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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.