(January 23, 2026) He does not possess a household name, but Preston Glass is one of the most quietly influential hitmakers of R&B and pop, a songwriter-producer whose melodic instincts and emotional clarity helped define radio-friendly soul from the late 1980s through the 1990s. During a period when adult soul found its footing, Preston Glass was front and center.
He served as songwriter and/or producer for a who’s who of great stars of the 80s and 90s, including Johnny Gill and Stacy Lattisaw, George Benson, Earth Wind & Fire, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole and countless others.
In the 21st century, Glass has become an important producer and songwriter for legacy soul music acts, helping such notables as Ali Woodson, The Stylistics, The Spinners and others record well-received new albums that bridged their historical sound with modern flourishes.
Now, Preston is releasing a new album under the moniker Preston Glass & Chosen Family, Where The Passion Is. It is the third collection of songs written and produced by Glass with a cadre of top tier vocalists such as LaToya London, Terrill and Fred White, and musicians from his vast network.
He tells us, In a world where AI is now everywhere and mediocre ‘unhuman’ music reigns supreme, I am determined as a songwriter, producer/arranger, and multi-instrumentalist to make music that reaches beyond that, and is entirely ‘original’…from my heart and soul, straight to your heart and soul.”
By Chris Rizik
