Pianist, singer and Nassau, Bahamas native Akia Knowles is affectionately known as "Bahamian Ella Fitzgerald." After studying music at the College of the Bahamas, she began making appearances in established jazz clubs and performing at international jazz festivals and on various tours. Akia went on to entertain audiences regularly in the Radisson and Crystal Palace Hotels, and sang with the band Pnuema at the Atlantis hotel. The uniqueness of her sound and her natural charisma brought about many opportunities for the determined young lady.
In 2004 she was one of the lead performers in the show "Disco Divas" that ran for almost eight months. The show's producers took notice of Akia and in 2005 they built an entire show called "Bahama Mama" around her voice.In 2010, Akia formed her personal band, Swayde, and regularly performed throughout South Florida. Currently, Akia is traveling and working on her second jazz album entitled "Simply me" scheduled to be released November 2013.