J. Moss
is a Detroit-based gospel songwriter and record producer.
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Early years
Born and raised in
Detroit, Michigan as
James Moss
, the son of Gospel star
Bill Moss, Sr., James spent much of his childhood on tours with his father's popular group,
Bill Moss and the Celestials
, and his cousin's group
The Clark Sisters. As an early teen, Moss was teamed with his brother Bill Jr. in the singing duo The Moss Brothers. They toured on weekends around the midwest and recorded two major label albums during their seven years together.
In this period James developed as a keyboardist and burgeoning songwriter. He was also learning first-hand the business of music. He attended
Michigan State University for two years, but the desire to write and perform was too strong, and he left to seek a career in music.
Musical career
Beginnings
Upon his return to Detroit, Moss signed with a small local
Christian label Aviday Records
and released two albums to little fanfare. Yet, during this time he became acquainted with Paul Allen and Walter Kearney. The three began working together as
PAJAM. Moss spent the mid-90s touring with
The Clark Sisters and was signed, along with
Karen Clark-Sheard, his cousin, to
Island Records in 1996 to record a solo album.
[1] While a proper release never materialized for Moss before Island Black Music shut its doors,
[2] Clark's became a smash and introduced the Gospel world to the production powerhouse of PAJAM.
The J. Moss Project
Over the next seven years, the
PAJAM team became Gospel music's most prolific hitmakers. However, Moss' desire to perform never went away, and in 2003 he and Allen began writing songs for what would ultimately become
The J. Moss Project
, released in September 2004 on
GospoCentric Records.
Though PAJAM's work has been seen as a revolutionary blend of gospel and hip-hop style,
The J. Moss Project
is a surprisingly traditional affair. The set largely relies on familiar arrangements, and keeps its focus on Moss's clear
tenor voice and strong backing choir vocals. The album made a grand entry with the upbeat lead single "I Wanna Be".
The disc includes a number of upbeat gospel numbers such as "Don't Pray and Worry" and "
Psalm 150". J. Moss' lithe falsetto at times draws comparison to the likes of
Prince and Tonéx on "Livin' 4". There are also several gentle ballads such as "Give You More" and the album's anthemic single "We Must Praise" that display J. Moss' range as a vocalist and songwriter.
V2... The J Moss Project
Finally, on
April 3,
2007, J Moss released his second album
V2... The J Moss Project
through GospoCentric Records. Appearances made by contemporary Gospel group 21:03, Moss's cousin
Kierra "Kiki" Sheard,
Kirk Franklin, his cousin
Karen Clark-Sheard, Marvin Winans of the famed
Winans family,
Byron Cage, and American comedian
Steve Harvey. Three bonus tracks were originally thought to be regular album tracks. The bonus tracks are "Florida", "73 Degress", and "Everybody Ain't Got a Word".
V3: Just James
J. Moss released his third album
V3: Just James
on
August 25,
2009.
[3]
Discography
Albums
- The J. Moss Project
(GospoCentric, 2004)
- V2...The J Moss Project
(GospoCentric, 2007)
- V3...Just James
(GospoCentric, 2009)
Singles
- "Dance" (feat. Kirk Franklin)
- "I Wanna Be"
- "We Must Praise"
- "Psalm 150"
- "Operator"
- "Praise On the Inside"
- "I'm Not Perfect"
- "Abundantly"
- "Restored/I Gave It Up"
See also
References
- Interview With J. Moss: The Y2J (Moss) Factor
- J Moss Interview
- Upcoming New Releases - Subject To Change. New Release Tuesday. Retrieved: June 9, 2009