The great-nephew of the late Rev. Sidney Birdsong, Sr., a respected icon who served as the pastor of the historical Solid Rock Baptist Church in Los Angeles, CA., Dr. James Birdsong is a member of the famed Birdsong family. His bloodline line includes R&B legend Cindy Birdsong, a former member of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells along with the Supremes, former four-time NBA All-Star pro basketball player Otis Birdsong, and the late Edwin Birdsong, a GRAMMY®-Award winner known as one of the 1970s legendary funk keyboardists. So to say music and inspiration are in his DNA is an understatement. An alumnus of Fairfield High, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Education at Beulah Heights University in Atlanta, GA, then went on to do his Graduate Certificate in Marketing at the University of Phoenix in Phoenix, AZ, followed by his doctorate in Sacred Music and Sacred Human Letters (Honoris Causa) from New Covenant International Bible College in Columbia, South Carolina.
We sat with Dr. Birdsong to find out about his journey to become the person he is today, and what advice he will give to the generation coming up today.
What or who inspired you to become a Gospel singer/songwriter?
First, I want to personally thank FEMI Magazine for giving me this opportunity to engage in another media platform. I appreciate it very much. As the public is aware, I have been on this journey in the Gospel music industry since I was 16 years old. It was already there with the singing from a child. During that time, I was a 10th-grade student at my alma mater, Fairfield High School in Fairfield, CA. When I was in high school, I had an English teacher named Dina French. She taught in the special education program, which I spent 15 years of my life in public schools after my healing from a speech impediment at 3-years-old. One day, Ms. French asked the class to author a paper on any topic of our choosing. I decided to write about the Gospel music industry. She loved it and gave me an A for my grade. While this was going on, Fairfield High School obtained internet access at our library. During our one-hour lunch break between third and fourth period, a friend and classmate of mine named Fermin would log on websites of our favorite Gospel and Christian contemporary artists such as Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin, Crystal Lewis, and others about their projects, the record labels they were signed too and their placements on the Billboard charts. I told myself one day, “Lord, you blessed my family to accomplish so much in the music industry. If I am going to be successful in this, I need to learn the business side.” For the artistic side, I had a vocal coach named Sharon Roberts. Her daughter, Dominique was attending Armijo High School, another high school in Fairfield. From there, I continue to research the Gospel music industry and eventually subscribe to a nationally known magazine called Gospel Today for five years. That magazine really educated me about the industry and obtain knowledge from the actual artists. Three years after I graduated from high school in 1998, God begins to deal with me about moving to Atlanta, GA. My heart desire was to live in a noted city where the industry is actually operating and has success stories. I eventually moved to Atlanta on faith in 2005 and the rest is history. I shared my life story and journey in my memoirs, The Best is Yet to Come: A Testimony of One Young Man’s Redemption.
You come from a very respected and talented musical background. What was it like growing up in such a musical family?
I am born and raised in Richmond, CA, a city located northeast across the bay from San Francisco and north of Oakland. For those of you who are products of the San Francisco Bay Area, it produced our iconic legends in Gospel music, the world-renowned Hawkins Family, which consists of Edwin Hawkins, Bishop Walter Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, and Lynette Hawkins-Stephens. As you know, Edwin and Walter Hawkins are no longer with us. Their legacies will always live in our hearts. The Bay Area also produced Carlos Santana, En Vogue, and the hip hop artists, MC Hammer and E-40. As a little boy grew up listening to their music on our radio station, KDIA 1310 AM, one of the premiere radio stations at the time. My father, the late Rev. James C. Birdsong, Sr., a respected and well-known public figure in my hometown. He was a gifted and talented singer who had an opportunity to record during the Golden Era of Gospel music. Unfortunately, he did not pursue it, and personally, he should have done that. He had the 45 LPs records of our iconic artists of that era such as the late Rev. James Cleveland, the Caravans, Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers, the Harmonizing Four, and his favorite singer, the late
Rev. Cleophus Robinson. He would sing around the house. My father would really bring down the church with his singing. My mother, Belinda Germany-Birdsong lives here in Atlanta, GA. She and my father raised me not to be a quitter. They along with my teachers pushed me to accomplish my dreams and goals. Growing up in a musical family God blessed on a global platform, is a blessing and honor. My father told me stories about our family. I am related to world-renowned R&B legend, Cindy Birdsong, an original member of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells. She is from the Motown era of the 1960s. When the late Florence Ballard, an original member of Diana Ross and the Supremes departed the group, Cindy replaced her. Another cousin of mine and music legend from the 1970s funk/disco era, the late Edwin Birdsong was one of my biggest supporters in our family. He won a GRAMMY®-Award for his involvement with Kanye West’s single, Stronger. Edwin was sample by artists from Kanye West to Erykah Badu throughout his career. Then you have Otis Birdsong, a former NBA All-Star pro basketball player that played for twelve seasons during his career. There are other members of my family that are in the music industry as ministry in the pastoral role. Three years ago, the industry begins to refer to us as the famed Birdsong family due to our musical legacy and foundation. Now, the tradition continues with me as God is allowing me to build my own legacy. One of my goals is to launch a gospel label for aspiring artists to record and perform on the national platform. When the time comes, I will record projects as well.
