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Category: Biographies

Rap Tuesday : The Ministry of Canton Jones

Jones was born, Canton Dorrelle Jones, on January 9, 1977, in Deerfield Beach,

Florida, and began singing at the age of five in a vocal group founded by his father. By the age of 16, he was writing and producing songs for friends in his hometown.

He relocated to Atlanta, Georgia where he attended Morehouse College joining the school’s renowned Glee Club. The club performed for celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder, Dr Bobby Jones and Ray Charles, as well as performing at high-profile events such as the opening ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games and at the first gospel concert ever held at the US Pentagon.

Between 1998 and 1999, he joined World Changers Church International, under the pastorship of Creflo & Taffi Dollar and in his own words, grew as a Christian under their stewardship: “My wife, who was my girlfriend at the time, took me to World Changers and I started getting the word. I was going to that church for like three years before I really rededicated my life to Christ. I was there from probably like 1998 or 1999 until 2001 before I really started getting on track.”

In 2001, Jones launched his own gospel record label, CAJO International. And independently released his first album, 2002’s 20 Years, 3 Months & 12 Days, which chronicled his journey to salvation.

He released his second independent album in 2004: The Password and that same year, collaborated with Lil iROCC Williams on Williams’s 2004 debut album, and wrote and performed a song, “You and Me”, for the compilation Holy Hip-Hop: Taking the Gospel to the Streets.

At this time he was now a member of the choir of World Changers International Church and a solo performance at the church attracted the attention of the church’s youth pastor, who asked Jones to help him in the youth department. Not long after that, he was signed to the church’s Arrow Records label, an affiliate of EMI.

He released his major label debut, Love Jones, in mid-2005, which debuted at number 11 on Billboard’ s Top Gospel Albums chart. Following the album’s success, Jones toured the US with over 200 appearances that year.

In November 2005, The Password was re-released nationally at the end of 2005 as The Password: Access Granted and earned him two Grammy nominations. His success in 2005 saw him listed in The Atlanta Business Journal at number 19 in their 40 Under 40 chart of Atlanta’s rising stars.

On April 5, 2008, he released Kingdom Business. In 2009, he released Kingdom Business, Pt. 2, and Kingdom Business, Pt. 3 followed in 2010.

Jones’s fifth and most highly anticipated album for him and for CAJO Records, Dominionaire, was released on February 1, 2011. Three singles were released prior to the album’s release, “In da Club”, “Window”, and “G.O.D.”, only the first two listed were released on iTunes.

Later in 2011 Dominionaire Remixed was released, featuring artists like D-MAUB, Messenja and Erica Cumbo. In early 2012 he released a live album and DVD. In October 2012 Kingdom Business Pt. 4 was released, along with a mixtape, All Day Jesus, and a five-song EP, Short Fuse.

On Feb 18, 2014, Jones released an 18-track mixtape, Lust, Drugs, and Gospel in an effort to assist those who have issues related to lust and drugs.

On July 29th, 2014, Jones released God City USA. An album containing 17-tracks

On Jan 29th, 2016, Jones released I Am Justice. An album containing 18-tracks which gained him a stellar award.

And in 2017 releasing two EPs,  Fanatic on Jan 1st and Greatness on Sept 28th.

Canton Jones has also featured on projects with Kierra Kiki Sheard, James Fortune, Pastor Charles Jenkins, John Waller, Uncle Reece, Vicki Yohe, Deitrick Haddon, J Moss, Tye Tribbett, T Haddy, Isaac Carree, Viktory, Andy Mineo, Matt Pitt, William Murphy, Jor’dan Armstrong, Richie Righteous, Bizzle, Crystal Tamar, KJ 52, Jonathan Phillips, GIdeonzArmy, Corey Coco Condrey, Mr Del, Vashawn Mitchell, William McDowell, and Joann Condrey.

 

CANTON  JONES a singer, rapper, songwriter, producer, vocal arranger, Pastor and entrepreneur, as well as a dedicated husband and father of 4, sharing his advice to those young in age, or young in the faith, who may be confused about pursuing God or feel lost or misunderstood in this whole “religion/faith” thing, in an interview with Truth + Fire said:

My advice is / would be for them to seek God for themselves. So many people can give you advice about God, and some of it can lead you down the right path. But some of it can lead you down the wrong path because what worked for THEM may not work for YOU. That’s why it’s called faith. You have to step out on what God has spoken to you, specifically. My word today is ‘walk by faith and not by sight’. Go by what God is speaking to your heart and not necessarily by what everyone else is doing. People may come against you for stepping outside of the box, but the Bible says, ‘a hundredfold cometh with persecution’. When you’re getting blessed and trying to change the world, there are going to be naysayers and people who talk about you. But you’re not doing it for them, you’re doing it for Him.

For someone that has been criticized for stepping a little outside the box with his genre of music in the gospel music industry, His influnence on the lives of people espeacially christians has never dwindled. He remains a perfect example for people who are scared of stepping outside the box in the gospel music industry.

Here is One of his songs “No limits” from his “I Am Justice” album. Canton was reminding us on how limitless we are for having God on our side. A nice one from him, There are times we lose sight of some of the priviledges for having God on our side of which one includes limiting  the ability of an amazing God in us.

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source:

http://wikkipedia.com

http://mafietta.com

https://praisebaltimore.com

http://www.cantonjones.net/

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PASTOR SHIRLEY CAESAR’S BIOGRAPHY

Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams, known professionally as Shirley Caesar was born on Oct 13th, 1938 in Durham, North Carolin. She is an American Gospel music singer, songwriter and recording artist whose career has spanned over six decades. A multi-award-winning artist, Winning 11 out of 28 Grammy Nominations and 14 Dove Awards and a list of other prestigious accolades, she is popularly known as the “First Lady of Gospel Music”.

