Born in Cleveland, Abernathy shows exceptional talent, not only on the keyboards but also as a singer. In his career, he has been musical director for international tours by Black Milk and Slum Village, as well as working with Grammy-nominated artists like Jack White, the Foreign Exchange and Eric Roberson. In spring 2015, Abernathy and his group Nat Turner supported Black Milk on their European tour. They won over audiences with their magnificent combination of gospel-inspired voices, with sharp changes of rhythm and funky twists revealing influences from Prince and James Brown.