简介：Irvine,anAfricanAmerican,wasborninHampton,VirginiaonOctober27,1943.HemovedtoNewYorkCityin1965.[2]HewasinvolvedwithvariousmusicalgenresincludingJazzFunk,jazz,hiphop,funk,rhythmandblues,andgospel.[1]HeservedasthebandleaderforjazzsingerNinaSimoneandwasamentortomanyNewYorkhiphopartists,includingQTipandMosDef.Hewroteover500songs,[3]includingthelyricsfor"ToBeYoung,Gifted,andBlack",performedliveforthefirsttimebyNinaSimoneonthealbumBlackGold(1970).ItbecametheofficialCivilRightsanthem.In2000IrvineprovidedthevocalintoductionstotracksonthefirstCDofthealbumLateNightBluesbyUKDrum&BassproducerBigBud.HecowroteandperformedvocalsandfenderrhodesonthefirsttrackentitledReturnofSpiritman.HealsoperformedfenderrhodesonclosingtrackPersianBlues. Irvine'slastmajorprojectwasThePriceofFreedom(1999),acompilationoforiginalsongsbyhiphop,jazz,funk,andR&BartiststorespondtotheshootingofAmadouDiallo.[2]IrvinecommittedsuicideoutsideofEABPlazaandinfrontoftheNassauColiseumlocatedinUniondale,NewYorkonApril9,2002.[2] In2003,Madlib,Mr.DibbsandBreakestraproducedatributetoWeldonIrvine,"SuiteforWeldon".Thefollowingyear,MadlibreleasedthefulllengthalbumATributetoBrotherWeldon.[4]