ARTIST
DIRECTORY
Bishop
Joe Simon
"Spiritual
Mission Around The World"
Interviewed
by Cynthia Allen for Jamsource Magazine
Cynthia:
First let me say welcome to Jamsource Magazine
I have always loved your music and longed
followed your career, it's truly a pleasure
and honor to have you take time out of your
busy schedule for this interview. First let
me start by giving our readers a little back
ground information on Bishop Joe Simon you
were born in Simmesport, LA, you started singing
at a young age in your father's Baptist church;
a former rhythm and blues singer; received
a Grammy Award in 1970 for the Best Male R&B
Vocal Performance; had 3 number one hits on
the US Billboard R&B chart between 1969
and 1975; in 1999 received Pioneer Award by
the Rhythm and Blues Foundation; 2006 was
appointed Global Ambassador and Spiritual
Adviser to the World Conference of Mayors
and now holds the office as the second presiding
Bishop of the Mission Consortium of Churches
International in relationship with 700 islands
in the Bahamas and 365,000 people. In addition,
there are member churches throughout the United
Kingdom, United States and Haiti. Now you
are a full time minister also you have a new
CD titled "I've Done Wrong Forgive Me"
can you start by telling us what message do
you want people to get from this CD?
Bishop
Joe Simon: Yes, thank you it's my pleasure
to speak with you on today, well the new CD
is all about understanding and realizing that
everyone has done wrong in their life and
no one should never be afraid to as for forgiveness
when you knowingly and unknowingly have done
wrong.
Cynthia:
What are you religious beliefs?
Bishop
Joe Simon: I believe that there is one
God, One Faith and One Baptism.
Cynthia:
What made you decide to go from R&B music
to Gospel music?
Bishop
Joe Simon: It was my home training I was
baptized and raised in the church but I was
never saved, I had everything a man in life
could want in a material way but it didn't
fill a certain void I kept experiencing. In
the mid 80's I became more and more disenfranchised
with the music industry and the lifestyle
that surrounded many aspects of it. I began
a search to rediscover who I really was as
a person; I started reading the word of God
and slowly my new calling in life took form.
I even wrote a song about the experience titled
"Things Didn't Save Me".
Cynthia:
What do you feel is the difference between
the music you sing today as opposed to the
songs you use to do?
Bishop
Joe Simon: The message is totally different,
I feel R&B music is a fantasy; songs I
use to sing were morally right but spiritually
wrong because it was talking about the wrong
kind of love and the music I sing today is
about glorifying God.
Cynthia:
How do you feel about other artist sampling
your music and what do you think of the music
that's being played on radio today?
Bishop
Joe Simon: Taking someone's kindness for
weakness is just not right. I strongly disapprove
of people taking advantage of others just
because they can. Music is good and music
is bad, but music is extremely bad and destructive
when music is not used in a positive way.
As a minister, I say to you, all of us should
think about and imagine how our children feel
when the family and the community let's them
down. To play and promote provocative degrading
music that rapes the minds and the hearts
of our children is morally corrupt. Using
lyrics that call our children and grandchildren
prostitutes, the 'N' word and the 'B' word
is totally disrespectful, it is ugly, negative
and it is out of order, I tell you, it is
also very destructive to our youth, destructive
to the family and destructive to the community.
We as a family and a community are suffering
from this constant contagious global enemy
concerning this [so-called] 'music' conduct.
Billions of dollars are being made through
destroying our youth and our communities."
He
went on to say, "A city's economy is
only as good as its infrastructure, and its
infrastructure is only as good as the character
of the people. When our children listen to
offensive, belligerent, poisonous music it
is harmful and devastating to the character,
the well-being and the future of our children.
When you play and promote belittling, poisonous,
derogatory music it negatively affects the
thought process of our children in the community,
on a local, national and international basis,
and just because you can market and sell rude,
ill-mannered destructive music, it does not
mean that it is right. Music is a powerful
force, and we must address this issue in order
to help society."
Cynthia:
Do you feel our youth today are self destructing
because of lack of leadership and role model
in the home due to the fact that both parents
have to work just to make ends meet?
Bishop
Joe Simon: Jesus should be everyone's
role model but a lot of parents aren't spiritually
grounded and unless you are taught values
and morals how can you teach them because
knowledge is power?
Cynthia:
What advice would you give to young people
and upcoming artists?
Bishop
Joe Simon: Seek Jesus first, be obedient
and respectful.
Cynthia:
Who are some of the artists you listen to?
Bishop
Joe Simon: I really don't listen to a
lot of music I mostly listen to Gospel talk
radio.
Cynthia:
What are your political views and do you
think President Barack Obama is doing a good
job in spite of the problems he inherited
from the Bush Administration?
Bishop
Joe Simon: I feel he is the best President
we ever had, he is the Martin Luther King,
Jr. Dream and if we respect the dream then
we will respect him. Whenever a person or
a political party does not know how to follow,
then that person or that political party will
never know how to lead. That is why I endorse
President Obama, because he knows how to follow
and he knows how to lead.
Cynthia:
What are your views on pastors and preachers
in relation to the messages they preach verses
the lifestyles their living?
Bishop
Joe Simon: I feel a preachers job is to
preach thus said the Lord and if you believe
and are for real in what you are preaching
then you won't do the things that are contrary
to God's will.
Cynthia:
When your Community Crusades come to a
city I understand you visit quite a few facilities
in that city, tell me about that.
Bishop
Joe Simon: Yes the BJSCC visits youth
facilities, hospitals, nursing and retirement
centers and battered women's shelters. BJSCC
raises and donates money in each community
visited.
Cynthia:
What is something you want readers to know
about you and what can people expect when
they attend your Community Crusades?
Bishop
Joe Simon: That I always declare that
I was once lost but now I am found, if you
never recognize you were lost, and then you
can never be found. I am a good Christian
today because I was a good sinner, Jesus is
the Savior.
Cynthia:
Thank you again so much for allowing Jamsource
this interview it's been a pleasure talking
with you. Let me close with asking where can
someone find out more about Joe Simon Ministries
Community Crusade and your music?
Bishop
Joe Simon: For further information contact:
www.bishopjoesimonministries.org
1-800-779-0247.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION
(713) 204-9554
callenproductions1@yahoo.com
cynthia@callenproductions.com
