We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Raynard Gibson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Raynard below.
Hi Raynard, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
It was back in high school. My friends and I had a group called,” Young Men at Work”! We performed a talent show where Chuck D from the rap group Public Enemy was one of the judges. My friend at the time, who was the DJ said he wanted us to start to perform with the curtains closed, so when he put the record on, and I begin to start singing, we could hear all the people in the Township auditorium in Columbia, S,C begin to scream and yell with excitement.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
When people ask me, what do I do, I say I’m a singer that’s what I do. I I’ve been singing all my life since church as a little boy in Bible way Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.. this gift of singing has allowed me to sing all around the country and meet some pretty big names in the industry. In 2011 I won the Steve Harvey sing your way to the hoodie awards and I won the contest out of hundreds. Winning that contest had me share the likesof Frankie Beverly and Maxe Faith Evans, Bell Biv DeVoe, Anthony Hamilton, and the O’Jays. Steve Harvey came to me after one and said give God the glory out of thousands of people that auditioned you were the one that won. Be grateful. Be thankful this is your moment. That was one of the proudest moments of my life because no one knew I flew to Las Vegas with less than $150 in my pocket and left with $10,000. I would say to anyone whatever field your end. Whether you’re a creative or business person never lose sight of who you are and the gifts you possess. Your gift will make room for you. Don’t stop don’t quit. Don’t give up because I live by that motto I’ve been able to sing for a living for over 20 years.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Not only am I a singer, but I’m also an actor and I have acted in several TV commercials and TV show shows one of my major goals is to complete a full length film and have it placed on a streaming network for the world to see. My oldest brother took me to the movies to see all the 80s best like ET Star Wars, the goonies Superman the lost boys, etc. and because of that I have a love for Film. When the world stop during the pandemic and I could no longer sing, I invested into my own film equipment and begin to do short films now at the several projects I’m working on the upcoming short film called “The Last Bloom” , which I will be starring in myself. As a creative, we don’t need wait anymore. We can do our own projects and put them out there to our potential fans and not wait for someone to give us a pat on the back. Cell phones shoot in 4K so you can do a full length movie just with your phone. All the excuses are gone.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
They can support us not just with likes and comments or even viewing our content they can also support us by buying our merchandise, renting our films or TV episodes that we produce showing up to the venues that we sing at and purchasing tickets support the arts support the creative Because this is not just a thing for us to try to make money. This is a love thing I know for me if I don’t create if I don’t sing, I am miserable. I have so many ideas that come to my mind a day that if I don’t get those out, I become withdrawn and I get in my head and I ask myself am I good enough? Are people gonna like this stuff do they want to hear this song? It’s a constant fight every day so when we get the support of the people that let us know that they love what we do it motivates us it propels us to Greatness
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Raynard_sings@instagram.com
- Facebook: Raynard Gibson
- Youtube: Raynard Gibson
- Soundcloud: Raynard Gibson
Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/desmondchampionphotography?igsh=NGU4bml3ZnZidmIy