Inspirational jazz / gospel composer, musician and harp master JeffMajors has touched the hearts of millions through his daily television program, TV One’s “Gospel of Music with JeffMajors,†now entering its fifth season; the six CDs in his faith-affirming, soul-stirring Sacred series (with another six yet to unfold); and his annual nationwide free concert tour “JeffMajors Blankets for the Homeless,†during which he performs for the homeless and provides blankets and other items necessary for surviving life on the streets.
Using his gifts of faith, compassion and music to open people’s hearts and to motivate change in our communities, JeffMajors’ affect is both personal and profound. As Oprah Winfrey says, “His music energizes my faith and transports my spirit. For me, it is the best way to start my day.†And when he was hand-picked by the Martin Luther King Family to perform at Coretta Scott King’s memorial service in February 2006, JeffMajors demonstrated that his music could console a nation.
Currently, JeffMajors appears in more than 22 million homes in “The Gospel of Music with JeffMajors,†the flagship daily program on TV One, which according to Nielsen, experienced an unprecedented 40 percent growth in its subscriber base in 2006 — more than any other cable network. The hit show provides a venue for diverse well-known and new talent, and over the last four years JeffMajors has hosted some of the biggest names in the industry, including James Ingram, Mavis Staples, Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams and Gerald Levert in his last television appearance. Taping for Season Five begins in September 2007.
Throughout his career, JeffMajors has been a trendsetter and influential decision-maker in the music industry, and today he is working to meet the demand predicted by the Gospel Music Association, which forecasted double-digit growth in the sector over the next five years. As vice president of gospel programming for Radio One Inc.’s 13-gospel station network and current host of its “Sunday Morning Joy,†JeffMajors is helping Radio One grow the number of FM gospel stations throughout the country to insure that fans have access as the popularity of gospel music increases.
At age 14, JeffMajors had a dream in which he saw himself strumming the harp — an instrument he had never played before. Touched and inspired, JeffMajors used the dream to fuel his passion for music and literally change the course of his life. With the harp hand-made for him by a local music store owner, he began to pursue mastery of the instrument. Ultimately he realized that his faith ministry had its most meaningful expression in music.
JeffMajors spent the next several years in Los Angeles studying under the wings of family friends jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby and jazz pianist and harpist Alice Coltrane, wife of jazz legend John Coltrane. JeffMajors returned to the Washington D.C. area, where he formed several jazz bands and soon became a popular fixture on the city’s active music club scene. In the early ‘90s he worked as a DJ at Radio One’s WAMJ Washington affiliate, which led to the opportunity to host “Sunday Morning Joy.†From there, JeffMajors evolved into the vice presidency of gospel music programming for the Radio One network of stations.
In a career marked by industry achievement; the opportunity to perform with some of his revered mentors and peers; his work with the homeless; and inspirational experiences along the way, such as his appearance on “Oprah†and performing at Coretta Scott King’s memorial service, JeffMajors says that the dream of that 14-year-old boy strumming the harp is still unfolding.
“Every time I step on stage I step into a sacred place,†JeffMajors says. “And the dream continues.â€
