October 27, 2020 • 22 mins
My next guest Jonathan McReynolds is a GRAMMY-nominated and Stellar Award-winning artist, songwriter, and producer. He is also the founder and CEO of the record label Life Room Label. Jonathan has served as a judge on the last two seasons of BET's hit competition show, "Sunday Best," which wrapped its 10th season this summer and performs on the 51st Annual GMA Dove Awards, which will air on October 30th on TBN. Please welcome to Money Making Conversations Jonathan McReynolds.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome to Money Making Conversations. It's the show that she
has the secrets of success experience firsthand by marketing and
Brandon expert Rashan McDonald. I will know he's giving me
advice on many occasions. In occasion didn't notice, I'm not broke.
You know. He'll be interviewing celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry
decision makers. It's what he likes to do. It's what
he likes to share. Now it's time to hear from
(00:27):
my man, Rashan McDonald money Making Conversations Here we come.
Welcome to Money Making Conversation. I am your host, rus
Sean McDonald. I recognize that we all have different definitions
of success. For Saw and Sercizable paycheck, Mine is helping
people wake up and inspiring them to accomplish their goals
and live their very best life. These are my passions
(00:47):
and that's what I'm going to do for you. By
inviting people on the show that can share a story
that can uplift you, motivate you, make your dreams come true.
With the right planning, I want you to stop tripping
over small challenges and prepare to rise above the bigger
obstacles that life will present to you. My next guest,
Jonathan McReynolds is a Grammy nominated and Stellar Award winning artists, songwriter,
(01:08):
and producer. He is also the founder and CEO of
the record label Life Room Label. Jonathan has served as
a judge on the last two seasons the BTS hit
competition show Sunday's Best, which wrapped his tenth season. This summer,
is performing on the and he's also performing on the
fifty one annual gm A Dove Awards, which were on
(01:29):
October on tv N. Please welcome to Money Making Conversation,
my man, Jonathan McReynolds. How are you doing pretty good? Hey? Jonathan?
For Steve Harvey. Now, for many years, man, we did
celebration of gospel and BT, and we saw the evolution
of gospel music. Uh, I like to believe you know that,
(01:51):
uh that became and I don't want to use this wrong.
You know how the star power of gospel music grew
and grew. And am I saying that name correctly? Because
I felt that with social media, you guys became uh
venue acts, arena acts, and where you were initially was
(02:14):
just regulated to church church venues and so and it
was it was amazing watching that because of the fact
that you know, people will come in and and direct
carpets and all that, and it was it was how
is your role in watching that growth? What changes have
you seen? What do you think it has been the music,
(02:35):
the style of music, or social media that has led
to that tremendous growth in the brand of gospel music
that we're here today. Well, now, I think it starts
off with just the music. Man. When you have you know,
the Kirk Franklins of the world that you know, they
have released music that you know, might have started in
the church and might have been you know, meant for
(02:58):
you know, gospel music listen us, but they crossed over
and became you know, big songs, just you know, not yet.
Marvin Stapp never would have made it. Elona Adams over
to my Heart, I need you now, I'm smoking North,
all of that stuff. But Mary Job, come on, man,
don't don't do it like that this early an interview,
(03:20):
an interview never would have made it. Man made Yeah,
all those songs. Uh, they really just created a bigger
platform for our generation. Uh So now we're not even
just looking at Okay, you know what Sunday service. Can
we sing it? No, we are. We're thinking of Hey,
(03:40):
you know, we can go into these big venues, theaters,
we can do club tours. It doesn't matter where we are.
We bring the same thing. We're gonna bring the same atmosphere,
the same music. It doesn't matter where we are. But
when we go to these different places, Uh, it allows
people whether they were in church every Sunday or visit
just don't still in Mother's Day or they haven't been
(04:02):
to church in teen years, they all come to hit
the music. And so it's just been really an amazing
time to live in and do gospel because, yeah, the
platform and what we can do with this music is
absolutely bigger. And I had the credit you know those
incredible artists that I just mentioned, and Mary Mary and
many more. Uh that really just you know, changed the
(04:22):
game for us. You know, it's really all those names
very familiar with it. I know that I'm from Houston, Texas,
and Kirk Franklin is from from Dallas for Worth area.
And I remember when his first hit Talk came out,
which he celebrated anniversary on recently. Um then that changed,
you know. I remember I was doing a comedy concert,
(04:42):
Steve was headlined. We sold out the music hall and
j Anthony Brown was on this show and I played
that song right before we started our comedy show, Why
are We sing? Why are We seeing? And uh, and
it was just a breakthrough song. And you know, Mary
and Mary, you know, uh change Shackles on your Feet
was a dance floor hit, you know. And then Kirk
(05:03):
Franklin came back with Stump that was a dance floor hit.
And so all this music, you know, we're in a
club drinking and for negling, but we're out there dancing,
and I like to believe soaking in the word but
also dancing to the word. And that's that to me,
was really a strong transition because you know, nothing negative.
