I was born on the Southside of Chicago with an immediate love for and connection to music. God blessed me with a great childhood, great mother, great family–never was the rich kid or anywhere close–but I had everything I needed and most of what I wanted. I was the little guy at church (New Original Church of God in Christ) that started on the drums, moved to the organ, but NEVER wanted to sing. I realized my love for music, singing in particular, during my four years atWhitneyYoungHigh Schoolafter becoming actively involved in everything from Concert Choir, to our internet radio podcast, to the Jazz Band, to the school’s recording studio. As a teenager, I first recognized God as a divine planner. Everything that had happened from learning the engineering equipment, to my stint in graphic design, to simply the people I met there led to where I am now. God orchestrates six billion lives in a manner that allows his people to prosper and gets him the glory. AMAZING!
Through one of those divine connections, I met and eventually joined the group Mind Over Matter–five guys with a genuine heart for worship and good music. We recorded an EP and traveled around theMidwest, but God knew that he had more in store for all of us. AND IT’S BEGINNING TO MANIFEST ITSELF RIGHT NOW! While I was in the group and in college (Columbia College of Chicago), God gave me a sound and a message and he supplied me with my own recording equipment that allowed me to put it all together in my dorm room. Within a couple years I had a hard drive of recording sessions with no real outlet in mind. The Very Unofficial EP was not birthed with commercial intentions but simply as a present for my aunts and uncles. I had no idea that God had a greater plan for that music. By freak accident, pastor and popular local radio personality John Hannah heard my music and played it one morning on 1390AM…the rest is history. I woke up and my life had changed. God is so amazing! Now graduated with a Bachelor’s of Music (May 2011), I am able to turn my full attention to representing and following Christ, doing the work of the Kingdom and making good, transparent music.
Music is my passion and I love it all…I don’t discriminate! Good songwriting, good production, good playing, good singing and good arrangement makes for GOOD music. I’ve been most influenced by a handful of gospel greats such as JMoss, Kim Burrell, Israel Houghton, and Smokie Norful. I have an equal love for great songwriters and musicians in every genre however including Indie.Arie, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, the Beatles, the Yellowjackets and Rascal Flatts.
