One on one
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By Tiffany Jackson
The Champ is back, Jason Champion that is, former R&B member of Men at Large and he is ready to open up his heart and pour out God’s words with his first gospel solo project, Reflections. Like the title of his album, Champion reflects back on his life in a recent interview while dining at Dallas’s South Dallas Café. The Cleveland, Ohio native, supporting husband and loving father of two boys takes us on a journey into his world, a world that many can relate with.
Tiffany: Was the transition from singing R&B to gospel difficult?
Champion: Really I didn’t make the transition, a lot times when people are in R&B they say God is calling them so they stop R&B to go and do gospel or in the natural progression of things once you have been saved your life change and you migrate from doing R&B to do gospel.
Tiffany: When did you decide to quit the group Men at Large?
Champion: It was in 1996 when the Lord kind of summoned me to stop doing Men at Large; I didn’t want to quit. It wasn’t my decision to quit but one day God told me that that season of my life was over. After that I had no desire to do music anymore so I went from singing to making $5.35 or $5.45 an hour as a security guard at a nursing home and shortly after that I started working at a place where children could play called Discovery Zone so that was my transition. I didn’t get into music until a lot later.
Tiffany: Were there times during your Men at Large days that you felt like you were ignoring previous signs from God?
Champion: Many people around me and some of the fans would come up during the meet and greets and start saying that it was something different about me although they enjoyed my music. They also said that they didn’t see me doing R&B. One day this scared the mess out of me while we were doing a video and we were in the trailer getting ready for the shoot and I started preaching but I was playing and this man started crying and he said you are not going to be doing Men at Large for long because that is your calling. And I was like man stop playing, stop playing but at that point I knew that it was the Holy Spirit speaking through him and I got scared because I knew he wasn’t just talking, it was almost like the flesh and blood and God revealed himself to me, it was like a revelation. I knew my time was getting shorter and shorter.
Tiffany: Tell me more about the day God spoke to you.
Champion: When God came unto me and spoke to my heart to tell me my time was done it was a sad, sad time because I never wanted to stop.
I was having a blast and there was no sense of something’s missing. Sin is fun but there is a price to pay after all of that is over. I did some things, got into to some things and created some ungodly soul attachments. And, still today I have to pay for some of those things.
Tiffany: I understand that you started singing background and touring with Kirk Franklin in 2005 so why the solo album?
Champion: I was content singing background for Kirk and Kirk pays well so I was able to take care of my family but a friend of mine, the road manager from Men at Large at the time gave me a call and he said hey man you ready to do that record. He used to say that to me all the time back in the day and he also used to say I am going to buy a church and you can come be the preacher so I thought he was just talking so I called his bluff and I said ok I’m ready. I was ready and a few weeks later he called me and said I need you to clear your schedule for a week or two and in that block of time we need to apply that last film and meet with EMI Records. I said ok, cool and I blocked some time and a couple weeks later we did the last roll and met with EMI Gospel. Still at that time I was sitting in the meeting with Bill Heard and Ken Kenneth and I am talking to them and what I was saying was sincere but I didn’t think it would materialize and in the back of my mind I was downplaying it so that I wouldn’t be disappointed but not disappointed because I wanted the deal but disappointed because anytime you receive rejection in any form and you may not even want it, it’s still hard to accept. I have battles and struggles with rejection and low self-esteem so if they would have said no even though it wasn’t something I wanted to do; I would have felt horrible. Three months later Ward Campbell who did the bulk of the record called me while I was in the theater with my family watching Transformers and they asked me to fly out to L.A. I was just sitting there saying wow your life is about to change. I just felt that God was orchestrating my steps. God is faithful; He has opened up the hearts of people to receive me.
Tiffany: Why the title Reflections?
Champion: After looking over the body of our work that God allowed us to create, it was a lot of stuff I had written years ago and the stuff we wrote on the spot; all of these songs had a dramatic introspection. It’s about you and like all music, it is nothing new under the sun but the way God gave it to us at this particular time. It makes you think that this is me. It’s a constant reflection of who I am.
Tiffany: What are some things you struggle with?
Champion: My biggest struggle is trying to maintain a sense of self-confidence but at the same time maintaining a confidence of Christ and not get caught up in the fact that it’s my gift, it’s my talent. I am standing up there singing but it’s not really me, it’s God speaking through me.
Tiffany: How would you describe your sound?
Champion: I don’t fit into any genre. It’s me, I don’t sing or sound like anybody else it’s just good music.
Tiffany: What do you want fans to receive from listening to the album?
Champion: Whenever I sing I ask God to open up the minds and hearts of those listening and let the music minister to them. So many people that claim they go to church or that they are saved are living life in bondage. I want to bring about a change in them like how God went out to heal and help those in need. In my spirit I believe that people are going to be blessed once they listen to this album.
Tiffany: What advice would you give to others interested in getting into the business?
Champion: I would just say don’t chase dreams, chase God. A lot of people have dreams of becoming singers or something that seems glamorous. With your dreams and aspirations you have to work very hard and not have the dream of becoming a singer just because of the fascination of getting on stage. Consider the sacrifices, consider the costs, and consider the price but most of all make sure that it is God who called you or mandated you.
Tiffany: Well, it seems like you have many messages to share, have you ever considered writing a book?
Champion: It is funny that you say that because I enter things into my phone almost like a journal and I recently met a man the other day whose son is a cancer patient and he said that he is a retired journalist. The moment he said that I thought he might be the one to help me, I don’t know.
Tiffany: Champion I believe you have a great road in front of you and I will be waiting to read that book and any other projects God has in store for you, but first when is the release date for Reflections?
Champion: The album is out on May 27th so go get it. Fans can also reach me on www.myspace.com/officaljasonchampion.
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