Young Virgin Islands’ artiste Josef George continues to make strides in the music industry and is currently on a high after topping Reverbnation’s R&B R&B/Soul charts for Augusta, GA this past week. Photo: Facebook

George recently returned to the USA after spending the Christmas season on Tortola, Virgin Islands. Photo: Facebook

George’s song New Girl was one of the fans’ favourites last week, which propelled him to the top of the R&B/Soul charts. Photo: Facebook

Parts of the video for New Girl were shot on Tortola, including in Road Town. The video is available on Youtube and has so far received 197, 624 views. Photo: Youtube

George recently returned to the USA after spending the Christmas season on Tortola, Virgin Islands. Photo: Facebook

George’s song 'New Girl' was one of the fans’ favourites last week, which propelled him to the top of the R&B/Soul charts.

"I am very grateful and thankful to be recognised and for this song to place number one on the charts. I am very proud of this song and I have to thank the people who were instrumental in getting the song where it is. It took a lot of marketing,” Mr George told Virgin Islands News Online during an exclusive interview from the United States on Sunday January 10, 2016.

‘New Girl’ was produced in 2012 and released in 2013. Mr George said he needed a song for the summer that young people would relate to and one that was different from his usual songs and so New Girl was produced.

Parts of the video for New Girl were shot on Tortola, including in Road Town. The video is available on Youtube and has so far received 197, 624 views.

“At the time I was going through a little ‘crush’ situation,” Mr George said in noting that the song is based on his own life experience.

Among the many persons Mr George thanked for helping to get his song to the top of the charts were his parents Gilda and Collingston George, who he said worked hard to market the song.

Other songs by George available on Reverbnation include Cool On You, Party, Magic and Can’t Get Away.

“The Time is Now” was one of George’s releases last year, 2015.

Different genres

Mr George said this year he is looking to try different genres as he is trying to be very versatile and to showcase his talent in production. “Most of these songs I am going to release now are actually produced by me. So you can expect a lot of genres; blues, jazz, rock and roll, a whole lot of different genres. I am trying to bring everyone in to see what I am capable of doing.”

Music fans can also look forward to an album release in the middle of this year and in 2017.

Apart from working hard in the studios, Mr George has also been engaged in charity work and giving to the less fortunate. “Giving back, whether through my music or other ways, is what I really want to do on top of everything else.”

2016 ‘gigs’

Meanwhile, George has a busy year of performances ahead, beginning this Saturday January 16, 2016 in Atlanta. He then returns to Miami on January 30 for another performance.

North Carolina and Houston, Texas are also some of the places where Mr George will be performing this year.

Early promise

George had showed early promise when he stole the spotlight at the National Parks Trust Jazz and Blues Concert Series on Saturday November 26, 2011 at the Queen Elizabeth II Park. He was 16 years of age at the time.

“He is doing great things in Miami,” Mr Collingston George said of his son who only left the Virgin Islands for the USA last week after vacationing here for the Christmas holidays.

Background

Puerto Rico -born, Mr George moved to Tortola, Virgin Islands shortly after his birth where he found the perfect environment to grow in his music.

According to his website www.josefgeorge.com, from the time he could speak his first words, George started to develop a love for music. “Raised in the church, at the age of four, Josef was allowed to play the drums occasionally during Praise and Worship Services.”

By the age of six, George was singing at local concerts and other community events. He became known in the VI community for his ability to play the piano and sing.  George later taught himself to play the saxophone, the guitar and the violin.  At the age of 13, George  was writing, composing and arranging music.  He is now realizing his dream of producing, recording and collaborating with platinum producers under his record label, JCG Records, LLC, his website stated.

“Hopefully, God willing, I can see myself like another Michael Jackson. Going worldwide on the tours; being on BET and 106 and Park; being nominated for a Grammy. Hopefully I will be there and producing other artistes, and helping new artistes along the way,” George told Page-31.com.

See link for New Girl on Revernation:

https://www.reverbnation.com/JosefGeorge

See link for New Girl on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaKKnXq7tnQ