Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheldon Ferguson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I first became interested in music when I was about eleven years old. My family attended Brookland Baptist Church in Columbia, SC, and I was fascinated by the musicians that played there. The guitar stuck out to me because of all of the different sounds you can create with it. My Dad caught on and suggested that I learn how to play, and quickly signed me up for lessons. I was fortunate enough to have amazing teachers, Chris Richards, Daniel O’dell and JT Smith, who showed me the in’s and out’s of the guitar. I also spent a lot of time around my mentor, guitarist Terence Young, who was a major musical influence but also taught me about how to turn my passion into a a career. After a few years of playing the guitar I started performing frequently around my hometown with Mike Stone & the Kritikal Band, Soul Unique, and often as a solo artist.
In 2017, my senior year of high school, I released my first smooth jazz album, The Brighter Side, with songs written by myself and produced by Rico Tyler. Shortly after, I left Columbia to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Studying at Berklee taught me a lot of about music but it taught me even more about myself. It also broadened my perspective of what a career in music looks like. I made great relationships and had the opportunity to perform with Ledisi, Aloe Blacc, Kim Burrell, and the Clark Sisters as a student. After earning my Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Music with emphasis in Performance and Production, I made the decision to move to Atlanta, which brought new opportunities do things that I’d only dreamed of.
Has it been a smooth road?
I believe the biggest struggle I’ve faced thus far is simply the constant reminder that success only comes through hard work, perseverance, and faith. Since I began playing music professionally at the age of sixteen, I was aware that music is a self-made career. It’s a train that will stop if you don’t continuously put effort into it. My passion for music and desire to reach my goals have allowed me to overcome the challenge of staying consistent. I’ve been fortunate enough to see my dreams become reality and it was all a result of the work that I previously put in. There were times when I felt unsure of how to get to the next phase in my career but I always knew that if I just kept working hard, a better opportunity would eventually present itself. Or better yet, I would create the opportunity for myself. I became accustomed to the process of jumping out of my comfort zone, starting over and pursuing something new.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’ve been fortunate enough to work in multiple sides of the music industry. I played guitar on the soundtrack for Oprah Winfrey’s Hit TV series Greenleaf as well as appearing on the show twice. The most recent single from the Greenleaf soundtrack features vocals by Patti Labelle and Deborah Joy Winans, with guitars by yours truly. I’ve also done a lot of work in hip-hop, most notably Travis Scott’s Billboard Hot 100 Hit, Yosemite. This song is featured on the now Grammy Nominated album, Astroworld. Other artists I’ve recorded with include Lil Baby, YFN Lucci, Jacquees, NBA Youngboy, Moneybagg Yo and many others.
I have two smooth jazz albums, The Brighter Side, and Soul Searching, that I have released as a solo artist. The title track from Soul Searching made it to #7 on the Smooth Jazz Global Listener Chart. My music has sold in over 40 different countries and can be heard on the radio internationally as well. I’ve also released an indie-folk EP titled Girl in the Yellow Dress which features my vocals for the very first time.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes! Atlanta is a great place more anyone in the music industry who is willing to put in the work. This is a city full of resources but you have to out and discover them for yourself. Atlanta is also a great place to build. There is fertile ground here for anyone looking to become an artist or start a music related business.
Contact Info:
- Website: sheldonferguson.com
- Email: sheldonfergusonmusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/sheldonferg
- Facebook: facebook.com/sheldonferg
- Twitter: twitter.com/sheldonferg
Image Credit:
Photos by Asia Smith, Jaquan Cummings, Allan Knighton, & Zaid
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