When did you know that being a musician was your calling?
I knew that I had a distinguishable gift in college when I sang outside of a church setting away from the people who raised me for the first time. The audience did not know who I was, but their response was overwhelmingly positive.
Describe any other occupations you have had.
The biggest and most rewarding to my ministry has been as worship leader in my local church. I mostly volunteer in that capacity now. I learned humility and patience with myself and others. I also learned the importance of seeking God as your source and living independent of the opinions of people. I learned to just “do me” and worship God.
I was in sales for a number of years after college and those years were lessons in faithfulness and assessing the benefit of what you were selling to the person you are selling it to among other things. The best sales people knew why what they were selling would benefit the buyer and then built the type of relationships that gave them access to confidently communicate those benefits and close the deal. You had to faithfully remind people of the ‘why’ so they would remember to buy your product, and you had to be likeable so your clients would care enough to buy from you.
What inspires you to perform music?
I love how music can inspire people to reach for more. I love how it can compel people into not giving up on themselves. I love how it can lift depression long enough to keep you fighting for yourself and your family. I love how it can help you remember vital truths when you need them most. I love that in many ways it still remains a mystery how music does this, but that our music even assures us that “We Will Understand It Better By and By.”
What instruments, if any, do you play?
I began teaching myself piano as an adult when I started developing the courage to pursue music ministry full-time. I did it to facilitate my songwriting, and though I have made strides I do not consider myself a piano player. More than anything I am singer-songwriter.
How would you describe your brand of music?
Urban Inspirational in a way that harkens back to the traditions of the gospel music.
When you are on stage, what do you want to convey about your style?
I want people to hear something beautiful and powerful in a way that makes them want to be an active part of the experience.
Name three musicians who have influenced your approach to being a musician.
Donny Hathaway’s vocal style has always been hauntingly beautiful to me
When I first started my journey as a singer-songwriter, I marveled at John Mayer’s lyrics. I still love his albums Continuum and Room For Squares.
There are three gospel artists that have impacted me a great deal for different reasons on my journey and they are Marvin Winans, Fred Hammond and Israel Houghton. When you talk about making music that inspires people to hope for more, reach for more and fight for more…these men have been important beacons on that journey for me personally. Even as I write this I pray that God continues to bless these men above all they could ask or think for every seed that they have sown in the lives of God’s people.
Describe your creative process from song concept to completion.
I like to say that God’s grace connects the dots. The dots for me are like truths and experiences you pick up along the way. The life you live either confirms the truth and/or the experience you have compels you to declare the truth so you can see it manifest in your life and the lives of those around you. When I write a song that I think is worth hearing it is because the dots are connecting for me.
How do you select your creative music partners to fashion and complement your musical voice?
The producer of my last album is my friend Aaron Lindsey. I admired his faithfulness and his work before I knew him. Getting to know him has shown me why he has accomplished what he has accomplished. The life I have seen him live is congruent with the fruit he bears. I like working with people like that.
What advice would you give anyone preparing to enter the music business about publishing and management?
If you make money in this business, make sure you set some aside to protect your legal interests and to get wise counsel when you need it. You should also read and research for yourself. Content is king, and contacts lead to connections that keep it moving. Work hard to hone your craft, build your catalog, and manage your business relationships in way that can be leveraged in your favor with any publisher or manager you consider working with.
If you were going to sing for any famous person as a celebration of what they have done for humanity, who would it be?
I would celebrate our first African-American president, Barack Obama. Although, I do not agree with every policy decision he has made since he has been in office, I believe he stands as a symbol to a great many people as to what is possible now that an African-American has reached the highest office in the land. I would celebrate him and his family for paying the price to lead and serve while paying the additional price of being black while doing it.
What effects on society would you like your music to have?
I want my music to affect people in a way that brings us together regardless of color or creed. I want it to inspire us to love one another in a way that confirms our intrinsic value as human beings despite our differences and sometimes very limited perspectives towards one another. Sometimes our limited perspectives concerning one another cause us to hurt each other. I want my music to bring healing when that happens and to make us more aware so that it doesn’t occur in the first place
If you could go outside the USA to write and produce music, what country would you choose and why?
I honestly cannot think of one specific place I want to go. So far I have been to Korea and Japan because of music. My prayer is to be a part of something in music ministry that is valued in places all around the world.
What do you like the most about being a musician?
I believe the gift of music can put you in the most unlikely places to build bridges.
My college choir once had a performance at a theatre in Chicago. Our choir was committed to the performance of gospel music and negro spirituals. I remember seeing Minister Louis Farrakhan in the audience and him leading a standing ovation for the performance when we concluded. Looking back I do not think it was the content of our ‘gospel’ message that moved him. It was our willingness to faithfully discipline ourselves as a community of singers to share the message effectively. I believe music has the ability to build bridges like that
What producers are you looking forward to working with soon?
I am currently on tour with Erica Campbell to support her Help 2.0 album. It was produced by her husband, Warryn Campbell, and I would love to work with him one day. I also look forward to working with Aaron Lindsey again as well as reuniting with the man who penned ‘All I Need’…Stan Jones.
Name three musicians you would like to record with that are hit makers?
There are way more than 3.
If you could make a duet with someone who would it be and why?
Again there are too many to name.
What musical awards have you aspired to receive and it happened?
So far, I am a Stellar Award winner due to my work with Fred Hammond, Dave Hollister and Eric Roberson as a part of United Tenors.
What musical achievements have you yet to obtain?
There are so many more great songs to write and sing. I just want to stay in that flow
Finish the sentence…
When I hit the stage I feel…Like I have a gift to bring and I cannot wait to see who receives it.
When the crowd is responding to my music I know…I am communicating and connecting which is one of the things I want most to do.
I appreciate my fans because….because they are like me…trying to hold their family together…pay the house note…dream for themselves and their children…honor the God they serve.
Music is my calling…because God has given me a special gift to share for His creation.
My method of studying music is…including more on worship and it’s importance.
When you find my music I want you to…I either want you to be pleasantly surprised or to confirm the good things you heard, and ultimately I want you to believe me.
Name your favorite two books?
Again there are too many to name but I want to point you to two of them:
A friend gave me the following book when I stepped out on faith to pursue the calling on my life as a career. He knew I was shook, and he wanted to encourage me. The truth is (and I am laughing now as I recount this) he was the one who shook me by his response, and the book was meant as an apology…I cannot even really remember what it says, but I remember feeling like he cared after I read it. It is entitled:
The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson
11 years later my friend wrote a book (one of his dreams was to be an author) about a philosophy that has informed the way he pursues the call on his life to this day. The book is entitled:
Love. Period. by Rudy Rasmus
