James C. Birdsong, Jr. of Atlanta on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with James C. Birdsong, Jr. and have shared our conversation below.

James C., so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
I am a person who strongly believes in God and a man of faith. My normal day consist of prayer, conducting affairs in the Gospel music industry and entertainment, organizing my itinerary of travels and meetings, doing interviews on various media platforms, working on upcoming and future projects and spending time with family, friends and loved ones. It depends on the outcome of the schedule and what is associated.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
First and foremost, I want to personally thank Bold Journey for giving me this opportunity once again to share my story with the many readers throughout the United States and abroad. Secondly, your support throughout the last five years have been such a blessing and joy in my life. As many of you know, I am a GRAMMY® considered, Billboard chart topping songwriter, multi-award winning national figure in the Gospel music industry and member of the world-renowned famed Birdsong family that consists of R&B legend Cindy Birdsong (Patti LaBelle & The Bluebells, The Supremes), retired four-time NBA All Star basketball legend Otis Birdsong and two time GRAMMY® award winner, the late great legendary Edwin Birdsong. I was born and raised in Richmond, California, which is located northeast across the bay from San Francisco. I am a proud native son of the Bay Area. My parents, the late Rev. James C. Birdsong, Sr., a respected minister and disabled rights activist in my hometown and Belinda Germany-Birdsong, who was the daughter of a World War II veteran and a local chapter president of the National Council of Negro Woman encouraged and motivated me to always have God first and foremost in my life and move forward with my dreams. This same foundational principle was applied to me at a young age by my teachers, the elders and influential people in the community. Now, at 45-years-old, I have so much to be thankful for in my career, and now, it is being an inspiration to our youth as a mentor and role model in their lives. I am the uncle to four beautiful nieces who are now adults. I am also a great uncle to a 18-month old boy and a 9-year-old girl. For my career in the Gospel music industry, I am the Founder, President and CEO of Xpress Music Group, Inc., an GRAMMY® considered, award winning and Billboard chart topping independent Gospel record company in Atlanta, Georgia. The record label was organized in 2023 by yours truly and David Robinson, who serves as the Vice President and COO. He is an award winning actor, playwriter and radio personality who is the host of the David Robinson Show in Baltimore, Maryland. Our motto is, “Proclaiming Gospel Music to the Masses.” As a person who also strongly believes in the importance of a good education, I am an alumnus of the Class of 1998 at Fairfield High School in Fairfield, California who went forward to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Education from Beulah Heights University (Atlanta, Georgia), a Graduate Certificate in Marketing from the University of Phoenix, a Master of Science in Leadership from Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, Arizona) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Leadership and Business from Kingdom Ambassadors Global University (Atlanta, Georgia). It have been a blessed and wonderful journey for me.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I am so glad you asked me this question. I have told the story of the miracle in my life when I could not talk at the young age of three, which God healed me from a speech impediment. This occurred in 1983, which was 42 years old. Before that happened, the doctors were telling my parents, “Your son is going to have to learn American Sign Language.” The problem begin at 13 months old when I was struggling to say words. I share more specific details of this situation in my autobiography/memoirs, “The Best is Yet to Come: A Testimony of One Young Man’s Redemption” published and released in 2017 by T&J Publishers in Atlanta, Georgia. I had to attend public schools as a special education student all the way to my high school senior year. What gives me joy with this situation is my teachers saw something special in me that I could not see for myself. They already knew this young man was going to go very far in life, which the fruits of the labor came true today. They never gave up on me and neither did my parents, my family, the members of the church and others in the community. I am always sharing this story with today’s youth from television appearances to commencement ceremonies and other platforms. I learned as a child to never be a quitter, even when you encounter those who will have their opinions. I know how it feels to be bullied and teased. I been there and done that. My faith and trust in God kept me strong after all of these years. In five more years, I will be 50-years-old. God is not through with me yet as the older generation would say.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I am going to go back to my sixth grade year at Nystrom Elementary School in Richmond, California. I was 12-years-old and preparing to graduate so I can attend Adams Middle School in my hometown in the fall for my seventh grade year. The day before my sixth grade graduation, I was accompanied to our auditorium to rehearse my speech as the class speaker. My teacher and a woman I will never forget, the late Donna Grove went with me. I am getting very emotional talking about her. She transitioned back in 2023 after a long battle with cancer. I learned about her passing from her daughter, who consists me as her little brother. Mrs. Grove and I were very close. She was my favorite teacher. Her class consist of fifth and sixth grade students. On this particular day, we went to the auditorium. I walked on stage to practice my speech. I was very nervous on the stage. I said, “Mrs. Grove, I can’t do this.” She looked at me and said these words I will never forget, “James, you can do this.” Her words gave me confidence to continue rehearsing my speech. The next morning for the commencement, I walked on stage and delivered the speech titled, “My Farewell To Nystrom.” It was a full attendance and the speech resulted in a stand ovation. I was considered a popular student at Nystrom Elementary School. God blessed me to maintain a close relationship with the teachers who are now retired. I am still in correspondence to this date. I considered them my Nystrom family. In 2002, I was invited there to deliver the commencement address for the sixth grade graduation. It was a home coming for me. Some of the teachers and staff who already retired by that time came back to see me. My father passed away five years prior. The school presented me with their most prestigious award in 2003 as the first alumnus to receive this honor. This occurred in 2003. In 2004, the school honored my mother with the same award. Before I relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in 2005, my Nystrom family gave me a farewell appreciation at the campus. Mrs. Grove and her husband attended my high school graduation at Fairfield High School. We continue to remain in correspondence into the 2000s. She helped me to overcome the fear of the ability to give my speech at the sixth grade graduation. This happened 33 years ago, and I will always cherish this moment.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
I always pray, trust and believe in God for direction in certain situations. I also reach out to those who I trust within my inner circle for advice and counsel of ideas to rely on when they are not my very own. When I organize meetings, I always prepare the agenda and submit it via email so my sources will be aware of items for discussion in advance. I learned this throughout the years and those of us who are business professionals must always demonstrate accountability, integrity and responsibility. Since I have been involved in the Gospel music professionally for 29 years, my journey begin at 16-years-old by researching an studying the business side of this music genre. Yes, I am a singer and songwriter and grew up singing in the choir alongside working with vocal coaches as a teenager and adult. At 16-years-old, I prayed and trusted God in the process. One day, I said, “Lord, you blessed my family to be in the music industry and ministry for many years. If I am going to be successful in this, I need to be educated about the business.” He blessed me to do this and the rest is history. The Word of God tells us in James 2:20 (KJV) when it reads, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” We have to learn how to trust God, step out on faith and do our part to work throughout the process. This is what we need to teach our young people more than before.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I had this conversation with someone who is very special to me recently. I will not mentioned her name in this interview. We were talking one day about building a legacy. I am a strong believer of building a legacy and passing the torch to the next generation. We have to prepare today’s youth to carry the torch once our assignment in this world is completed. I want to be remembered as a person who did his very best to help others as God directed me to. I had people who said to me, “James, when you are gone, you will never be forgotten. Your legacy will continue to live on.” Those words truly touched my heart. I will continue to be a legacy builder as long God allows me to.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
James C. Birdsong, Jr. Photo
Master of Science in Leadership
Grand Canyon University
Courtesy of Emily Heath Photography
Stone Mountain, GA

