Today we’d like to introduce you to James V Cockerham.
JAMES VINSON COCKERHAM Atlanta-based African American Composer, Songwriter, Arranger, Musician and Playwright. James began his formal musical training in the third grade and by the seventh grade, he directed his first choir. He attended Livingstone College and he earned a BA degree in Sociology, although the majority of his time was spent in the music halls. 40 years later, James returned to college and received a Master’s Certificate in Orchestration for Film and TV from Berklee College of Music in Boston at the young age of (65) sixty-five.
Recording his first record single in 1970, he released a ‘45 entitled “Every Sign of Spring” recorded with “The Superbs” (college group) at Arthur Smith Studio in Charlotte, NC. His first album was recorded with The Rickard’s Chapel AME Zion Choir in 1970. In 1995 he created a composition entitled “New Meaning” which was licensed to the Toni Morrison Society and in 2020, he played this instrumental rendition at the Atlanta Memorial Service Honoring the Life of Toni Morrison. He has received the Moondance International Film Festival Seahorse Award for Best Music for Film Score in 2013. His stage play works have been performed by several treasured entertainment industry icons such as: Academy-Award nominated Ruby Dee Davis and Ossie Davis, Q. Parker of the R&B group “112,” Grammy-Award Winning Recording Artist PJ Morton, John Patton of the movie, “The Color Purple,” Chantae Cann who recorded with “Snarky Puppy” and many others.
His orchestral works include: “Soon I Will Be Done”, arranged for Thomas Anderson, Conductor and performed by the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra; Coloratura Soprano, Arietha Lockhart, her Worldwide opera performances along with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra. Cockerham’s orchestral arrangement of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was performed in August 2019 by The Gateways Music Festival Orchestra at Kodak Hall, Eastman School of Music where he was officially acknowledged as an African-American Composer. https://youtu.be/P94yMddO5Mc Spanning over four decades he has recorded (6) six albums, (4) four CDs and written (4) four musical stage productions.
In 2021, the highly anticipated new album ‘Looking” was released and captured his songwriting of “social-conscious songs” in a variety of genres and styles that feature some of the industry’s most desired recording artists performing each song. This new album is the beginning of a partnership of a newly formed record label Dirty Glasses, LLC along with his son Brian Cockerham and Ethan Gouldbourne who are established musicians and producers. With soo many notable accomplishments, James V Cockerham continues to provide quality music with his horizons set on more music and stage productions in the near future.
STAY CONNECTED WITH JAMES V COCKERHAM FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND MUSIC OUTLETS (Facebook, IG, Twitter) @brocockerham, Subscribe to YouTube Channel Basiccoc. For more information, visit his website: www.coprorecords.com.
Gateways Orchestra Lift Every Voice and Sing Link https://youtu.be/P94yMddO5Mc
MUSIC IS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR DIGITAL MUSIC OUTLETS AND WEBSITES
Digital Download the full album LOOKING http://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1550885886
Digital Download the single WINNER featuring Ayana George http://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1549850602
“LOOKING” is available on Vinyl Albums or CD’s along with other merchandise, exclusively sold ONLY on the website of Dirty Glasses, LLC. To order visit: www.TheDirtyGlasses.com. For Scheduling Management, Interviews and Media, Contact: ACTS ENTERTAINMENT MANAGEMENT P:(470) 407.9554 E: ActsEntertainmentMgmt@gmail.com.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
None, God is in control of everything.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Music Composer, Musician, Songwriter, Playwriter.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Patience.
Contact Info:
- Email: ActsEntertainmentMgmt@gmail.com
- Website: www.Coprorecords.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/copromusic/
- Other: TheDirtyGlasses.com
