Jazzy Jordan

James “Jazzy” Jordan (born December 7, 1949) is the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Verity Gospel Music Group), a division of Sony Music Entertainment, INC.
Early life
Born to Robert and Naomi Jordan in Cheraw, South Carolina, Jordan, began his career at the age of ten working in his brother in-law’s B & L's Record store in New Haven, sweeping floors and in later years to come managing the store, until he decided to open and establish his own record store in New Haven called Black Wax Records.
James Jordan stated that his idol was , also known as, "The Chief Rocker". After two years of operating his store and attending college for Communications, he began working as a DJ at events and parties up and down the East Coast. Jordan was hired to work for Yale University as an announcer for their Urban Adult Contemporary radio station WYBC-FM and later working for WHNC-AM in New Haven. In four ratings periods, WHNC-AM went from a 0.08 rated station to 8.1 rated station.
Jordan acquired the nickname "Jazzy" in Oklahoma City after a "warm summer night" out for dancing while he was enlisted in the military. Jordan states that he danced with his male friend's girlfriend who stated to him, "too bad I'm involved with your friend because I really like you... you're really jazzy." Intrigued by her statement, Jordan eventually looked up the word "jazzy" in the dictionary, which was defined as, "a character, someone out of the norm, not an everyday person." Upon his liking, Jordan tagged the word to his name and the moniker of "Jazzy Jordan" followed him throughout his DJ, radio and music career.
Career
Jordan has worked in several areas within the music industry such as marketing, promotions, radio broadcasting, and retail.
At Tommy Boy Records from 1987 to 1989, Jordan delivered the seven-year-old label its only #1 R&B hit, "Love Is A House" from the Force MD's third album Touch and Go, topping the charts for two weeks.
From 1989 to 1992, working in his position as National Director of Black Music Promotion for RCA, Jordan assisted with successful second and third albums, How Ya Like Me Now and Knowledge Is King. How You Like Me Now was Kool Moe Dee's most successful album, achieving platinum status. Knowledge Is King went gold but received great accolades for I Go To Work, which is considered to be the most pinnacle of his work, illustrating quick lyrical delivery with a strong message.
Leading eight labels for PolyGram, Jordan played a role in the success of Very Necessary album.
Named as the Vice President of Black Music Marketing at Jive Records in 1995, Jordan worked with artists such as DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince (Will Smith), who on their second studio album, He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper, debuted the song, "", which sold over 4 million copies. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1989, one of only two acts to win that award. Jordan has worked with Joe on his platinum selling albums, All That I Am and My Name Is Joe, which became his best selling album to date, selling over 3 million copies. Jordan also worked on three of R. Kelly CD's titled R. Kelly, R., and TP-2.com, helping him to sell more than three million copies each. Jordan left Jive Records in 2000.
Jordan he also helped to launch Verity Records, the most successful gospel record label to date. During his tenure, Verity Records went from two artists consisting of John P. Kee and Vanessa Bell Armstrong,, where he is currently the Executive Vice President and General Manager. He has served as executive producer for GRAMMY®, Stellar and Dove award-winning projects such as The Fight Of My Life album, Thirsty and Here I Am album, Live In London album, Show Up album and many others.
Other Ventures
Reggie White and Jordan were friends. White would dream with Jordan about owning a race car team. In 2006, Jordan claimed ownership of the Jordan Racing Group. He teamed up with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing as co-entrant into 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 which aired that year on the America Broadcasting Company (ABC) channel during the month of May. He was one of only two African Americans to have ownership into the Indy 500 race car event, the other being NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony. Jordan's car placed 12th in the race.
In late 2005, Jordan stepped down from his Senior Vice President at Verity Gospel Music Group to start his own label, Jordan Entertainment Group,<ref name="Montague" /> whose roster consists of Koch Records, Angela Spivey, Darien Dennis, Izzy, Kingdom Voices, Kim Jordan, Phil Driscoll, Rev. Robert Lowe, Tony Terry, and the late Rev. Timothy Wright. Jordan returned back to Verity Gospel Music Group later in what he described as a "leading of God".
Work and Awards
Discography
* 2006: Together Again - Rev. Robert Lowe - Executive Producer
* 2006: Changed - Tony Terry - Executive Producer
* 2006: My Purpose - Derrick Horne - Executive Producer
* 2006: In Awe of You - Izzy - Executive Producer
* 2006: New Place - Darien Dennis and Living Worship - Executive Producer
* 2006: Full Circle - Kim Jordan - Executive Producer
* 2006: I Exalt Thee - Phil Driscoll - Executive Producer
* 2006: One Thing That I Desire - Kingdom Voices - Executive Producer
* 2007: Angela Spivey Live with the Voices of Victory - Angela Spivey - Executive
* 2007: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus - Rev. Timothy Wright - Executive Producer
* 2008: Family Prayer - The Murrills - Executive Producer
* 2008: Take It Back - Dorinda Clark-Cole - Executive Producer
* 2008: Fight of My Life - Kirk Franklin - Executive Producer
* 2008: Live in Miami - VIP Mass Choir Featuring John P. Kee - Executive Producer
* 2008: Revealed - Deitrick Haddon - Audio Production, Executive Producer
* 2008: And There Was Christmas - Various Artists - Executive Producer
* 2008: Total Attention - 21:03 - Executive Producer
* 2008: Just the Beginning - Kurt Carr - Executive Producer
* 2008: Souled Out - Pastor Hezekiah Walker - Executive Producer
* 2008: Crystal Aikin - Crystal Aikin - Executive Producer
* 2008: We All Are One (Live in Detroit) - Donnie McClurkin - Executive Producer
* 2008: Witness Protection - Dave Hollister - Executive Producer
* 2009: Shari Addison - Shari Addison - Executive Producer
* 2009: Law of Confession - Donald Lawrence - Executive Producer
* 2009: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - Ben Tankard - Executive Producer
* 2009: Love Unstoppable - Fred Hammond - Executive Producer
* 2010: Gotta Have Gospel!] Ultimate Choirs - Various Artists - Executive Producer
* 2010: Here I Am - Marvin Sapp - Executive Producer
* 2010: My Life's Lyric - DeWayne Woods - Executive Producer
* 2011: True Praises - Sunday Morning - Joscelyn Brown - Composer
* 2011: Legacy Project - John P. Kee - Executive Producer
* 2011: Church on the Moon - Deitrick Haddon - Executive Producer
* 2011: Hello Fear - Kirk Franklin - Executive Producer
* 2011: Promises - Richard Smallwood - Executive Producer
Filmography
* 2007: Byron Cage: Live at the Apollo - The Proclamation - Executive Producer
* 2009: Byron Cage: Faithful to Believe - Executive Producer
* 2010: Gotta Have Gospel! Ultimate Choirs - Executive Producer
* 2010: Marvin Sapp: Here I Am - Executive Producer

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