Unlike other kids, I never tried to hide the bad stuff from my mother. One day I might be in my room rehearsing to a New Edition song and the next I was 'running the streets, making people crazy.' Even as a child, I thought of myself as rebel who just did what I wanted.

One of the early songs I wrote for my new album I Still Believe was the soulful track 'Momma,' which talks directly about my own mother and the foolishness she had to deal with from me. While I've never been the family reunion kind of guy, I don't get back to Toledo much, but those memories are forever. It was in that city where I sang in church, performed at talent shows and got sent to prison when still in my teens. Artists like the soul star Anita Baker, pianist Art Tatum and singer Shirley Murdock once called it home. Toledo, Ohio, where I came from, has always been a place where wonderful culture was born. Is R&B dead? One track from J.Official Biography (courtesy of Lyfe Jennings) Banks exemplifies the depth and variety of the genre. While many challenge that R&B is inherently tender, J. Banks has produced a sound of his own that tells a story ranging from life in the hood to the pains of heartbreak. Tapping into his experiences as a bay area native and drawing inspiration from artists such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Usher, J. Banks has been called upon to sing hooks and background vocals with top Bay Area Artists such as Mistah F.A.B., Clyde Carson of The Team, and Turf Talk, not to mention countless producers such as Deandre Griffin (Keyshia Cole, Deborah Cox, Pink) and Tyquan (E-40, Keak Da Sneak, Turf Talk). He has matured into an incredibly talented singer and exceptional songwriter. He has since gone on to open up for groups such as Tony Tone Toni and Chico Debarge and later in Vegas the Aladdin, Fitzgerald's and The Hop. He gained more confidence while performing for family and winning various talent shows, such as Apollo in the City and Kimball's Bay Area Talent Search.

Jamie's first began to realize his dream of being a singer with his first R & B group called Shadow. However, his affinity for the art and his undeniable gift led him down the path of music, where he has remained ever since. As a boy, he discarded his talent for sports, deciding that the world he hails from would look more favorably upon a young black athlete. Banks defies limitations placed on him by skeptics and critics alike, to produce a sound so profoundly unique, that one would be hard pressed to not take notice. The streets of East Oakland, CA are renowned for begetting hardened souls and criminal activity, hardly the birthing place of an R&B singer.

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