(05:24):
But you know, up to that point, gospel music wasn't
perceived as a social music. It was perceived as church music.
And when they started, when I do give a lot
of credit to Kirk because he transitioned and made it
a crossover hit, a phenomenal hit, not just a baby hit.
(05:44):
Phenomenal hit. And God's Property was out there doing things
and touring on doing plays and all those good things.
So but when I look at your talents today, Jonathan,
because social media plays a big role in who you are,
tell us how you use it, because it creates a
lane independence for you that ten years ago was not available. Yeah,
(06:05):
I think that's the big ship that we're seeing. Even
though labels are still important and are still relevant, and
you know, we're blessed, you know that labels have much
bigger pocice than we normally would have because when we
were starting off, uh, you know, social media still gives
us that opportunity to reach directly to you know, the crowd,
directly to fans, directly to people, directly directly to other
(06:27):
believers and even pastors and everything. They can see what
we're doing, what we're releasing, what we're working on, even
if they haven't seen the official promotion you know from
the label that they haven't heard the official radio single yet,
they can still see, you know, kind of firsthand what
we are and what we're working on. And so I
think social media definitely allows us to do more. You know,
(06:52):
even back in you know, Kirk Franklin, you know when
he was changing the game. You know, it was pretty
simple then, it was kind of when not simple, but
it's kind of straightforward, you know, you re Lisa record. Uh,
you know, it gets on the radio whatever. You know,
hopefully it hits and gets the number one on the
radio chart and then maybe we'll do some gigs around it.
(07:13):
But now, I mean, there's so much more we can do.
We got you know, we can uh we can do tours,
we can do contests, we can do uh hashtags and
just have you know, trendy things. I was actually nominated
for a Grammy for a song that wasn't even a single,
but because it had such a viral uh nature to it.
(07:33):
And I mean people all the way from you know,
pop stars and Disney and you know, Escape and all
these other people, they were singing this song, singing this
run and it was it became so viral that it
actually had impact on the Grammy, even more so than
the radio single that went number one. And so it's
(07:53):
just a different day where you have there's there's less rules, uh,
And the whole point is just to make something that
really speaks to the people, speaks to the culture, and
you'll win. Now you're doing your latest singing moving on
featuring Malley music. That's my man, That's that's my man.
Right now, how did you guys get together on this single.
(08:15):
Hey man, Honestly, we've known each other for a very
long time. I've had to remind him that a long
time ago, I used to sing with a group uh
five guys. It was like, it's like, uh wait, wait,
wait wait singing with a group. WI what were y'all doing?
That sound like? Right? That's how like new addition right there?
That's how like new addition for gospel? Close? It was close.
(08:41):
We had some of the same moves sometimes there you go.
But we were singing. We were singing gospel, and he
actually was doing a concert and we were we were
we were like opening for him at his concert. He
actually pointed me out during his set. He pointed me out,
and he played for me, like in front of everybody.
And you know, I think from then on, um God
(09:04):
was obviously speaking to him and letting them know that
he's gonna do something special with me, even outside that group.
And sure enough, ten years later, man, we're working together.
I mean, that's my friends throughout, and we decided it's
about time that we actually did something together, and uh,
moving on is our baby, man. So I'm just really
proud of it. Bro. Yeah, I'm gonna dropped that because
(09:24):
I hit him on the show Man fell in Love
What to Do Man? And I like to believe that
he impacted me and I impacted him. That's why I
found it money making conversations, to be able to talk
to the behind the scenes concepts of why people are
great and then share those values on my show and
hopefully inspired people to see that they can do it too.
And so when I look at you, you know you
(09:44):
know you gospel now you you've been on TV. How
has the impact of being a judge because I've been
on Sunday's Best because that's a tricky roll the plate
because you have to be constructive but not what they
say damaging the people and they're getting them to the
(10:05):
next level. How had do you did? One season? What did?
What did you do? Did you make any changes to
your style of second season? Jonathan? Nah? You know, now,
I would say that this second season, Uh, they showed
a lot more of our deliberation and so people really
got a little more mad than normal than the first time.
(10:26):
But yeah, I think that I've actually enjoyed it, you
know it kind of I always love special things that
that kind of bring you outside of just the normal,
you know, recording and performing. So I really enjoyed it. Man, honestly,
you know, you just have to at the end of
the day, Uh let it out at the end of
the day, the case sing, you have to tell about
(10:46):
it at the end of the day, you know, and
that you can. As I was talking to Jesse Collins
who was the producer, Jess, yeah, he was just like, man,
gospel fans are the hardest fans ever. I mean, you
you would think that these people couldn't sing if you
look at Twitter, you know what I'm saying, And they
are great. You know, They're just not everybody's favorite. And
(11:08):
so at the end of the day, we no matter
how hard the judges are, regular people they probably can't sing,
are still gonna be even harder. And so I think, uh,
they all are a lot of the concessions. You know,
I can still talk to They still d n me
from time to time, They still fill me in, still
ask me for advice and help on certain things. So
I think, you know, it's all love. They understand you
(11:30):
know that, you know, we have to be critical, but
we just wanted to make them better. And over the
time you see how they become not just singers, because
church is full of singers. But as you were talking about,
because the industry that general has expanded so much because
of people like Kirk and Marvin and Mary, Mary and
yourself and yourself, you know, I cannot do now, you know,
(11:53):
play down what you do, okay, because if you're play
an important role because of the fact that you are
decision maker, you're defining people's careers and and also people's voices.
