It can be said that everyone has talent but the difference is recognising and embracing that talent early in life and nurturing it, as in the case of Josef C. George who began playing musical instruments at the tender age of four on Tortola and today is now a chart topping artiste in the mighty United States of America. Photo: Facebook

George performing alongside another artiste in Miami. Photo: Facebook

George is no doubt on the highway to success and for him success in the ever competitive music industry is not only about how many albums he can produce and music charts he can top but also about helping others, especially his fellow Virgin Islanders who may have an interest in working in the music industry to realise their dreams. Photo: Facebook

Josef C. George at work in the studio. Photo: Facebook

George started 2016 on a high after topping Reverbnation’s R&B/Soul charts for Augusta, GA for a couple of weeks in January with his song 'New Girl'. Photo: Facebook

George is no doubt on the highway to success and for him success in the ever competitive music industry is not only about how many albums he can produce and music charts he can top but also about helping others, especially his fellow Virgin Islanders who may have an interest in working in the music industry to realise their dreams.

Like many famous artistes, it all began in church for George who was allowed to play the drums during praise and worship.

“I was influenced by music from an early age, being in church. It was at the age of five that I started singing and performing. I got real serious about music at the age of 12 when I decided that this is what I wanted to do as a career and that is when I got deeper into it.”

Amazingly, George began writing songs at the age of 10 and recorded his own song at the age of 11.

He said his parents always encouraged him but it was due to the songs they played at their home in Josiah’s Bay that influenced him. He grew up listening to James Brown, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. Today, George’s additional favourite artistes are Chris Brown, John Legend, Trey Songz and T-Pain, some of whom he has met personally.

A product of the Joyce Samuel Primary School and St George’s Secondary School, George admitted that talent has taken him a long way as the only music classes he attended were Harrigan’s Music School at around age 8 and he also took some piano lessons on St Thomas, USVI two years later.

Most of what he needs to know today George accesses online and, together with lots of practice, he has been going places.

George started 2016 on a high after topping Reverbnation’s R&B/Soul charts for Augusta, GA for a couple of weeks in January with his song 'New Girl'.

Since then he has be travelling various places across the USA to do various “gigs” and has also been invited to perform in Paris in April.

“Right now I am back in Miami where I had a couple of appearances and I have been working on a couple of new productions, which I hope to release in the next two months.”

Other interests

Music may be occupying most of his time now but George does have other interests.

“I like cars so later down the line I would like to get into the sale and rebuilding of vintage cars.”

George also hopes to have his own clothing line, which he said he has started to pursue.

As another means of sustaining himself, George is involved in building security installation. According to him, he manages certain jobs for condominiums and commercial buildings that need security systems.

Next 10 years

Being in the music industry is no easy task and George said one has to be very dedicated while being true to himself. “You have to know how to maneuver in the business to survive.”

But George wants to more than just survive. He wants to make his mark and help others to also achieve their dreams. This he hopes to achieve in the next ten years.

“I would like to see myself as someone who has given back something to the music industry, someone who can be acknowledged for a good deed, a role model. I would like to be able to set an example for other musicians. I would like to be able to help other artistes make their career dreams come through in terms of signing to my labels or producing for them or hitting records for them.”

Meanwhile, George is grateful for the instrumental people in his life: His parents, close friends and family and his team that he works with at JCG Records in Atlanta. “This is one industry where you need others to get you where you need to go.”

Advice to youth

As someone who genuinely wants to be of service to others, George was more than willing to share words of advice to youth.

He believes one needs to narrow down their interests and focus on developing that passion or talent to the best of their ability.

“Find the things you like to do and out of those you have to eliminate until you get that one thing that you like doing the best. That is the first step into choosing your career. When you realise what it is go and study it, do research and learn all you can about it, including the pros and cons of making it a career.

“After that find people who you can work with, people who are going the same places like you, get as much support as you can, including your parents, as you always need encouragement and guidance,” Josef C. George advised.