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“I Plan on Making Sure Jesus’ Stock
Goes Public.”
Tonex–the ninetyandnine.com
Interview
By Lamont
Jones
January 31, 2005
Tonex (pronounced Toe-nay, also the title of
his debut CD) is one of the top-selling gospel artists in the world. (Hits
include “God Has Not 4got,” “To Know You More.”) He has been praised by critics
for his innovative style and the creativity in his music.
Yet there is more to him than hit songs, as
I found out when I sat down for an interview with him. This is a man who is
driven to do God's work and to take down the devil. He thinks Out The Box
(the title of his latest CD) when it comes to the things of God. This interview
took place during December 2004.
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90&9:
Can you discuss you Apostolic background and when you
received the Holy Ghost?
Tonex: Received the Holy Ghost on July 9, 1982
in VBS Apostolic Faith Temple in San Diego. We would tarry for the Holy Ghost
every Friday. I was 7-years-old when I received the Holy Ghost. You couldn't
play the instruments on the platform until you were Spirit-filled. (How can you
play and deliver other people and not [be] deliver[ed] yourself?) The church was
the foundation of Tonex. My spiritual father is Dwayne Sheppard.
90&9:
What has surprised you the most about your success?
T: How long it took to get to
this place. Thought I would be at this stage a lot sooner in my career.
90&9:
What surprised you the least?
T: I thought when you signed a contract that fireworks
would go off. That meant that all your worries would be over. When I signed, I
thought I would see a sign. The sign I saw was work. I was least surprised about
haters. But I still respect what the haters are doing.
90&9:
Has there been a ministry moment that no money could
equal?
T: Full Gospel Baptist church in Little Rock,
Arkansas, power of God was moving throughout the whole concert. Twenty-one
people came up to be baptized and I asked the pastor if I could baptize the
people in Jesus name. And the pastor agreed. That's discipleship. And doing what
God said to do.
90&9:
Now on your live recording you speak in tongues a lot. Did
your label give you any flak about that?
T: They did ask if I really wanted to have the song
called “The Truth” on the CD and DVD. First time ever the Apostolic message had
been proclaimed ever on CD or DVD. The director said it would stir up a lot of
controversy. I said people could hit me on my message board. You have to carry
the fruits of the spirits when you speak in tongues. It's the theological truth.
Acts 4:12. Jesus is the only name that can save. I just repeated it to the
audience. It was an Apostolic anointing on this project.
90&9:
Do you think gospel music has lost some its anointing?
T: Thankfully that gospel is getting back to the
anointing. It wasn't lost, but it was surpassed trying to reach commercial
success.
90&9:
Who influenced you musically?
T: Mainstream—Billy Joel, Elton, Jackson, Bjork, Beck,
Morissette, [the] Chemical Brothers. My father made sure that he wanted me to
hear other genres. He is doing it for kingdom. What does it profit a man to gain
the whole world and lose his own soul? Walter Hawkins was the biggest influence
on me—Love Alive. The album was a breakthrough record.
90&9:
How much does TV influence your music?
T: I am the youngest of six boys. There is a 12-year
gap between me and my next brother. So I kept myself occupied with American pop
culture. Commercials, voiceovers. Taxi meant it was time to go bed. I
could listen to the theme, but then I had to go bed. Family Feud—I
thought the theme song was shoutin’ music. I thought they put a game show to
church music.
In Philly, last year on the 21st floor of my
hotel, I start writing the words to “Games,” and by the time I got to the lobby,
the song was written. A choir was singing the song to the music of Family
Feud. No one has done anything like that before.
90&9:
Do you prefer live recording or studio recordings?
T: Studio is what I prefer. A controlled environment.
I get to stack my own harmony. Get to paint. I can make an orchestra of my own
voice. Live is good because it’s not rehearsed.
90&9:
What are your immediate plans for the future?
T: To invade mainstream pop culture for Jesus. To make
sure Jesus’ stock goes public. Make sure the kingdom is manifested in every way.
Everyone would have laughed until The Passion of the Christ.
90&9:
Rapid Fire questions: Favorite sports/favorite sport team?
T: Redskins. Lakers.
90&9:
If you could have dinner with one person living and one person from the past,
who would they be and why?
T: Past: My grandfather Amadeus—because I want to see
how much we are alike. Way ahead of his time. Very giving and eclectic.
Living: Nelson Mandela/Michael
Jackson…doesn't use utensils and we could eat mashed potatoes with our hands.
Jesus for dessert :-)
90&9:
What do you do when you are away from music to relax?
T: Watch a lot of Golden Girls and The
Cosby Show. Real TV. Simple and you could relate to (Cosby). No special
effects. Good writing.
90&9:
One word to describe these people—Kirk Franklin.
T: Short.
90&9:
Fred Hammond.
T: Big.
90&9:
John P. Kee
T: Raw. As real as they come.
90&9:
Yolanda Adams
T: Tall.
90&9:
What is your favorite Bible story?
T: Climb a tree to see Jesus. Zaccheus. Real simple.
Will never forget it. We won't even get up to go to church. Since you are doing
that much to see me, I am going to your house. When we climb up to see him, that
is when He comes to our house.
ninetyandnine.com
© 2005 Lamont
Jones
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Lamont Jones
lives in the Denver metropolitan area.
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