And then when it comes to gospel in music, the
problem that church people because I was I've done children
with Steve Harman. Now we did a tour with Kurt Franklin,
and I went out there and they were telling me
(12:15):
you need a you need to market on church radio station.
I go, that's where the church people at. And I
wasn't selling no tickets. I was. I was on all
the church of quote unquote church radio stations. When I
went back to R and B stations, Jonathan, I started
selling tickets. So that lets me know that you can't
define that audience. You can't sometimes you can't even locate
(12:35):
that audience because they all have values that that that
that can can can mislead you into saying this is
where they're at. And so when you're dealing with church
church songs, you know, just because they can't sing, people
feel their church music. You know, that might be tied
to a happy moment or a dark moment in their life,
or somebody wasn't sick. And so so when they hear
(12:57):
somebody singing it and in their minds when they heard it,
that's what's gonna stay with them forever. And so that's
why they're so hard when it comes to church music,
because church music is different. I can I can hear
a different version of a Marvin Gay song, and I'm
cool with it both. Yeah, come on now, but don't
but don't mess up my church. Come on, come on,
(13:19):
come on, come on now, come on. And that I mean,
that's a good point, absolutely, and that that's why that's
why when I look at you, man, I mean, I'll
be checking you out, man, because you know, my boy
Curt and everybody and Jesse's doing the production over that BT.
I've always been a big fan of what they're doing
for the Gospel Lane because of the fact that you know,
we all know that these type of shows aren't always
(13:40):
the best both watch shows, but they need it. Man,
They're necessary because they feel a vore and they also
allow us to share in a I call the good
food eaven. Good food. You always want to do a
good food for your soul, and that's what good church
gospel shows are. And so with with you being a judge,
has it helped your brand? From a social standpoint or
(14:01):
from a marketing standpoint? You're walking into airports, people recognize
you're going to see say my man J Jay. Oh yeah,
I mean it's great because you know, honestly, because of
the way my music is. And honestly, you you're saying that,
you know, back in the day or back when you
guys are touring with Kurt, you know, you would see
(14:24):
that the church folks and people I wanted to come
to the concerts sometimes they're listening to the R and
B stations even even it's even more spread out now
you think you kind of knew, you don't. You can't
even track Black people now run all over the place,
you know what I'm saying. So so you know, bringing
you know, when you when you get to do the
(14:44):
type of music that I do. And I've been actually
touring clubs and venues. I haven't toured a church in
a very long time, you know, as far as um,
you know, just going from from church to church. So
the thing is we have to we get to find
people in different places. But Bet Sunday Best that was
still kind of a hub for a different generation, like
(15:04):
maybe an older generation, people that you know, before everything
got all chaotic, you know, before before we started spreading out,
and and you know, our generation, we we barely went
to church growing up, you know what I'm saying. But
the generation that really did um, you know, they're still
watching Sunday Best. And those of the UH, they'll they'll
they'll they'll call me young Buck in the middle of
(15:26):
you know, the airport, young Buck, because that's what Kirk
calls me. I know that, I know that's where they
got it, you know, and they watch. I love Kirk
Franklinan he could do no wrong with me. Man. That
brother man is so special to me. And you know,
I the thirteen years we did UH celebration the gospel
that bread that Steve's Harvey is so deep in the
(15:46):
black community. So I know how loyal black people are.
And so you're getting a base, Jonathan that is loyal
for you will follow you to your grave and pray
for you when you're sick, and sell a brate you
your success. And that's what you really want when you're
talking about your brand and building your brand. And then
from an educational standpoint, you have a master's and what now?
(16:09):
What's your masters in difficult Studies? Yeah? And and and
so you're professor at Columbia College. Tell me how are
you marrying all these different lanes and and and still
be a good looking guy? You know, because in the end,
you're still a good looking guy. Man, let's gonna be real. Now,
you're good looking guy. Not a lot of things going
on in your life, now, you know, how are you
(16:31):
juggling all these balls up there? It's definitely juggle, definitely tough.
So but I love it, man, me as I grow stronger, yes, sir,
because I mean it's crazy. Man. I love all those lanes, man,
I love I love the different looks, you know. I
love being a jun professor at Columbia. That's one Actually,
that's probably one of the favorite parts of my life.
