At a night at The Ford in Los Angeles, a stellar lineup awaits, featuring jazz luminaries like Gary Bartz and members of the Blackbyrds alongside rising talents Melanie Charles and Katalyst. Among the esteemed performers gracing the stage is Larry Mizell, one half of the legendary Mizell brothers who reshaped the landscape of jazz-funk with their innovative productions under Sky High Productions. Hailing from Englewood, New Jersey, Larry and Alphonso “Fonce” Mizell embarked on a musical journey rooted in their  adolescence, eventually leaving an indelible mark on the music industry with their fusion of jazz and R&B. From their early days mimicking horn lines to their collaborations with Motown and jazz icons like Donald Byrd, the Mizell brothers' influence continues to resonate, shaping the soundscape of contemporary music and earning them a well-deserved place among the pantheon of musical innovators.

The Mizell brothers, Larry and Alphonso “Fonce” Mizell, are iconic figures who revolutionized jazz-funk with their innovative productions under Sky High Productions. Together the duo produced tracks for Bobbi Humphrey, Donald Byrd, Johnny Hammond, The Jackson 5, Edwin Starr, Gary Bartz, Mary Wells, A Taste of Honey and more. 

Born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey, their musical journey began in their adolescence, mimicking horn lines from their parents' records and eventually forming the jazz-harmony quartet the Vanlords during their time at Howard University. After graduating, Larry worked briefly as an engineer while Fonce and their friend Freddie Perren made their mark in Los Angeles, eventually joining Motown as staff songwriters. Their collaboration with Motown, including writing and producing hits for the Jackson 5, propelled them to fame. However, disillusioned with Motown's constraints, they ventured into jazz with Donald Byrd, releasing groundbreaking albums like "Black Byrd" and "Street Lady," which defined their signature fusion of jazz and R&B. Throughout the 1970s, they continued to produce influential works across genres, leaving an enduring legacy in music. Despite a hiatus in the 1980s, their productions remain influential, particularly in hip-hop, and their contributions were celebrated with a compilation release by Blue Note Records in 2005.