Born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, singer/songwriter Travis J has extensive experience working behind the scenes - writing, publishing, recording and performing in various genres from R&B to Jazz and Gospel/CCM. He has participated in both live and studio projects with a large variety of artists including platnum selling artists such as Hillsong and Darrell Evans.

Travis J's first single, "I'll Wait" (produced by Malachi Mott) will be released worldwide on Sept. 23 through all major digital outlets. For booking or inquries, contact Travis J's artist page on Facebook or visit www.travisj.club.

Sit back and listen to a few of the songs I've written over the years. Hopefully this will give you a good overview of my work and insight into what gives me great joy. Maybe your heart will be warmed and uplifted as well... that would give me greater joy.
Enjoy.
 
Here's my story...
Gerald "Jerry" Piper, grew up in a musician's home. My father is a bass guitar player and worked with regional R&B groups, recording original songs and giged on the college circuit. I watched rehearsals and writing/recording sessions since childhood. My love of music came early with piano lessons at age five from Aunt Jean. She would play and my mom would add her beautiful soprano voice, singing some old standard. Those days were awe-inspiring. I carried on the family tradition by singing in church and playing drums in the school orchestra. At the age of seventeen I began writing protest songs on the guitar my parents bought me for Christmas. Somehow, being the next Bob Dylan just didn't quite fit my personna, so I turned to what I knew and loved best. Gospel music. Not long after I put together my first gospel group of school friends. This experience put me on the path of no return and set the course of my future. Through the years I continued writing and singing my songs whenever the opportunities were available. At the age of eighteen I moved to Tulsa, OK to attend Trinity Bible College and met many people who had great influence on my work and career development. Stephanie Boosahda was among the first of people I met and she had just recorded her first album of self-penned tunes. I was inspired and began to consider doing the same. During my first year in Tulsa I went to an Andrae Crouch concert at ORU. The group that opened the show was Terry Law's "Living Sound, Intl." I was amazed by their presentation, missions-based focus and contemporary sound and thought to myself, "I'd love to be in a group like that." As I continued singing around the Tulsa area my songs were heard by a man named Dony McGuire who was in Gospel music's #1 group in the nation, "The Downings." They also happened to be my favorite recording group as well. Within two weeks I was on a flight to Nashville, TN and signed contracts for The Downings to record two of my songs. On the Downings next two consecutive projects they recorded "Mary Had the Sweetest Little Lamb" and "Lift Him Higher" which was published in the Greentree Songbook vol. 2. The ball started rolling for my musical career at this point. In the spring of 1978 I was asked to join an experimental team with Living Sound called "Miracle Song" featuring veteran Living Sound singer Bev Schmidgall. Later that year I was teamed up as lead male vocalist with Living Sound's Team 2 and travelled Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United States doing evangelistic musical missions outreach. When my tenure with Living Sound ministries came to a close, I attended RHEMA Bible Training Center in Tulsa, OK and became one of the "RHEMA Singers." After graduating I set my sights on continuing in music ministry going solo. My first recording project was soon released with Castle Records and I began traveling across the States offering concerts and teaching ministry. This continued for a period until my heart took a turn for working in the local church. I became a worship leader and have continued in that element ever since. Periodically I have done some work outside of that element, such as becoming one of the founding members of "Fortress" whose ministry is still thriving under the direction of former nationally syndicated Gospel music DJ "Dr. D." Through the years my songs have been recorded by many various artists and sung on virtually every continent on the globe. My music education brought me back as a non-traditional student to Southern Illinois University where I studied "Music/Theater" under the direction of Dr. Jeanine Wagner and Richard Best, former soloist with the Metropolitan Opera. While in school I enjoyed working in their equity Summer Playhouse where I played "File" in the Broadway musical "110 in the Shade" under the direction of Cash Baxter and George Penny. Recently, a new recording by J. Michael Carter entitled "Broken People" has been released with six songs that I have written or co-written. The project is very uplifting. Also, Ann Downing (former founding member of the "Downings") has recently contracted three of my songs for her "Sweet Scarlet" publishing house. Things continue to look up!!!! Last, my brother, Kevin Piper, is beginning to come into his own as a writer/singer with the help of some friends at the Elkville Christian Church. I've included one of the tunes I helped him write for his first CD entitled "Surrender All." Jerry and his wife, Lonnie, live and work in Oklahoma City, OK.

i am not the person in my profile picture lmao
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