Toledo Idol: Aye Dee

TOLEDO - He calls himself a big man soul singer - real music for real people.

It's all part of Big Man Soul. It's a genre that he and his record label, Under Godz Entertainment , created. Aye Dee said it's real music for real people, more of an adult contemporary sound than just Rhythm and Blues.

Aye Dee, who grew up in Chicago but now resides in Toledo, has been belting out rich soul melodies since he was a young, and loves every second of it.

"I want people to know that whoa, Aye Dee must have really been feeling that when he wrote it."

Songs like 'Are You the One?' really touch on Aye Dee's softer side.

"That song is basically talking about a man asking a woman, 'Are you really the one for me, forever?'"

The artist performs plenty of his own originals at open mic nights where the vibe is relaxed.

Aye Dee, or as he sometimes goes by "A.D.," is working with several musicians in the glass City region area and believes it's important to create songs with people who will be inspiring.

The 26-year-old doesn't like it when singers and bands are in the music business just for the money. It's important for him to strike a chord with his listeners and get them to understand.

Aye Dee says it's about the art, not the success that music can bring.

"I really want people to feel my music," he said. "A lot of people do music because 'oh, my momma told me that I could sing. Now I can help pay bills.' It's all good, preserving self, but I do this music because I love to sing."

A.D. loves what he does and honors those who came before him by paying tribute. Some of Aye Dee’s influences are Donny Hathaway, Keith Washington, James Ingram, Toni Terry, Jackie Wilson, and Brian McKnight.

"It's kind of facetious to say you've never heard me, but I'm going to do my own thing and you're going to love it."

(FOX Toledo's Allison Brown contributed to this report)