Extended Play, Part 2

A version of this article was originally published in the Summer 2025 issue of the GFS Bulletin.

Welcome to Part 2 of of "Extended Play," celebrating GFS alumni who have forged careers and made their marks in the competitive, demanding music industry. Check out Part 1 here.

Garrett Dutton ’91

Garrett Dutton is the frontman of G. Love & Special Sauce, an alternative music trio that pioneered the “hip-hop blues,” a genre melding of Delta blues, rock and roll, soul, hip hop, and funk. The band’s debut, the self-titled “G. Love & Special Sauce” (1994), included heavy rotation of their hit single “Cold Beverage” on college radio stations and MTV, and appearances at festivals like Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo. Over the decades, G. Love has performed across the world and released 19 subsequent albums, including: “Coast to Coast Motel” (1995), “Yeah, It’s That Easy” (1997), “The Electric Mile” (2001), “The Juice” (2020), “Philadelphia Mississippi” (2022), and “Fishin’ for Christmas” (2024).

GFS Moment: In 2021, Dutton joined GFS' 175th celebration during the pandemic with a video performance from the road.

Higher Ed: One year at Skidmore College (left to pursue music in Boston) 

Career Highlights:

• G. Love & Special Sauce signed a record deal with Epic Records in 1993. Their debut album went on to be certified Gold.
• In 2020, “The Juice” was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
• G. Love is a frequent collaborator; he’s worked with artists such as Lucinda Williams, Jack Johnson, Donovan Frankenreiter, and Keb' Mo.
• In early 2025, the band celebrated the 30th anniversary of the “Coast to Coast Motel” album with a U.S. tour. They continued touring for much of the spring and summer, opening for the indie roots band, Dispatch.

Recent Gigs: On July 4, 2025, G. Love & Special Sauce performed at the iconic Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Madison McFerrin ’10 

Madison McFerrin is an independent musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. She blends and defies genres, pulling from acid jazz, soul, funk, R&B, a cappella, and more. Her first EP, ““Finding Foundations, Vol. 1” was released in 2016; since then, McFerrin has put out two more EPs and a full-length studio album “I Hope You Can Forgive Me” (2023). She has also performed at Lincoln Center, Central Park SummerStage and BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn, and shared stages with influential artists like De La Soul, Gallant, and The Roots. 

GFS Moment: Part of GFS A Cappella for three years; “My bread and butter is vocal harmony,” she noted. “So much of that was influenced by being in an a cappella group in high school.”

Higher Ed: Berklee College of Music

Career Highlights:

• McFerrin was named a “Rising Artist” by Pitchfork in 2018.
• Her songs have been included in episodes of Comedy Central’s “Broad City” and HBO’s “Random Acts of Flyness.” 
• Her single "Run" was included in Rolling Stone magazine’s “Top 100 songs of 2023.”
• A new single “Ain’t It Nice” and accompanying video were released in March 2025.

Recent Gigs: In April 2025, McFerrin performed a set on NPR’s beloved video series, “Tiny Desk Concert.”

Ben Paterson ’00 

Ben Paterson is a jazz pianist and organist who has garnered international acclaim for his artistry and musicianship. Now based in New York, he has recorded and released nine albums, and frequently plays live in NYC, Chicago, and around the world; he’s opened for both Steely Dan and B.B. King. Other notable collaborations include Houston Person, Bobby Broom, Johnny O’Neal, and Red Holloway, among others. He also teaches video courses and private lessons on blues and jazz piano improvisation techniques.

GFS Moment: Performed with the Bulgarian Rhythm Kings jazz ensemble in Upper School; was the first student music director and conductor for the Bernstein musical “On The Town” in his senior year.

Higher Ed: University of Chicago

Career Highlights:

• Paterson was part of NEA Jazz Master Von Freeman’s band from 2005 until Von’s passing in August 2012.
• He was the first place winner of the inaugural Ellis Marsalis International Jazz Piano Competition in 2018—the judges included Ellis and Branford Marsalis, Arturo O’Farrill, and Jon Batiste.
• He played piano on the 2023 Grammy award-winning record “Linger Awhile” by Samara Joy.
• Paterson’s newest record, “Cookin’ in the Couve” (2024) is a combination of original compositions with some of his favorite blues-heavy standards.

Recent Gig: In April 2025, Paterson played a series of shows with jazz vocalist Catherine Russell in Paris, France, and Milan, Italy.

Ben Thomas ’14

Ben Thomas is an engineer, producer, and mixer who has worked with huge names in hip-hop, like Lil Uzi Vert, Future, Ty Dolla $ign, Nicki Minaj, Chill Moody, and many others. He’s also worked with artists in R&B, gospel, country, and pop music. In 2020, Thomas opened After5 Studios, a Philly-based recording studio, which was in operation through 2024. These days, he is based in Los Angeles, and travels regularly.

GFS Moment: Part of GFS’ Jazz Band for four years, took three years of music theory, and ran sound for plays, assemblies, musicals, and A Cappella Fest in Upper School

Higher Ed: Temple University

Career Highlights:

• Thomas earned his first Billboard #1 in 2020 with his work on the album “Pluto x Baby Pluto” by Lil Uzi Vert and Future.
• He won two NAACP Image Awards in 2018 for his engineering work on the song "Insecure" featuring Jazmine Sullivan and Bryson Tiller, and Brian McKnight's album “Genesis.” 
• He has won two Grammy awards and been nominated for six others. The wins were both in 2022 for his work with the artist Jazmine Sullivan.
• Thomas engineered, mixed, and produced Lil Uzi Vert’s highly anticipated Billboard 200 #1 album “Pink Tape” (2023).

Recent Gig: He’s currently engineering for Pharrell Williams, working and traveling with him between LA, Miami, and Paris.

*No, we didn’t forget about Santigold! Head here to find her as the subject of an Alumni Q&A.

Feature photo of Madison McFerrin by Justin French.