Your professional achievements and accolades are commendable and noteworthy. What is your proudest achievement?
God has blessed me to accomplish so much throughout the years. On May 16th, 2021, I turned 41 years old, and the blessings are still pouring throughout the United States and abroad. There are so many awards and accolades. It would take me a year to name them all. One of those accomplishments is being the recipient of the Impact Award of Honor in Music at the 2021 7th Antigua Barbuda Gospel Music & Media Awards. It will take place this October in Antigua, St. John’s of the West Indies. This is my first award outside of the United States. This year, I received two honorary doctorate degrees from New Covenant International Bible College in Columbia, SC. They are in Sacred Music and Sacred Letters. My proudest achievement is being the Founder, President & Executive Director of Birdsong Association of Broadcasting & Arts, Inc. (BABA), a new 501©3 nonprofit organization in Atlanta, Georgia with additional operations to planned for Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington, D.C. This organization will help today’s African American youth from K-12 grade in elementary, middle, and high school to pursue their dreams in performing arts and media broadcasting with various programs, initiatives, workshops, scholarships for college, mentorships with professionals in the industry, scholarships, partnerships with local school districts, 40 Historical Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) throughout the United States and much more. We will also organize a yearly annual Gospel concert and Pre-Concert VIP Awards Gala as our benefit featuring independent and major gospel/secular artists with special recognition at the gala to honorees in various areas from music to community service. Our organization’s leadership structure consists of the President, Secretary, and Treasurer as the administration and ten board members. We now have a partnership with the Atlanta Public Schools with selected schools. We have six programs (Speak Your Mind, Generational Producers, Behind the Camera, Write the Script and Step Up for College) that will begin this school year. We will then reach out to the HBCUs such as Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse, and Spelman Colleges and proceed from there with our organization. This will be the same when we begin our operations in Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington, D.C. to serve our youth, parents, teachers, school districts, and the African American community in those areas. A major marketing and media campaign for Birdsong Association of Broadcasting & Arts is already in the planning stages. This organization is another chapter and contribution to the Birdsong family legacy.
What advice would you give to an upcoming gospel singer and/or songwriter?
I’ve been asked this question in recent press interviews, the public at large, and especially among today’s youth. The advice to any person that desires to pursue a career in the Gospel music industry and the entertainment business at large is to always put God first in everything you do. I learned this lesson as a child. Secondly, surround yourselves with positive-minded people who believe in you and will push you to strive for excellence. In other words, you are going to need a dedicated support system to have your best of interests. Right now, I am mentoring an up-and-coming artist named Lofiet Brown, a native of Chicago, IL who is receiving attention for a single titled, Let’s Work, a gospel house workout song he and his producer, Eric Ignatius won an S&M Gospel Indie Music Award for Video of the Year. I am very proud of my mentee. As industry professionals, we need to give back to others. Someone had to give back to us along the way. Not everybody is going to help you in this field. Thirdly, learn about the music industry as a whole by reading stories of your favorite artists on what measures they had to take for success. I am a strong believer in education and mentorship in the Gospel music industry. Learn about copyrights, publishing, songwriting, production, improving your vocal abilities, entertainment law, distribution, how record labels operate, the difference between being an independent and major artist, music industry organizations and the list goes on. I want to encourage today’s youth to major in music for their undergraduate studies when they attend college. You are going to need the skills from an academic perspective. It is not going to be an easy task. As long you know this is your dream and goal in life, God will open doors for you. Proverbs 18:16 (KJV) tells us, “A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” No matter what people say or think about you, remain humble, steadfast, focus, and most of all, stay in the Will and Purpose of God.
Tell us how your faith played a big part in your success?
My favorite scripture is Philippians 4:13 (KJV) when Paul writes, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.” This has helped my faith and trust in God grow stronger with my success. I have people who asked me, “James, how do you do it? It seems like everything you put your hands on, God blesses you to accomplish it.” When the favor of God is on your life, it’s ordained by Him. There is so much more in store for me. When I turned 40 years old in 2020, God blessed me with a special young, Afro Latina woman in my life. We absolutely love each other and making plans for our future. She is my biggest fan. The public will know our story as time progress. The youth of today look up to me as a role model. I am doing everything with God’s help to remain in that role. My family and others paved the way for me, and now God is allowing me to build a legacy for future generations. I am grateful to God for all of the love, prayers, and support throughout the country and abroad. To learn more about me and booking inquiries, please visit my official website at www.jamescbirdsongjr.net. The website for Birdsong Association of Broadcasting & Arts is currently being updated with an all-new look. Thank you so much FEMI Magazine for this opportunity. Be safe and may God bless you.