James C. Birdsong, Jr. Photo
Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Leadership and Business
Kingdom Ambassadors Global University
Courtesy of Emily Heath Photography
Stone Mountain, GA

At the Center of Grace Official Single Release Flyer
Lillian Lilly
Songwriters: James C. Birdsong, Jr. and Shonda English
Producer: Avery Johnson
Xpress Music Group
Courtesy of Jorad L. Holmes
Level Up Graphix
Bradenton, FL

At the Center of Grace Official Music Video Taping Flyer
Lillian Lilly
Host: Kayla Thompson
Directors: James C. Birdsong, Jr., Miz Tiffany, Justin M. Burks
Producer: JB Productions
Xpress Music Group
Courtesy of Jorad L. Holmes
Level Up Graphix
Bradenton, FL

JSU Ensemble With James C. Birdsong, Jr. and Miz Tiffany Photo
Jackson State University
At the Center of Grace Official Music Video Taping
Lillian Lilly
Venue: Christ Tabernacle Church
Courtesy of Aron Smith
Jackson State University
Jackson, MS

Xpress Music Group Flyer
Meet The Founders
James C. Birdsong, Jr. and David Robinson
Courtesy of Xpress Music Group
Atlanta, GA

James C. Birdsong, Jr. Awards Photo
Faith Brought Me Through: James C. Birdsong, Jr. 45th Birthday Celebration
Venue: Divine House of Praise Church
Courtesy of Edrica Edwards
Columbus, GA

2025 47th Annual Mississippi Gospel Music Awards Winner Flyer
James C. Birdsong, Jr. and Shonda English
Song of the Year by National Single Artist
At the Center of Grace (Lillian Lilly)
Courtesy of Xpress Music Group
Atlanta, GA

2025 31st Annual Gospel Choice Music Awards Photo
James C. Birdsong, Jr.
Gospel Industry Award
Courtesy of James C. Birdsong, Jr.
Atlanta, GA

2025 27th Annual Texas Gospel Music Excellence Awards Nominee Flyer
James C. Birdsong, Jr.
National Promoter of the Year
Courtesy of James C. Birdsong, Jr.
Atlanta, GA

Kentucky Colonel Commission Award Photo
James C. Birdsong, Jr.
Courtesy of James C. Birdsong, Jr.
Atlanta, GA

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than