Today we’d like to introduce you to Josiah “Jojo” Martin.
Josiah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started as the son of a pastor in Monterey, California, singing at my dad’s church and around the state of California as well. I recorded with my church youth choir when I was in elementary school. My first tour was when I was in the 8th grade. It was great traveling around with my brothers, Colorado Mass Choir, and also my dad and uncle are when they would preach! In 2004, I met PJ Morton of Maroon 5 and toured with him for 13yrs before I needed to go on dialysis. I’ve been blessed to write for many artists and tour with many more. A few to name would be, Dave Hollister, Fred Hammond, James Fortune, and being an opening artist on Kierra Sheard’s “Bridges Tour!” Now in a joint record deal with PJ Morton’s “Morton Records” and Tyscot records, I look forward to releasing my debut album early 2020.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all, but I’ve hung in there and taken it all in stride and with a smile! I lost my oldest brother Jerome when he was only 29yrs old from complications of the kidney disease FSGS. That was a hard this to deal with as he died the night before I was to fly home to California to see if I would be a match to donate my kidney to him. In 2006, I lost my mother suddenly from cardiac arrest and my grandmother not too many years after that! The main people besides my father that I working so hard to see me succeed in everything I was doing and would do in the future! Then, in 2011, I have diagnosed with the same kidney disease my older brother died with. After five long years on dialysis, and having to minimize a career that I loved so much, God blessed me with a living kidney donor by the name of Britni Ruff. It’s been a little over a year since she blessed me with one of her kidneys, but I am forever grateful to her and God for another opportunity to live and thrive!!
Please tell us about your work.
Since my transplant, I have launched several entities to Jojosvoice Productions. I’m an artist, a vocal producer, a songwriter, a public speaker, and soon to relaunch, “The Jojo Martin Foundation” which will aid single mothers of color with children on dialysis! I am most proud of the desire behind all that our company does. We have dedicated and part of this company to spreading awareness about End Stage Renal Disease and trying to educate everyone on the important of organ donations. What’s set’s us apart is that I’ve lived this! I’ve been the person in need and I’ve sat next to many people that were on dialysis with me on Friday when I went home and no longer liver when I returned on Monday! We will reach the world and save as many lives as we can through every avenue of our company.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would be more of who I am already! I family man, a passionate man, a caring man, a dedicated and focused man, a God fearing man, and a determined man!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jojomartinmusic.com
- Phone: 7573541708
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/jojosvoice
- Facebook: facebook.com/Jojosvoice
- Twitter: twitter.com/jojosvoice
- Other: facebook.com/jojosvoice2
Image Credit:
Keith Anthony Photography
Algernon Johnson
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