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General Jo is the Supreme King Commander of the Intergalactic Empire. He has started a new group, on the Stone Gold Records label, Phunn Phactor. The first CD is, Formula 4 Fun. It is a kind of Retro Electro Soul. Stone Gold Records
ABOUT:
I have been in the business of music since 1978. I have been recording since 1984. I have worked in numerous occupations in the music industry. Josiah Blount's journey in music has been full of fun, taking advantage of doors of opportunity that seemed to materialize down every corridor.
At the age of 7, he was assisting his father in recording favorite songs off the radio, on an early model reel to reel tape recorder. At this young age, he developed an eclectic taste in music. Blues, Country, Jazz, Gospel, Soul, Classical, Pop, Rock, Musicals, and Latin music were all favorites. Never realizing categories existed until much later in life, music was, and is, just music to enjoy. A career as a freelance journalist and photographer, led to writing a series of articles about various personalities in martial arts, when Blount became a student himself, and earned black belts in Karate and Tae Kwon Do.
The black belt opened the door for him to becoming a night club manager, which led to him becoming a DJ. As a DJ, he found opportunities to do bodyguard work for a number of concerts that came to town. The bodyguard work also got him in the door of concert promoting, where he became the personal assistant of the area's top independent promoter. This gave Blount the opportunity to learn the business aspect of performing.
As a DJ for one of the area's top Disc Jockey crews, Josiah started recording his own music, and developing his own acts. He would take his keyboards on the road with the Djs and play along live, giving Big Bad Base & Co. a decided advantage in the DJ battles that used to fill major venues. Live playing in bingo halls, skating rinks, small clubs, schools, rec centers, and anywhere else you could fit a party, helped develop Josiah's (now General Jo), ear for what people liked to hear.
The owner of the top independently owned record store in Norfolk, VA, was introduced to General Jo, took him into a recording studio, and the two of them started their own label, DANGEROUS JAMS Records. The General, now was releasing records that were getting major airplay on local stations in the Hampton Roads area of Southeastern Virginia, and Northern North Carolina. The success of the label and its acts, all written, produced, and managed by General Jo (Josiah Blount), got numerous bookings for them in the area, opening and headlining with major national acts that performed on the stages of Hampton Roads. Acts like, Run DMC, LL Cool J, Fat Boys, Solomon Burke, Ready for the World, Egyptian Lover, MC Hammer, New Edition, and many more.
The General was also a much in demand bodyguard and personal escort for many more acts, personal managers, production managers, and concert promoters during this time. This allowed him to see much of the behind the scenes part of the business that takes place in the offices, dressing rooms, and backstage area.
Some of his favorite memories involving him on both the business and security aspects of the business, include: Luther Vandross, Patti Labelle, Bobby Womach, Phyllis Hyman, Stevie Wonder, Third World, Ziggy Marley, Prince, Cheryl Lynn, the Whispers, Millie Jackson, Najee, Ramsey Lewis, Cameo, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelics, Barkays, Jonathan Butler, Ray-Goodman-and Brown, Beastie Boys, Full Force, UTFO, most of the early rap pioneers, Janet Jackson, Ashford & Simpson, Chuck Mangione, the Dells, Stylistics, Chi-Lites, and more.
Blount has also worked with his childhood friend and partner, Connell Moss, as a collaborator and assistant. Connell has songs recorded by The Whispers, Lighter Shade of Brown, and others. Moss was signed to SOLAR Records as a performer/writer. Blount was instrumental in working on the project at SOLAR, but the album was never released when the parent label dropped SOLAR. Moss remained a "first call" vocalist for a number of studios, and sung the theme song for an animated movie. He was also a solo vocalist on an album by the Jazz group, Kilauea. Moss and Blount are currently planning a CD of new songs to be performed by Connell.
The General has been recently traveling to North Hollywood to help Connell, the "Singing Chef," prepare to perform at MISS PEACHES - Southern Cuisine, a restaurant owned and operated by Moss.
A German music magazine, Electro Endlos, contacted General Jo and interviewed him about his early releases (1985), which are in much demand in the German Electro club scene.
Currently, General Jo is working on writing and producing his own CD (Retro Electro Soul), featuring a number of his friends and former vocalists. He has also opened a recording studio again, this time to assist developing songwriters. His knowledge, adventures, and experience in the music business, continue to keep him in demand as a consultant, producer, and collaborator. His latest project is, Phunn Phactor, a group that will be recording and touring with exciting and contagious dance music grooves. They are on the new label, Stone Gold Records. The General is confident this group will be doing big things in the near future.
Stay tuned for the new CD by NUTZSKIEZY, "MiXeD," produced by General Jo.
Don't miss VIRGINIA'S MUSIC SOUL - The Heart of Hampton Roads A site celebrating and honoring the rich history of the Hampton Roads area and its impact on the world.
CONTACT:
Jo
General Jo
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