Meet Rufus Johnson | Gospel Artist, Teacher & Philanthropist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rufus Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rufus, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
I feel like a habit that has helped me succeed would definitely be Consistency. That’s always a challenge for me even now, but I recognize that as an important factor is the success or failure of an endeavor. I’ve taken time to develop my skills in various areas, but without the consistency to produce, all that practice and skill is in vain. For example, when trying to grow my Youtube channel, I had to really brainstorm ideas and come up with a plan of action. I had ideas swirling around my head, but until I wrote them down, set due dates, and went to work implementing, those ideas were left unattained.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a singer first and foremost. All of my stamp in the world is connected to my voice. I’ve been singing since the 7th grade and I immediately saw how people were effected by the gift I was given. I think this taught me my first lesson about people and how they influenced by art, specifically music. From there I was hooked! I’ve always set myself apart from other singers and artists because I really pay close attention to those that came before me, not just musically, but in business and how they saw the world as a whole. I feel like music requires you to develop a keen ability to listen and observe before reacting or responding, and that is something I carry with me in every aspect of my life.

Professionally, I’ve gotten where I am over time for sure. I have a Degree in Music Education and I’ve been a teacher for almost 20 years. In parallel, I’ve been recording and performing music for many years, mostly for fun. I performed in clubs and events for many years, sharpening my skills as a performer. My first serious jump into releasing music was in 2010. I put out a single just to prove that I could really. I then joined a group called G.I. in 2015 and had my first taste of success in the music industry. With our singles “Pray and Don’t Worry” and “I’m Ready”, I learned a lot of lessons about the business of music and some of the inner workings of the industry, both good and bad. After my time with the group, I took a break then released what I call “real” first single “Thank You” in 2020. That was a test of my faith to even do it. I wasn’t sure I could even accomplish the goal without the machine I had with G.I. I had to make some serious decisions and commit to the goal, or there was no point in trying. There are always bumps in the road and times where I questioned if I needed to continue to push. I had to really commit at a point for it to go well. And it has, peaking at #15 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay Charts!!

I want the world to always associate Rufus Johnson with great feel good music and media that speaks to the soul and has exudes class and quality. I want to always put out music that is thought provoking while also feeling really good to play on repeat.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, being from Richmond, Virginia, I’m always impressed by the amount of culture and rich past here. If I were to highlight places in my city, we would definitely eat well!! I’d take them to some of our staples like Lee’s Fried Chicken, The Croaker Spot, Sugar’s Crab Shack, and Southern Kitchen just to name a few. We’d check out the Maggie L. Walker Memorial, Mr. Bojangles statue and visit the Arthur Ashe Center. I’d take them to Verses Open Mic night on Tuesday night. We’d ride around Shockoe bottom listening to Richmond native D’Angelo’s classic albums. I’d stop by the River Walk on the James River where some of the first slaves were dropped off and walked those very paths into captivity. We’d check out live shows at Browns’ Isle during the Summer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Sure. I’d love to be able to take all the credit for my successes, but my Wife Kristen has been very instrumental in my success in the past 5+ years. Her infusion of ideas, motivation, inspiration and support have been the catalyst for positive change in my life. She’s my best friend, and on a daily basis we are talking and finding inspiration for new ways to succeed and become agents of change in the lives of not just ourselves, but for others around us.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamrufusjohnson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rufusj

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmCWD8EexrxtOZhrtHcKJtA

Other: Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/Iamrufusjohnson

Image Credits
Sean King