Jessy Dixon Interview with Larry Ferguson�as a Tribute to�Dottie Rambo:
Larry: You have one of the most amazing careers in Gospel Music. You were discovered by Rev. James Cleveland. How did that come about?
Jessy: While in High School I formed a gospel group to sing gospel around the city and fate would have it I was asked to�appear on a gospel show�that James�Cleveland headlined.� When he heard me sing he immediately contacted my parents and asked them if I could travel with him as a part of his group.� When the word got out my parents phone was ringing off the hook from her friends and church members giving her their opinion on the subject.� As a result I wasn't allowed to�travel and go�with him until I finished high school.����
Larry: Your songwriting has had a huge impact on the music world. You have had your compositions and recordings performed or recorded by Queen Latifa, Cher, and Diana Ross. This�is an incredible accomplishment as a�Gospel writer to have these people from�the major secular world record your compositions. Were these people you already knew? How did these cuts come about?
My song writing career within the secular world began with my composition "You Bring The Sun Out" which was promoted by producer Richard Perry who presented it to Diana Ross and Randy Crawford.� It was after that experience that I was traveling back and forth from Chicago to Los Angeles to write for Cher, Queen Latifa, Diana Ross, Natalie Cole, and others.� I didn't know them but because of "You Bring The Sun Out" they knew me.��
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Jessy:�Many of our readers know and love you from the�Gaither Gospel Series. How did�you meet Gaither�and become a part of�this series?
I became a part of the Gaither Gospel Series as a result of Bill Gaither calling me and asking me to come and sing on one of the videos they were doing.
I went and was asked to sing It's A Highway To Heaven".�George Youngs of the Cathedral Quartet shouted out "let's Keep Jessy", and the rest of the singers applauded.� Bill�say the reaction and I have been there�ever since.
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Larry:�From the Gaither videos you became part of the Gaither Road show. I actually say that in some ways you really "ARE THE SHOW". I know Dottie Rambo always would say, "I'm just wait for Jessy to come on so can wake everybody up and we can have church!" What is it like to have that weight on you. You surely have to realize Bill expects you to get everyone Holy Ghost'd out?
Jessy: Bill Gaither has always encouraged me to "make it happen".� I am very grateful for his confidence and trust that I will do my part whenever I am called upon.�
Larry: Speaking of Dottie.� You've recorded a lot of her songs and you two really did have a great friendship. Everywhere we went people would tell her how much they loved to hear "I've Never Been This Homesick Before" from the time you and she did it on the Gaither video. I know you sang and were a part of her funeral services. I was still in the hospital from being in the tour bus accident with her. I have to say in viewing the footage later Dottie would have been so proud of you. How did you hear and what went through your mind when you heard of her passing?
Jessy: My friendship with Dottie goes back to when she and I would do church concerts around the country.� We had a great friendship from that time on.� She never missed an opportunity to inspire me to keep going in the music field.� She would often call me and sing and play some new songs she had written over the phone, she would also share parts of her life with me that I will always cherish. One of the greatest memories I have of her was when I was asked to sing "I've Never Been This Homesick Before" on a Gaither video in Nashville I was told that she was back stage but not feeling well.�As I was singing I heard all this applause and there she was�standing next to me.� It was like I was having a beautiful dream but it was true.��
I was sitting �in the pastors office at my church, Family Christian Center for Sunday morning service when the Pastor walked in and said Dottie had just passed.�I went into shock and then began calling people around the country hoping that someone would tell me that it wasn't true.� That Sunday was like a nightmare.� I immediately started making preparation to go to Nashville.� When her funeral service began I was still in shock.... I was asked to sing "I Go To The Rock" one of her best compisitions and I don't remember much after that.� I received the nicest note from her daughter Reba telling me that I did alright and I am glad about that.
Larry: One of the coolest memories I have is riding in a limo with you, Dottie and Albertina Walker. I was with the King Of Gospel, Queen of Gospel and Queen of Gospel Soul. How long have you known Albertina Walker?
Jessy: The Queen of Gospel Soul, Albertina Walker has been an inspiration to me for years.� I first heard her sing when I was a teenager and have admired her ever since.� I never dreamed that my name would ever be elevated to the same status as hers, I am humbled by it. �
Larry: I notice a lot of the traditional quartets like say The Statesmen have a lot in common with the traditional black gospel sound and there seems to be some artists like yourself, Dottie, Andrae Crouch who actually can be that bridge between white and black Gospel. What is it like to have really the best of both worlds?
Jessy: It is really a wonderful thing to be one of the artists such as Dottie, Andrae Crouch and others who are that bridge between white and black gospel music.� I consider myself one of the most blessed gospel singers in the world when I look out and see such a wide cross cultural audience everywhere I go.�
Larry: One thing I have noticed is that Black Gospel music seems to have a larger audience than white gospel.�It's not uncommon to see�Black Gospel in television shows, in motion pictures and sell out concerts and sell millions of records.�White gospel really doesn't fair as well�unless it's a secular artist recording a gospel record or Gaither�who has in listed the help of major legendary people.�Why do you think that is?
