Like many of the younger generation gospel artistes, Jonathan McReynolds has been adding a modern touch to his style of music, thereby causing his sound to have a mainstream appeal. He is recognized for an uplifting and emotional Pop and R&B-infused sound.
Jonathan was born on 17 September, 1989 in Chicago, Illinois. He was born to a single mother who was responsible for his upbringing alone. He and his mother got a lot of support and care from family and church members. At eight years, Jonathan already loved musical instruments, he played the piano and before he got to eighteen, he added playing the guitar to his musical instrument knowledge.
Jonathan played instruments in the Youth Choir, he had not much interest in singing ‘I didn’t like singing back then,’ Jonathan confesses. ‘I wasn’t the type of person who was a frontman. I was okay with just playing the organ. I wasn’t ready for that criticism of being out in front, and in the spotlight.’
He was encouraged to use his God-given gift: Singing by his mother. He started to embrace this gift and in 2007, he went to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Popular Music at Columbia College in Chicago. He perfected his vocals, learnt everything that had to do with music production and mastered the piano. He set up a small room where he wrote and recorded songs in between classes. In 2009, Jonathan recorded songs as Christmas gifts for his family and got a good response from them.
He posted his songs on Facebook and somehow they got to John Hannah, a Local Pastor and DJ who aired some of the material on the radio. ‘One morning I woke up to 10 missed calls on my cell phone because one of my songs had just been played on the radio. I called into the radio station and the deejay invited me to his church. I went to the Church and sold a thousand CDs in one day and things took off from there. I literally woke up and was an artiste, he said.
Jonathan’s music is greatly inspired by gospel artistes like: Kim Burrell, Israel Houghton, Stevie Wonder and John Mayer amongst others. ‘Life Music’, ‘Life Music: Stage Two’ and Grammy-nominated ‘Make Room’ are his albums that have been successful over the years. Jonathan is single and keeps his personal life private.
Sources:
Newreleasetoday
Allmusic
Answersafrica
#MaleMinisterMonday
#ChurchGist
Join any of our Telegram Channels.
t.me/ChurchGist
t.me/CGWitness
Leave a comment Here OR any of these platforms:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/therealchurchgist/
Twitter https://twitter.com/therealchurchg1
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEcolEnQjmehziQQPOcHSeA/
YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD_X0B5RIRkgN5m05DS-8eg/