After hearing the voice of God during a college exam, Shirley Caesar believed it was her duty to spread the Gospel. This “calling” has developed into 150 concerts per year, volunteer work for the poor, numerous accolades and over 30 record albums.

Caesar first began singing and performing for family and friends. She first recorded in 1951, at age 12. Her professional adult ‘career’ began in 1957 when she was 19, when she approached Albertina Walker (The queen of Gospel music) about joining The Caravans, one of the most popular gospel groups at that time.

She sang with Albertina Walker, Cassietta George, Dorothy Norwood, Inez Andrews, Delores Washington and James Cleveland while in the Caravans. She recorded and performed with the Caravans from 1958 until 1966. Thereafter she began pursuing a solo career with two albums, entitled My Testimony and I’ll Go, backed up by the Institutional Radio Choir. She made a name for herself in the gospel music circuit, making guest appearances on the Bobby Jones gospel show and other popular television shows. Caesar credits Albertina Walker as her mentor and “Queen of Gospel Music”.

Not surprisingly, Caesar’s singing style also led her to work as an evangelist. In 1983, Caesar married Bishop Harold Ivory Williams and became co-pastor of Mt. Calvary Holy Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and later in Raleigh-Durham. After her elaborate wedding  (there were 140 people in the wedding party) Caesar would pursue the education that was interrupted 25 years earlier. In 1985, Caesar obtained a degree in business management from Shaw University. The degree prompted her to immediately pursue a master of divinity degree at Duke University.

Caesar lives what she preaches. In 1990 she told Jet magazine, “Fifty percent of everything I earn on the road I put back into the community.” Shirley Caesar Outreach Ministries, Inc., which is in her hometown of Durham, North Carolina, serves those in need by providing food, clothing, and emergency funds. During its first year alone, more than 500 families received help. The ministry relies entirely on contributions and income donated by Caesar and Bishop Williams since they are unwilling to rely on public funding as other charities do.

The outreach ministry has greatly affected Caesar’s music. She tackles contemporary issues like drugs, cocaine babies, homeless people, AIDS, teenage mothers, broken marriages, and even cancer in the songs she has written. Many of her songs, for example, “Don’t Drive Your Mother Away,” focus on families. Caesar was close to her mother and family and wanted others to understand the value and need for that kind of bond. Caesar is grateful that her mother was an inspiration, an encourager, and a conscience. By using her gifted voice, Caesar never let her mother down

Between 1981 and 1995, she received seven Dove Awards for Black Gospel Album of the Year for Live at the G.M.W.A., Celebration, Christmasing, Sailin‘, Live In Chicago, Go and Rejoice. She received two Black Gospel Song of the Year Awards for “He’s Working It Out for You” and “Hold My Mule”. She has performed with such performers as Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, Dorothy Norwood, Faith Evans, Dottie Peoples, Arnold Houston, Kim Burrell, John P. Kee, Kirk Franklin, Tonex and Tye Tribbett among others. Shirley Caesar is also an actress. She acted in movies, such as Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998) with Larenz Tate and Little Richard, Fighting Temptations (2003) with Beyoncé and Cuba Gooding Jr. and The Unseen (2005) with Steve Harris. She also acted in 1 TV episode of “Good News” in 1998 as Aunt Shirley.

Caesar was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010.

In May 2016, the National Museum of African American Music honored Caesar with the Rhapsody & Rhythm Award in Nashville, Tennessee in advance of the planned 2018 opening of the historic museum.

According to Soundscan, she has sold 2.2 million albums since 1991. She has made several notable appearances, including the televised Live from Disney World Night of Joy, the Gospel According to VH1, a White House performance for George Bush, and a speech on the Evolution of Gospel Music to the US Treasury Department. In October 2017, Caeser was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Recording Academy. Indeed we can never write off your epic influence in gospel music.

Pastor Caesar’s credits also include a series of commercials for MCI Communications and numerous awards for her recordings. She has won or received

  • 11 Grammy Award
  •  14 Stellar Awards
  • 18 Doves
  • 1 RIAA gold certification
  • 1 Essence Award
  • McDonald’s Golden Circle Lifetime Achievement Award
  • NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award
  • SESAC Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Lifetime Achievement Award from The Recording Academy.
  • Rhapsody & Rhythm Award from the National Museum of African American Music
  • Induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Discography

  •     First Lady (1977)
  •     From The Heart (1978)
  •     Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name (1983)
  •     Salin’ (1984)
  •     Her Very Best (1987)
  •     Live in Chicago (1988)
  •     I Remember Mama (1989)
  •     Go (1990)
  •     He’s Working It Out for You (1991)
  •     Stand Still (1993)
  •     Live…He Will Come (1995)
  •     Just A Word (1996)
  •     A Miracle in Harlem (1997)
  •     Christmas with Shirley Caesar (1998)
  •     You Can Make It (2000)
  •     Hymns (2001)
  •     Greatest Gospel Hits
  •     Shirley Caesar & Friends (2003)
  •     The Gospel Legends (2005)
  •     I Know the Truth (2005)
  •     Still Sweeping Through the City After 40 Years (2008)
  •     A City Called Heaven (2009)
  •     Good God (2013)
  •     Fill This House (2016)

source :-

http://biography.yourdictionary.com/

http:// wikkipidia.com

http://www.epiccenter.com/EpicCenter/docs/artistbio.

http://grammyawards.com

 

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