(16:52):
I took off of this semesters of a tour, but uh,
you know that's really um. One of my favorite things
do is to just a a matter of fact, I've had
to choose between singing and teaching. Unless the Lord told
me something different, I probably would choose teaching. So it's
just really uh, you know, one of my favorite parts.
And you know all of that, Man, it keeps me,
you know, uh, it keeps you. You know the Bible
(17:16):
and Ecclesiastics that says invest in seven ventures even eight
because you don't know what disaster will come upon the land.
Basically you don't know which one of these things are
gonna succeed, you know what I'm saying, So don't don't
put all your eggs in one basking. So I really appreciate,
you know, just kind of diversifying, not just with money,
but just with my enjoyment in life and my fulfillment
(17:38):
that it doesn't always have to all come from music
and singing. There's something that comes from teaching. There's something
that comes from my nonprofit, which is the laz Nation,
which is really even more teaching just about wisdom and
more spiritual things. Uh, those are the things that really
keep me fulfilled. Um, and you know diversifies my life. Well,
you know, first of all, you know us in the
(18:00):
game out of thirty tho dollars in scholarship. We're gonna
go there, but there's non properly. Listen, let's tell everybody
what he does. He speaks it and he does it
at the same time. But you have an up comic
performance coming up in the fifty first Annual Double Awards.
Tell us about that. It's October thirty on TB And
another big branding moment for you when when I talk
about money man conversation, it's about branding, it's about marketing.
(18:21):
It's about doing the things to keep your platform moving forward.
You have great relationships with a man music you got,
you know Kurt Franklin, you know, you're you're you're teaching
in college, you're touring in clubs. You have two back
to back season on Sunday Bess and now you have
the Double Awards. That really it's what you what you're
trying to do. You're trying to be a model for success.
(18:45):
Does that sounds good when you've listed like that? Thank you? Well.
Remember I'll just repeating when I know about you and
I brought you on the show because you got it
going on. When I started saying and that's what I
wanted people understand is that sometimes people are pigeonhole. You, Oh,
you can't do this. You're only supposed to do this.
And I say to anybody, if you're there twenty four
hours in a day, learn to take advantage of each hour.
(19:06):
That's what I tell people. So, now, if you're struggling
saying I'm not a morning person, there are people out
there who get up in the morning and do things
while are you sleeping. And that's the type of person
I see you as. Jonathan. Your person is saying God
has given me the ability to wake myself up, breathe,
and move forward physically with no restraints. You know, I'm
not I'm gonna say. I'm gonna say I'm not. I'm
(19:28):
not always a morning person, but I'm definitely i'll stay
up all night until it's done person too. So well,
you know what you gotta if you put, if you
push it morning before you get up, you gotta get
some sleep to get back up. So I ain't gonna
get mad at you're donating. So so tell us about
the TV and experience that you're gonna do with the
(19:48):
Dove Awards on October thirties. Yeah, man, I'm excited about it. Man.
You know, Jim has always supported me, and my music
gets kind of a platform that uh, you know, it
is best to kind of diversify the the Christian music experience.
I mean, we got some stuff over in gospel, but
you know that CCM, there's that worship music. Uh, that's
(20:10):
hip hop. You know, there's bluegrass. You know what I'm saying.
There's a whole bunch that that falls under Jesus music.
And so they do they do what they can to
kind of show and platform all those different things. And
so I'm honored man that they that they brought me
on the show. Uh. It's proven to be a real good,
um meeting ground for a lot of different cultures, especially
(20:33):
in these crazy times uh times of protests and you know,
just kind of racial tension and all the other stuff.
It's been a really good platform to kind of talk
about things, uh from a like minded space, you know, saying,
but brings us together at the very least as Jesus,
you know. So, uh, we have been able to have
real good conversations. And then yeah, I'm gonna sing and
(20:56):
it's gonna be really dope. I like the way that
they're positioning the whole old thing. It's really just tell
the story of of of racial tension and unity, but
how the church to do something about it. I tell
you I just had Lacuix on the show. We talked
about them about Travis Green has been on the show.
Mardin music. We just talked about. He's doing the song
the single with You that's moving on, there's out now.
(21:19):
And now Jonathan mc reynolds, I'm gonna thank you for
coming on the show. Man, Grammy nominative, Steller war winning
all this songwriter, producer, you know, all around. Uh, he
got twenty four hours a day. And I'll tell you
this young man. He may not be a morning person,
but when he goes to sleep, he's tired. And just
let you know he ted definitely tired. Hey, John, thanks
(21:39):
for coming on the show. But I thank for coming
on show. I'll be a good time man. I know
it's the first time we've interviewed you on the show.
I always know these doors are open, man, when people
come on the show. Man, I put your brand out
that brother, with social media, newsletters, all kinds of things,
because your brand needs to be recognized as a true
success story. My friend. Okay, thank you, man, I can
tell you a really good brother Thank you so much
(22:00):
man you talked to appreciate you. We talked toon my
friend alright. If we want to have more money Making
Conversation interviews, please go to money Making Conversation dot com.
