The term “Renaissance man” has been applied to individuals who have “acquired profound knowledge or proficiency in more than one field.” This description is most certainly applicable to JC Jones, a 23-year-old entertainer, who is making his mark on the show business world as a musician, actor and model.
Attendees at the 36th Annual Nicky Awards, being held at The LGBT Center on Aug. 28, will be able to see one portion of his sure-fire determination, as he is slated to perform his latest single, “Let Me Love You,” which is fitting as his adoration of music was his first introduction into becoming an all-encompassing entertainer.
At the tender age of five, Jones began singing in his church choir in Benton, La., and showcased a sound and understanding of music that was well beyond his young years, thus launching his dream about becoming a full-fledged star.
And the stars continued to align for him, when he happened upon a passion for fashion during his high school years, all under the tutelage of well-known designer Tiffany Walker, who helped to steer him into the world of modeling. He parlayed his modeling gigs into another opportunity to appear before the cameras, by exploring the world of acting.
Upon moving to Los Angeles, Jones scored roles on The Closer and Glee, while he continued to stick his finger in the different pies that Tinsel Town has to offer. Yet, he has remained true to who he is as a human being, by aligning himself with charities such as The BLINK Project, a campaign that focuses on the prevention and awareness of HIV/AIDS.
San Diego LGBT Weekly chatted with Jones about his multi-faceted approach to the entertainment business, how he has sustained his lifelong passion and where he sees himself – and his career – in five years time.
San Diego LGBT Weekly: You got your start in music at the age of five. What has kept it a lifelong passion for you?
JC Jones: Always since I was younger I loved to be an entertainer, and I always knew that was what I was destined to be. And, it brought me so much joy from entertaining people and singing. I don’t know what it does to me, but it always makes me feel so happy. So that is why I always have fun doing it.
How did you become interested in the fashion industry?
When I was in high school, I met a woman by the name of Tiffany Walker, who is a fashion designer. I took a liking to fashion through her company, and I love to create things and that fueled my love for fashion, which, in turn, infused fashion with entertainment, and that’s why I love all of that.
Was it a difficult decision to leave your friends and family behind in Louisiana in favor of pursuing your passions in LA?
Yes, it was a bit of a culture shock, because I’m so used to laying low key and being in The South, and that Southern hospitality. And when I moved here, it was completely different; it took awhile for me to get used to it at first.
How did you begin to realize that you wanted to add acting to your resume?
Well, I’ve always been a character (laughs) for anybody that knows me knows that I have quite a personality, to say the least. When I moved here, people told me I should really try acting, because I had originally moved to LA to model. They said you should really try your hand in acting, and there was an agent who was interested in representing me, and the rest is history.
What was the experience of being on Glee like?
It was amazing! I had never been around so many talented people that were my age, all at once. And that was an experience that I will never forget; everybody was so nice. It was like I was literally living on Fame. Right now, actually, we are in discussions about being back on the series. So, we’ll see where my character goes, or what they will do with my character.
You have stated that you want to set a positive image for the African American male, where you feel that positive influences are scarce. How do you go about achieving that?
I think I can achieve that by basically not settling, or not falling into stereotypes. I want to do what people haven’t done before, and I want to be the next Michael Jackson or male version of Beyoncé. I want to cross racial barriers, and I want to cross generations.
How important is it for you on a personal level to be involved with charities, such as The BLINK Campaign?
My grandmother and my mother taught me to be in a place to help other people, and that’s what I want to do. I want to be one of those people that just gives back, because it’s such a very, very important part of my life.
How does it feel to have released your first EP? Has the experience been everything that you had dreamed about since childhood?
Yes, and it becomes very overwhelming at times, because I think that I’m just this normal person; but when I go back home, or even sometimes when I’m walking through the mall and people recognize me; I get nervous when people recognize me.
It’s really interesting and I’m trying to get used to it. I’m kinda shy, and when I don’t know people; it’s an oxymoron. When I perform, I have so much energy and people expect me to be like that in my everyday life. And when you see me in person, I’m very, very shy at first, so, it’s taking some getting used to.
Where would you like to see your career in five years time?
In five years I see me working on my second and third album, touring the world and being a household name. I want to be in a couple of movies by then. I just want to be a Renaissance man.
To keep up with JC Jones’ Renaissance man approach to the world of entertainment, log onto jcjonesofficial.com.
