Hargrove was born in Waco, Texas, and moved to Dallas aged 9. Freddie Hubbard was a big influence on his sound, and while Hargrove was in high school, he was mentored by Wynton Marsalis. Hargrove’s debut album “Diamond In The Rough” presented his spirited mix of both young and old players, with a combination of standards and originals. Hargrove won a Grammy Award for his album “Habana” with an ensemble of Cuban and American musicians. Hargove was also a member of the Soulquarians, a group that operated at the cross section of jazz, hip-hop and soul and included members like Common, Questlove, and producer J Dilla. His group The RH Factor saw him combine many of these elements with syncopated funk and vocals from Erykah Badu and D’Angelo to create a low-slung jazzy R&B.