I'm ra Sean McDonald. I'm your host, Coop
Welcome to Money Making Conversations. It's the show that she
has the secrets of success experience firsthand by marketing and
Brandon expert Rashan McDonald. I will know he's giving me
advice on many occasions. In occasion didn't notice, I'm not broke.
You know. He'll be interviewing celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry
decision makers. It's what he likes to do. It's what
he likes to share. Now it's time to hear from
(00:27):
my man, Rashan McDonald money Making Conversations Here we come.
Welcome to Money Making Conversation. I am your host, rus
Sean McDonald. I recognize that we all have different definitions
of success. For Saw and Sercizable paycheck, Mine is helping
people wake up and inspiring them to accomplish their goals
and live their very best life. These are my passions
(00:47):
and that's what I'm going to do for you. By
inviting people on the show that can share a story
that can uplift you, motivate you, make your dreams come true.
With the right planning, I want you to stop tripping
over small challenges and prepare to rise above the bigger
obstacles that life will present to you. My next guest,
Jonathan McReynolds is a Grammy nominated and Stellar Award winning artists, songwriter,
(01:08):
and producer. He is also the founder and CEO of
the record label Life Room Label. Jonathan has served as
a judge on the last two seasons the BTS hit
competition show Sunday's Best, which wrapped his tenth season. This summer,
is performing on the and he's also performing on the
fifty one annual gm A Dove Awards, which were on
(01:29):
October on tv N. Please welcome to Money Making Conversation,
my man, Jonathan McReynolds. How are you doing pretty good? Hey? Jonathan?
For Steve Harvey. Now, for many years, man, we did
celebration of gospel and BT, and we saw the evolution
of gospel music. Uh, I like to believe you know that,
(01:51):
uh that became and I don't want to use this wrong.
You know how the star power of gospel music grew
and grew. And am I saying that name correctly? Because
I felt that with social media, you guys became uh
venue acts, arena acts, and where you were initially was
(02:14):
just regulated to church church venues and so and it
was it was amazing watching that because of the fact
that you know, people will come in and and direct
carpets and all that, and it was it was how
is your role in watching that growth? What changes have
you seen? What do you think it has been the music,
(02:35):
the style of music, or social media that has led
to that tremendous growth in the brand of gospel music
that we're here today. Well, now, I think it starts
off with just the music. Man. When you have you know,
the Kirk Franklins of the world that you know, they
have released music that you know, might have started in
the church and might have been you know, meant for
(02:58):
you know, gospel music listen us, but they crossed over
and became you know, big songs, just you know, not yet.
Marvin Stapp never would have made it. Elona Adams over
to my Heart, I need you now, I'm smoking North,
all of that stuff. But Mary Job, come on, man,
don't don't do it like that this early an interview,
(03:20):
an interview never would have made it. Man made Yeah,
all those songs. Uh, they really just created a bigger
platform for our generation. Uh So now we're not even
just looking at Okay, you know what Sunday service. Can
we sing it? No, we are. We're thinking of Hey,
(03:40):
you know, we can go into these big venues, theaters,
we can do club tours. It doesn't matter where we are.
We bring the same thing. We're gonna bring the same atmosphere,
the same music. It doesn't matter where we are. But
when we go to these different places, Uh, it allows
people whether they were in church every Sunday or visit
just don't still in Mother's Day or they haven't been
(04:02):
to church in teen years, they all come to hit
the music. And so it's just been really an amazing
time to live in and do gospel because, yeah, the
platform and what we can do with this music is
absolutely bigger. And I had the credit you know those
incredible artists that I just mentioned, and Mary Mary and
many more. Uh that really just you know, changed the
(04:22):
game for us. You know, it's really all those names
very familiar with it. I know that I'm from Houston, Texas,
and Kirk Franklin is from from Dallas for Worth area.
And I remember when his first hit Talk came out,
which he celebrated anniversary on recently. Um then that changed,
you know. I remember I was doing a comedy concert,
(04:42):
Steve was headlined. We sold out the music hall and
j Anthony Brown was on this show and I played
that song right before we started our comedy show, Why
are We sing? Why are We seeing? And uh, and
it was just a breakthrough song. And you know, Mary
and Mary, you know, uh change Shackles on your Feet
was a dance floor hit, you know. And then Kirk
(05:03):
Franklin came back with Stump that was a dance floor hit.
And so all this music, you know, we're in a
club drinking and for negling, but we're out there dancing,
and I like to believe soaking in the word but
also dancing to the word. And that's that to me,
was really a strong transition because you know, nothing negative.
(05:24):
But you know, up to that point, gospel music wasn't
perceived as a social music. It was perceived as church music.
And when they started, when I do give a lot
of credit to Kirk because he transitioned and made it
a crossover hit, a phenomenal hit, not just a baby hit.
