Grammy-Nominated Album Contributor
Black Cowboys · 2019
01 / Biography
Rhythm.
Roots.
Reach.
A vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, storyteller, and professional genre-hopper rooted in Chicago and shaped by Washington, DC.
Who is Dante' Pope?
Every genre is another way to tell the truth.
Dante’ Pope is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, storyteller, and professional genre-hopper. If it grooves, swings, shouts, testifies, or twangs, chances are he’s found a way to make himself at home in it.
Originally from Chicago, Dante’ moved to Washington, DC in 2007 to work for Congress. Somewhere along the way, music became more than a side pursuit. He dove headfirst into the legendary U Street scene, singing background vocals for Ayanna Gregory, spending several years with Black Alley, and learning firsthand what it means to move a crowd.
At the same time, he was sharpening his skills at Howard University, accompanying student recitals and discovering a deep love for jazz that would become a permanent part of his musical DNA.
Groove, heart, storytelling—and room for the unexpected.
The result is a sound that makes perfect sense once you know the ingredients: the Black church where his family pastored, classical training at Merit School of Music in Chicago, time with the Fisk Jubilee Singers, jazz studies, soul music, folk traditions, and a healthy curiosity about just about everything else.
Since stepping out as a solo artist in 2019, Dante’ has released six singles and five EPs that refuse to stay in one lane. As a percussionist, he has appeared on more than 30 recordings with Grammy-winning and independent artists alike. Most recently, he toured as drummer and featured vocalist with the two-time Grammy Award-winning band Old Crow Medicine Show.
Along the way, he has served as arranger and music director for Raheem DeVaughn, Wes Felton, and The CrossRhodes’ Tiny Desk performance, and collaborated with Dom Flemons and Smithsonian Folkways on the Grammy-nominated Black Cowboys project.
Whether performing original music or reimagining familiar songs, Dante leads with groove, heart, and storytelling. No matter the genre, the goal is the same: tell the truth, make people feel something, and hopefully get a few folks moving while he’s at it.
Selected Credits
Career
Highlights
Raheem DeVaughn & The CrossRhodes
Music Director · National Tour · NPR Tiny Desk
Strathmore & Kennedy Center
Strathmore Artist in Residence · 2019
Old Crow Medicine Show
Percussionist · Vocalist
American Music Abroad
With Kenny Wesley · South America & Africa
Blue Note New York
Featured performance
Who is Dante' Pope?
Dante’ Pope is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, storyteller, and professional genre-hopper. If it grooves, swings, shouts, testifies, or twangs, chances are he’s found a way to make himself at home in it.
Originally from Chicago, Dante’ moved to Washington, DC in 2007 to work for Congress. Somewhere along the way, music became more than a side pursuit. He dove headfirst into the legendary U Street scene, singing background vocals for Ayanna Gregory, spending several years with Black Alley, and learning firsthand what it means to move a crowd. At the same time, he was sharpening his skills at Howard University, accompanying student recitals and discovering a deep love for jazz that would become a permanent part of his musical DNA.
The result is a sound that makes perfect sense once you know the ingredients: the Black church where his family pastored, classical training at Merit School of Music in Chicago, time with the Fisk Jubilee Singers, jazz studies, soul music, folk traditions, and a healthy curiosity about just about everything else.
Since stepping out as a solo artist in 2019, Dante’ has released six singles and five EPs that refuse to stay in one lane. As a percussionist, he has appeared on more than 30 recordings with Grammy-winning and independent artists alike. Most recently, he toured as drummer and featured vocalist with the two-time Grammy Award-winning band Old Crow Medicine Show, proving that a soul singer from Chicago can fit right in on a country stage.
Along the way, he has served as arranger and music director for Raheem DeVaughn, Wes Felton, and The CrossRhodes’ Tiny Desk performance, collaborated with Dom Flemons and Smithsonian Folkways on the Grammy-nominated Black Cowboys project, and collected enough musical experiences to fill several lifetimes—or at least a very entertaining dinner conversation.
Whether performing original music or reimagining familiar songs, Dante leads with groove, heart, and storytelling. Every performance leaves room for spontaneity, connection, and the unexpected. No matter the genre, the goal is the same: tell the truth, make people feel something, and hopefully get a few folks moving while he’s at it