THE BASICS
Authentic, that is the genre of award-winning songwriter and vocalist J. Phoenix. Every lyric and ever melody comes from some place deep inside his soul leading him to create the type of songs that are cherished for years.

After years of being shunned by major labels, claiming they did not know how to market him, and being told by his publisher, the very people who were to market and sell his music, stated they I didn't know what kind of music he wrote, J. Phoenix knew he had to take control. In the fall of 2007 he brought his music to the people with the independently released, 13-song debut CD, MASTERPIECE.

J. Phoenix says,

Creating Masterpiece has been one of the most empowering acts of my life. Preparing the album reinforced my belief in my music and spoke to my independence.

A best kept secret in the music industry, until now, J. Phoenix is highly disciplined and dedicated to the arts of singing and songwriting. In an effort to be heard, this award-winning songwriter has performed his own music in clubs and at special events, licensed his music for film and television, and had hit makers in pop, jazz, R&B, hip hop and gospel genres record his tunes. But, his ultimate goal is to sing the songs he writes to the masses.

J. Phoenix began his music career, in church, at the age of seven. By the time he reached high school he was winning vocal contests and working with local bands. He was also writing, but doing so secretly. He was in college before the proverbial cat was let out of the bag. People were feeling his songs, but he still considered myself a singer, not a songwriter. The earliest acknowledgment within the industry of his vocal talent came from the late Luther Vandross; and his songwriting talent was recognized by renowned arranger and producer, Mattias Gustaffson, with whom he wrote more than 100 songs.

From those launching pads J. Phoenix, followed the encouragement of his attorney to shop himself as a songwriter, which resulted in consecutive publishing deals with BMG and Zomba. His skill as a songwriter across genres was proven early in his career. In what seemed like lightening speed, J. Phoenix was honored with the ASCAP/Sammy Cahn Award for excellence in lyrics. His song, Adore You, recorded by contemporary gospel group Anointed, was nominated for a Dove Award (Urban Recorded Song of the Year). His ballad, I Fall So Deep, was prominently featured in the film B.A.P.S. Legendary jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson recorded A Fool In Love, and R&B vocalist Joe recorded All That I Am for his platinum-selling album of the same title. Acclaimed European, pop vocalist Gary Barlow recorded I Fall So Deep. Renowned jazz guitarist George Benson recorded Still Waters; and Michelle Wright, a Canadian premiere artist recorded Circle of Life.

Coming of age at the dawn of hip hop, it was only
natural that this genre would soon embrace him. When it did, it was as both singer and songwriter. J. Phoenix is the voice and the writer behind the hook for Thugz Mansion featured on the platinum-selling albums of Tupak Shakur and Nas. .

J. Phoenix songs, and oftentimes his voice, have been heard on television shows in Australia, Great Britain, Canada, Sweden and Taiwan. In the United States his songs have been featured in major motion pictures, such as The Brothers and From Justin to Kelly, and on tell-all television shows such as E! True Hollywood Story, Revealed, Access Hollywood, and Facing Fame. In 2006 J. Phoenix was heard, along with American Idol, Bo Bice, in a commercial campaign for the Monopoly board game.

The J. Phoenix writing style is best described as universal. Every song, whether a love ballad or a mid-tempo, with a socially conscious theme, carries a thought-provoking message. As a writer he is often mentioned in the same breath with Lionel Richie, Bill Withers, James Taylor, and even John Lennon.