(05:44):
Phenomenal hit. And God's Property was out there doing things
and touring on doing plays and all those good things.
So but when I look at your talents today, Jonathan,
because social media plays a big role in who you are,
tell us how you use it, because it creates a
lane independence for you that ten years ago was not available. Yeah,
(06:05):
I think that's the big ship that we're seeing. Even
though labels are still important and are still relevant, and
you know, we're blessed, you know that labels have much
bigger pocice than we normally would have because when we
were starting off, uh, you know, social media still gives
us that opportunity to reach directly to you know, the crowd,
directly to fans, directly to people, directly directly to other
(06:27):
believers and even pastors and everything. They can see what
we're doing, what we're releasing, what we're working on, even
if they haven't seen the official promotion you know from
the label that they haven't heard the official radio single yet,
they can still see, you know, kind of firsthand what
we are and what we're working on. And so I
think social media definitely allows us to do more. You know,
(06:52):
even back in you know, Kirk Franklin, you know when
he was changing the game. You know, it was pretty
simple then, it was kind of when not simple, but
it's kind of straightforward, you know, you re Lisa record. Uh,
you know, it gets on the radio whatever. You know,
hopefully it hits and gets the number one on the
radio chart and then maybe we'll do some gigs around it.
(07:13):
But now, I mean, there's so much more we can do.
We got you know, we can uh we can do tours,
we can do contests, we can do uh hashtags and
just have you know, trendy things. I was actually nominated
for a Grammy for a song that wasn't even a single,
but because it had such a viral uh nature to it.
(07:33):
And I mean people all the way from you know,
pop stars and Disney and you know, Escape and all
these other people, they were singing this song, singing this
run and it was it became so viral that it
actually had impact on the Grammy, even more so than
the radio single that went number one. And so it's
(07:53):
just a different day where you have there's there's less rules, uh,
And the whole point is just to make something that
really speaks to the people, speaks to the culture, and
you'll win. Now you're doing your latest singing moving on
featuring Malley music. That's my man, That's that's my man.
Right now, how did you guys get together on this single.
(08:15):
Hey man, Honestly, we've known each other for a very
long time. I've had to remind him that a long
time ago, I used to sing with a group uh
five guys. It was like, it's like, uh wait, wait,
wait wait singing with a group. WI what were y'all doing?
That sound like? Right? That's how like new addition right there?
That's how like new addition for gospel? Close? It was close.
(08:41):
We had some of the same moves sometimes there you go.
But we were singing. We were singing gospel, and he
actually was doing a concert and we were we were
we were like opening for him at his concert. He
actually pointed me out during his set. He pointed me out,
and he played for me, like in front of everybody.
And you know, I think from then on, um God
(09:04):
was obviously speaking to him and letting them know that
he's gonna do something special with me, even outside that group.
And sure enough, ten years later, man, we're working together.
I mean, that's my friends throughout, and we decided it's
about time that we actually did something together, and uh,
moving on is our baby, man. So I'm just really
proud of it. Bro. Yeah, I'm gonna dropped that because
(09:24):
I hit him on the show Man fell in Love
What to Do Man? And I like to believe that
he impacted me and I impacted him. That's why I
found it money making conversations, to be able to talk
to the behind the scenes concepts of why people are
great and then share those values on my show and
hopefully inspired people to see that they can do it too.
And so when I look at you, you know you
(09:44):
know you gospel now you you've been on TV. How
has the impact of being a judge because I've been
on Sunday's Best because that's a tricky roll the plate
because you have to be constructive but not what they
say damaging the people and they're getting them to the
(10:05):
next level. How had do you did? One season? What did?
What did you do? Did you make any changes to
your style of second season? Jonathan? Nah? You know, now,
I would say that this second season, Uh, they showed
a lot more of our deliberation and so people really
got a little more mad than normal than the first time.
(10:26):
But yeah, I think that I've actually enjoyed it, you
know it kind of I always love special things that
that kind of bring you outside of just the normal,
you know, recording and performing. So I really enjoyed it. Man, honestly,
you know, you just have to at the end of
the day, Uh let it out at the end of
the day, the case sing, you have to tell about
(10:46):
it at the end of the day, you know, and
that you can. As I was talking to Jesse Collins
who was the producer, Jess, yeah, he was just like, man,
gospel fans are the hardest fans ever. I mean, you
you would think that these people couldn't sing if you
look at Twitter, you know what I'm saying, And they
are great. You know, They're just not everybody's favorite. And
(11:08):
so at the end of the day, we no matter
how hard the judges are, regular people they probably can't sing,
are still gonna be even harder. And so I think, uh,
they all are a lot of the concessions. You know,
I can still talk to They still d n me
from time to time, They still fill me in, still
ask me for advice and help on certain things. So
I think, you know, it's all love. They understand you
(11:30):
know that, you know, we have to be critical, but
we just wanted to make them better. And over the
time you see how they become not just singers, because
church is full of singers. But as you were talking about,
because the industry that general has expanded so much because
of people like Kirk and Marvin and Mary, Mary and
yourself and yourself, you know, I cannot do now, you know,
(11:53):
play down what you do, okay, because if you're play
an important role because of the fact that you are
decision maker, you're defining people's careers and and also people's voices.
