While growing up, Saunders was exposed to musicians such as Eddie Moore, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine, Sonny Rollins, Dewey Redmen, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Bole Sete, and John Handy.

Other influences include Stanley Clarke, Alphonso Johnson, Rufus Reid, Ralphe Armstrong, and Marcus Miller.

He was the musical director of Rock Justice, written by Bob Heyman and Marty Balin of Jefferson Starship.

Saunders was first hired as a staff producer for San Francisco Records, having previously worked for the label president Ron Umile when he was at Associated Booking in New York.

Tom Politzer from Tower of Power, Rock Hendricks from Paul Hardcastle's jazz master series also performs saxophone on the CD.

Longtime friends of Saunders, Fred Ross and Sakai, background singer with Train, also sing on the duet "The Question Is".

It featured Gabrial Mark Hasselbach, Rock Hendricks, Sakai, Paul Hardcastle Jr., and Gerald Albright.

Saunders' single "Rock Steady" is a cover of The Whispers' 1980s hit and was produced in Atlanta by Magic Mendez.

He met the Hawkins family when he was 14, and credits them with not only inspiring him to play bass but also with giving spiritual guidance to his life.

Saunders won a 2022 Telly Award for the video "Black Lives Matter", which he co-authored with Nona Brown.