Recording artist, songwriter, educator, and humanitarian Carl Brister continues to carve a unique lane in contemporary music with the release of his reimagined version of Lionel Richie’s timeless classic, “Hello.” Featuring guitarist and co-arranger Ricky Persaud Jr., the release blends soft rock, yacht soul, R&B, and cinematic orchestral textures into an emotionally immersive experience accompanied by a narrative-driven short film music video premiering July 3, 2026.
“The great Lionel Richie made a classic love song,” says Brister. “I wanted to make a soundtrack to a beautiful movie.”
A versatile independent artist whose work transcends genre, Brister has released four independent albums and more than ten singles spanning pop, country, dance, gospel, and R&B. His music and appearances have been featured across major networks and media outlets including Access Hollywood, BET, and Aspire. His heartfelt single “Daddy’s Angel” has surpassed 260,000 worldwide streams, resonating deeply with audiences through its message of family and love, while “I See You” featuring his son Jordan “J-Maestro” Brister earned the 2025 Global LIT Award for Best Duo Performance and has amassed more than 175,000 streams across platforms.
Brister’s admiration for Lionel Richie extends beyond songwriting. He deeply connects with Richie’s ability to create music rooted in human connection, romance, spirituality, and compassion for people and the world. Among Brister’s favorite Richie-penned works are “Endless Love,” “We Are The World,” “Jesus Is Love,” “All Night Long,” “Love Will Find A Way,” and of course, “Hello.” He particularly admires Richie’s ability to move effortlessly across genres while maintaining emotional authenticity — a quality Brister has also embraced throughout his own musical journey.
The release of “Hello” arrives on June 20, 2026 — Lionel Richie’s birthday during Black Music Month — serving as both tribute and artistic reimagination. Brister credits legendary icon Dionne Warwick with shaping his approach to reinterpretation through advice she once shared with him: “Anybody can copy a song, but if you cover a song, do it your own way. Bring your artistry to it.”
Beyond music, Brister is also the Founder and CEO of Music Village, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting unity, diversity, and healing through the arts. Its annual Love + Unity Fest brings communities together through live performances, educational music programming, and scholarships supporting young artists pursuing creative careers. Brister, also a licensed New Jersey educator, recently created “Feel It. Sing It. Live It: The Story of Soul Music and You,” an interactive live music experience designed for performances, school assemblies, and student workshops exploring the history, emotion, and cultural impact of soul music.
With “Hello,” Carl Brister once again demonstrates his gift for blending heartfelt storytelling, cinematic emotion, and soulful musicianship into music designed not only to entertain — but to connect.