Cassandra O'Neal

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Cassandra O'Neal


Identity

Cassandra Louise O'Neal Born: 17 January, 1973

Overview

An American musician, composer and producer, Cassandra O'Neal's musical resume includes working with artists such as Pink, 98 Degrees, Avant, Chante Moore, Mary J. Blige and Macy Gray.

She's played keyboards on various recordings, such as LeAnn Rimes' What a Wonderful World, So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross, and BabyFace's Grown & Sexy. O'Neal has also performed on various television shows such as The Ellen Degeneres Show, Jay Leno Tonight Show, the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, and the 36th NAACP Image Awards.

Joining Prince's band in 2009, she's been a keyboards player in The NPG ever since.

Early Life

As the youngest daughter of late Rev. Ernest A. O'Neal and Janet Pricilla O'Neal in Copiague, New York, O'Neal started playing piano at the age of 3. Throughout her adolescence, she followed a classical piano training, and played in the church. During her junior and senior high school years she accompanied school choruses and ensembles. After moving to Los Angeles, California in 1991 she started her musical career touring with American Gospel singer, Daryl Coley. A staff musician at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ, she released a gospel instructional DVD Wheatworks Productions Presents…West Coast Piano: The Ultimate Gospel Piano Master Class Featuring Cassandra O'Neal.</div>

Before working with Prince

O'Neal worked on the Soundtrack of the 1997 Comedy Film, The 6th Man, adding keyboards and vocals to the song, “Deeper Than Blood” performed by Sovory (the Soundtrack charted at No. 33 on the Billboard Top R&B/HipHop Albums chart). She also played keyboards on the Dreamgirls: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack.

As a live keyboardist, she's worked with several artists such as Pink (Party Tour, 2002), 98 Degrees, Kurt Carr & the Kurt Carr Singers, Helen Baylor, Avant, Chanté Moore. In 2005 she joined the band backing the 'Sisters In The Spirit Tour' featuring Yolanda Adams, Sheila E. and Martha Munizzi.

She was also named Musical Director for Macy Gray (2004–2007) and Mary J. Blige joining Jay-Z on the 'Heart of the City Tour' in 2008. O'Neal was also co-writer of several songs on Macy Gray’s comeback album, BIG.

Before joining the NPG Cassandra O'Neal was in Sheila E.'s all female band COED (Chronicles Of Every Diva) together with former NPG bassist Rhonda Smith and NPG guitarist Kat Dyson, sometimes augmented by Candy Dulfer.

Input in Prince's Live performances

Cassandra was a second keyboard player for most of Prince's live appearances in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Live performances

With Prince


Gear

Endorsements

  • Yamaha Motif keyboards
  • Quik Lok Stands.

References

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