in and out of the classroom, Lance still made time to work constantly at Airtime Studio (David Weber, Bloomington, IN) to sharpen his recording, mixing, and songwriting skills. Whether the job calls for performing, producing, writing, or arranging, Lance Tolbert proves to not only be competent, but creative, fresh, and versatile.
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