And then when it comes to gospel in music, the
problem that church people because I was I've done children
with Steve Harman. Now we did a tour with Kurt Franklin,
and I went out there and they were telling me
(12:15):
you need a you need to market on church radio station.
I go, that's where the church people at. And I
wasn't selling no tickets. I was. I was on all
the church of quote unquote church radio stations. When I
went back to R and B stations, Jonathan, I started
selling tickets. So that lets me know that you can't
define that audience. You can't sometimes you can't even locate
(12:35):
that audience because they all have values that that that
that can can can mislead you into saying this is
where they're at. And so when you're dealing with church
church songs, you know, just because they can't sing, people
feel their church music. You know, that might be tied
to a happy moment or a dark moment in their life,
or somebody wasn't sick. And so so when they hear
(12:57):
somebody singing it and in their minds when they heard it,
that's what's gonna stay with them forever. And so that's
why they're so hard when it comes to church music,
because church music is different. I can I can hear
a different version of a Marvin Gay song, and I'm
cool with it both. Yeah, come on now, but don't
but don't mess up my church. Come on, come on,
(13:19):
come on, come on now, come on. And that I mean,
that's a good point, absolutely, and that that's why that's
why when I look at you, man, I mean, I'll
be checking you out, man, because you know, my boy
Curt and everybody and Jesse's doing the production over that BT.
I've always been a big fan of what they're doing
for the Gospel Lane because of the fact that you know,
we all know that these type of shows aren't always
(13:40):
the best both watch shows, but they need it. Man,
They're necessary because they feel a vore and they also
allow us to share in a I call the good
food eaven. Good food. You always want to do a
good food for your soul, and that's what good church
gospel shows are. And so with with you being a judge,
has it helped your brand? From a social standpoint or
(14:01):
from a marketing standpoint? You're walking into airports, people recognize
you're going to see say my man J Jay. Oh yeah,
I mean it's great because you know, honestly, because of
the way my music is. And honestly, you you're saying that,
you know, back in the day or back when you
guys are touring with Kurt, you know, you would see
(14:24):
that the church folks and people I wanted to come
to the concerts sometimes they're listening to the R and
B stations even even it's even more spread out now
you think you kind of knew, you don't. You can't
even track Black people now run all over the place,
you know what I'm saying. So so you know, bringing
you know, when you when you get to do the
(14:44):
type of music that I do. And I've been actually
touring clubs and venues. I haven't toured a church in
a very long time, you know, as far as um,
you know, just going from from church to church. So
the thing is we have to we get to find
people in different places. But Bet Sunday Best that was
still kind of a hub for a different generation, like
(15:04):
maybe an older generation, people that you know, before everything
got all chaotic, you know, before before we started spreading out,
and and you know, our generation, we we barely went
to church growing up, you know what I'm saying. But
the generation that really did um, you know, they're still
watching Sunday Best. And those of the UH, they'll they'll
they'll they'll call me young Buck in the middle of
(15:26):
you know, the airport, young Buck, because that's what Kirk
calls me. I know that, I know that's where they
got it, you know, and they watch. I love Kirk
Franklinan he could do no wrong with me. Man. That
brother man is so special to me. And you know,
I the thirteen years we did UH celebration the gospel
that bread that Steve's Harvey is so deep in the
(15:46):
black community. So I know how loyal black people are.
And so you're getting a base, Jonathan that is loyal
for you will follow you to your grave and pray
for you when you're sick, and sell a brate you
your success. And that's what you really want when you're
talking about your brand and building your brand. And then
from an educational standpoint, you have a master's and what now?
(16:09):
What's your masters in difficult Studies? Yeah? And and and
so you're professor at Columbia College. Tell me how are
you marrying all these different lanes and and and still
be a good looking guy? You know, because in the end,
you're still a good looking guy. Man, let's gonna be real. Now,
you're good looking guy. Not a lot of things going
on in your life, now, you know, how are you
(16:31):
juggling all these balls up there? It's definitely juggle, definitely tough.
So but I love it, man, me as I grow stronger, yes, sir,
because I mean it's crazy. Man. I love all those lanes, man,
I love I love the different looks, you know. I
love being a jun professor at Columbia. That's one Actually,
that's probably one of the favorite parts of my life.
(16:52):
I took off of this semesters of a tour, but uh,
you know that's really um. One of my favorite things
do is to just a a matter of fact, I've had
to choose between singing and teaching. Unless the Lord told
me something different, I probably would choose teaching. So it's
just really uh, you know, one of my favorite parts.
