Today we’d like to introduce you to James Cockerham.
Hi James, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Born in Wilkesboro, a town in the foothills of the rural Appalachian mountain range. Attended Lincoln Heights elementary and high school, a segregated African American Rosenwald school which served four counties in North Carolina. Attended Livingstone College receiving a BA in Sociology. Moved to Atlanta. Thirty-five years of management experience, twelve in corporate America. A 2020 job loss projected me into my love and passion. Music.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
“Thoughts are in the hands of the one who created them.” a quote from a song, “Looking Out,” from the album LOOKING by James V. Cockerham, I remember sitting on my aunt’s lap striking the notes on the piano. I remember standing on tiptoes to reach the piano keys. I remember the hand-me-down piano books from my cousins, they did not like taking piano lessons. Our family could not afford to pay for me to take lessons. My music lessons came from participating in the Elementary School Band and Chorus. My mother purchased a clarinet from our neighbor for $15. It took her three months to pay for it. After my dad died, I began playing for my first choir while in the seventh grade.
I also played in clubs, for weddings, whatever the occasion. My mom was a domestic (cook) for three generations of judges. Each day, we ate well. I was in college before I realized we were a low-income family. Was that a smooth road? As a Music Composer and Playwright with six albums, five cds and four musical stage productions to my credit, none have reached the top of the charts, my stage productions have not been presented on Broadway, but always received great reviews by those who attended. Never having enough money to get the music out has always been the challenge. Money to hire radio promotions people to get music played or purchase media, or hire a market/promotions team. Even today, have access to internet radio and tv with a global market, it is still a challenge to get out content without money to pay for help. My first album was recorded in 1970, my latest album was released in 2021. Do I still need money to pay experts to help? Yes.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Music Composer and Playwright with six albums, four cds and four musical stage productions to my credit under my record label Copro Record Company, Inc. My latest project is a “Social Consciousness” album, released by “Dirty Glasses, LLC.” It is a music production team established in 2020 by Ethan Gouldbourne, Brian Cockerham, my son, and I. This debut release album is titled “Looking.” It has songs ranging anywhere from the soft aural landscapes created by new age to blues, reggae, rap, gospel, and even dance music. WINNER featuring Ayana George is the first single release from this project. It speaks to those individual who not only want to help themselves but also help others with a hand up not a handout. Winner instills pride in being who you are. Even children can sing to themselves, “I’m A Winner.” You can hear a sample of this music at www.thedirtyglasses.com.
In 1978, I recorded an album, “God is Ever Moving On.” One of the songs, “Everybody Ought to Praise His Name,” is now being played in New Zealand, the Netherlands, London, Angola and Brazil. Young people are dancing in clubs to this 70s gospel/jazz song. Collectors are purchasing the album for a premium price. Today, while completing this questionnaire, I received a call from a Hollywood producer who is interested in one of my musical stage productions, “A Gift of Love,” which featured Ruby Dee Davis and was performed at the Rialto Theater. My arrangement of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was first performed by the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra, conducted by Michael Morgan, on August 11, 2019, at Kodak Hall, Eastman School of Music. The orchestra consisted of 125 classically trained musicians of African descent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P94yMddO5Mc A digital performance of this arrangement was recorded by the Gateways Orchestra and played on the world’s largest Classical Music station, WQXR in New York. Eclectic and ethnocentric are probably the terms one would use to describe the music, songs, stories written by James V. Cockerham. Social consciousness denotes conscious awareness of being part of an interrelated community of others. The google definition of “Social Consciousness” is “the “we feeling” or the “sense of us” may be experienced in members of various cultures and social groups.” The album LOOKING is just that. It features: HOW DO YOU HATE IN THE NAME OF LOVE, Chantae Cann; LOVE IN MY HOUSE, Bishop Nathaniel Townsley; WHAT SAY WE, PJ Morton and Th3Saga; ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, Aaron Marcellus and K. Valentine; LET THEM GO, Algebra Blessett and Dee 1; DIRTY GLASSES, Hanan Rubinstein; LOOKING OUT, India Shawn; WINNER, Ayana George; THANK YOU FOR THE RAIN, Ayana George, Jojo Martin and Nicole Phifer; MEMORIES, Regina Belle and Aaron Marcellus.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I read the Bible daily. Some motivational books you may enjoy reading include: 7 Laws of Highest Prosperity by Cecil O. Kemp, Jr., The Sacred Art of Listening by Kay Lindahl and Rags to Riches by Tom Leding.
Pricing:
- Albums are $10.00
- Vinyl Albums are $25.00
- Downloads available at 145 online stores
Contact Info:
- Email: basiccoc@aol.com
- Website: www.thedirtyglasses.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brocockerham
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/copromusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/brocockerham
