The group Black Violin is the result of two classically-trained string players who blend the language of classical music with hip-hop beats.
Violinist Kev Marcus and violist Wil B. met as students in the orchestra at Dillard High School of the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
They both played the viola at the time, and they went on to college and studied with Chauncey Patterson.
Patterson is the one who introduced them to the 1972 album "Black Violin" by jazz violinist Stuff Smith.
They adopted the name "Black Violin" for their duo, but that meant one of them would have to change from the violin to the viola.
Kev Marcus lost the toss, and he's now the violinist while Wil B. remained the violist.
"Now Wil is one of the most famous violists in the world, while I have to complete with people like Joshua [Bell] and Hilary [Hahn], and I'm not even a violinist," Kev Marcus said. "I'm really a violist in violinist's clothing."
Their big break came when they won the "Showtime at the Apollo" 2005 Legend title, after which they went on to perform with hip-hop and R&B musicians including Alicia Keys, the Wu-Tang Clan, 2Chainz and Lil Wayne.
They're on tour right now promoting their latest album "Full Circle." (You'll need a free Spotify account to listen below)
Even when they don't have an album to promote, they often play close to 200 performances a year.
"We've always been road warriors," Kev Marcus said. "Our message is best felt person-to-person."
In fact, he noted, now that they've booked a fall tour as well, they're officially playing more shows than Beyoncé this year.
Kev Marcus said it's a blessing to be so busy, though: "It's hard to turn it down when people want to see you do the thing you want to do."
Black Violin will perform Friday, May 9 at 7 p.m. at Great Lakes Center for the Arts in Bay Harbor.