And you know all of that, Man, it keeps me,
you know, uh, it keeps you. You know the Bible
(17:16):
and Ecclesiastics that says invest in seven ventures even eight
because you don't know what disaster will come upon the land.
Basically you don't know which one of these things are
gonna succeed, you know what I'm saying, So don't don't
put all your eggs in one basking. So I really appreciate,
you know, just kind of diversifying, not just with money,
but just with my enjoyment in life and my fulfillment
(17:38):
that it doesn't always have to all come from music
and singing. There's something that comes from teaching. There's something
that comes from my nonprofit, which is the laz Nation,
which is really even more teaching just about wisdom and
more spiritual things. Uh, those are the things that really
keep me fulfilled. Um, and you know diversifies my life. Well,
you know, first of all, you know us in the
(18:00):
game out of thirty tho dollars in scholarship. We're gonna
go there, but there's non properly. Listen, let's tell everybody
what he does. He speaks it and he does it
at the same time. But you have an up comic
performance coming up in the fifty first Annual Double Awards.
Tell us about that. It's October thirty on TB And
another big branding moment for you when when I talk
about money man conversation, it's about branding, it's about marketing.
(18:21):
It's about doing the things to keep your platform moving forward.
You have great relationships with a man music you got,
you know Kurt Franklin, you know, you're you're you're teaching
in college, you're touring in clubs. You have two back
to back season on Sunday Bess and now you have
the Double Awards. That really it's what you what you're
trying to do. You're trying to be a model for success.
(18:45):
Does that sounds good when you've listed like that? Thank you? Well.
Remember I'll just repeating when I know about you and
I brought you on the show because you got it
going on. When I started saying and that's what I
wanted people understand is that sometimes people are pigeonhole. You, Oh,
you can't do this. You're only supposed to do this.
And I say to anybody, if you're there twenty four
hours in a day, learn to take advantage of each hour.
(19:06):
That's what I tell people. So, now, if you're struggling
saying I'm not a morning person, there are people out
there who get up in the morning and do things
while are you sleeping. And that's the type of person
I see you as. Jonathan. Your person is saying God
has given me the ability to wake myself up, breathe,
and move forward physically with no restraints. You know, I'm
not I'm gonna say. I'm gonna say I'm not. I'm
(19:28):
not always a morning person, but I'm definitely i'll stay
up all night until it's done person too. So well,
you know what you gotta if you put, if you
push it morning before you get up, you gotta get
some sleep to get back up. So I ain't gonna
get mad at you're donating. So so tell us about
the TV and experience that you're gonna do with the
(19:48):
Dove Awards on October thirties. Yeah, man, I'm excited about it. Man.
You know, Jim has always supported me, and my music
gets kind of a platform that uh, you know, it
is best to kind of diversify the the Christian music experience.
I mean, we got some stuff over in gospel, but
you know that CCM, there's that worship music. Uh, that's
(20:10):
hip hop. You know, there's bluegrass. You know what I'm saying.
There's a whole bunch that that falls under Jesus music.
And so they do they do what they can to
kind of show and platform all those different things. And
so I'm honored man that they that they brought me
on the show. Uh. It's proven to be a real good,
um meeting ground for a lot of different cultures, especially
(20:33):
in these crazy times uh times of protests and you know,
just kind of racial tension and all the other stuff.
It's been a really good platform to kind of talk
about things, uh from a like minded space, you know, saying,
but brings us together at the very least as Jesus,
you know. So, uh, we have been able to have
real good conversations. And then yeah, I'm gonna sing and
(20:56):
it's gonna be really dope. I like the way that
they're positioning the whole old thing. It's really just tell
the story of of of racial tension and unity, but
how the church to do something about it. I tell
you I just had Lacuix on the show. We talked
about them about Travis Green has been on the show.
Mardin music. We just talked about. He's doing the song
the single with You that's moving on, there's out now.
(21:19):
And now Jonathan mc reynolds, I'm gonna thank you for
coming on the show. Man, Grammy nominative, Steller war winning
all this songwriter, producer, you know, all around. Uh, he
got twenty four hours a day. And I'll tell you
this young man. He may not be a morning person,
but when he goes to sleep, he's tired. And just
let you know he ted definitely tired. Hey, John, thanks
(21:39):
for coming on the show. But I thank for coming
on show. I'll be a good time man. I know
it's the first time we've interviewed you on the show.
I always know these doors are open, man, when people
come on the show. Man, I put your brand out
that brother, with social media, newsletters, all kinds of things,
because your brand needs to be recognized as a true
success story. My friend. Okay, thank you, man, I can
tell you a really good brother Thank you so much
(22:00):
man you talked to appreciate you. We talked toon my
friend alright. If we want to have more money Making
Conversation interviews, please go to money Making Conversation dot com.
I'm ra Sean McDonald. I'm your host, Coop
Host
Rushion McDonald
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