Jessy: When the secular world thinks of gospel music their minds gravitate to black gospel music which to them is real gospel.� Therefore it has been my pleasure to appear and sing gospel in venues where other forms of gospel are basically not known.� It's because anyone who hears a black gospel song immediately knows what it is and appreciates it.�
Larry: A lot of people may not know that you have been an ordained minister since 1982. Have you actually performed weddings and presided over preaching services?
Jessy: In 1982 I became an ordained minister at Calvary Ministry Inc. International in Fort Wayne, Indiana�and after preaching sermons, performing weddings, doing crusades etc. I feel very comfortable with this new call on my life.� On June 13, 2006 I received�my��Doctorate of Divinity degree from the Faith Outreach Christian College in Tampa, Florida.� I am affectionately now known as Dr. J.�
Larry: Back to you being this incredible bridge and link in bringing music together. Paul Simon hears you at the Newport Jazz Festival and invites you to tour with him.� And your doing shows like Saturday Night Live, The Oprah Winfrey Show was it overwhelming?
Jessy: My life as a gospel singer keeps swinging back and forth between all musical worlds.� It�all began�with my being asked to appear at New York's famous Appollo Theater.� The next call was an appearance at New York's Carnegie Hall.� It wasn't long after that until I received an invitation to appear on the Newport Jazz Festival.� To my surprise after that appearance I received a phone call from Paul Simon of Simon and Garfunkel famed to come back to New York..... He was in the audience and invited me to tour and record with him for the next eight years.� After that I found myself appearing on TV's Saturday Night Live,The Oprah Winfrey Show, and �HBO specials etc. .� It was overwhelming.
Larry: While touring in England you met Cat Stevens and he of course instantly becomes a fan and introduces you to Susannah York and you co star with her in the Musical "Peace Child". You get critical acclaim and again built another bridge, this time to Broadway. You take a role in "The Black Nativity" which is still a major hit. When was the last time you toured in the Black Nativity and who have you performed with in the show?
Jessy: While touring in England I met secular song writer/singer Cat Stevens, who introduced me to Susannah York who gives me my first acting experience by having me co-star with her in the musical "Peace Child".� It was critically acclaimed and my next role was to star in the Broadway Show "Black Nativity" which still runs in Europe today.� Black Nativity gives me the opportunity to hire members of my gospel choir to travel and perform with me.�
Larry: Again you have a large country gospel�music fan base. People love to hear you do I've Never Been This Homesick, I Saw The Light, To much To Gain To Loose and songs like that. Do you have any favorite country singers?
Jessy: I was taught to love country gospel music as a result of my friendship and respect for Dottie.� People love to hear me do I've Never Been This Homesick, I Saw The Light, To Much To Gain To Loose and I Go To The Rock. Some of my favorite country singers are Vince Gill and George Strait.
Larry: I'm sure every reader by now is wondering who would you like to work with that you haven't been able to of any genre?
Jessy: I've had the pleasure of working with so many artists along the way�but�there is one artist�I still would �like to work with�and that�is Aretha Franklin.
Larry: Who have been some of your songwriting influences?
Jessy: Some of my song writing influences are number one�Dottie Rambo, Paul Simon, Gloria Gaither and Andrae Crouch.
Larry: You've really done it all, 5 Gold Records, 7 Grammy Nominations. Is there something you haven't done yet that you would like to?
Jessy: I have received 5 gold records, 7 Grammy nominations, Stella Award nominations, Dove Awards, New Christian Music Radio Mike Awards as Soul Male Artist 2008 and 2009 and just been inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame but I am not finished.� I still feel I have a ways to go.
Larry: So what is new in Jessy Dixon's life? What new projects are you working on that you would like to share with our readers?
Jessy: I am in the process of jump starting my gospel label "Gospel Ambassador Records Company" and it is keeping me very busy.� Tell everyone to look out for my new CD "Total Freedom' which is to be marketed in secular and gospel markets this years.
Larry: I want to thank you for being my friend. You were always kind to me. I remember we were doing a Gaither Concert in Louisville, KY and I was managing Dottie Rambo at the time and I was loading out and another famous artist bumped my cart and made all Dottie's CDs and tapes (back when we still had them) and they were all over the parking lot. I was down on my knees, buses were honking at me, nobody wiling to help me and then there was you and your nephew and you helped me (in one of your beautiful suits) pick up all Dottie's merch off lot in the rain. I will never forget that and I will never get all the great times I got to be around you and Dottie and I want to thank you for that. You have always been there whenever I have asked. I hope I can do the same for you. So again, thank you for being there.
Jessy: Here you go Larry I love you and Terelle sends his love to.�
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