James Fortune (born November 29, 1978) is a two-time Grammy Award-nominated gospel music recording artist, songwriter and producer. He is also a radio personality on 1190 AM WLIB.

Education and early life


James is a graduate of Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas, and attended Cal State Northridge. He was a choir director at Higher Dimension Church in SW Houston, TX. Higher Dimension church was organized on January 23, 1999 at Judy Bush Elementary School. Under the leadership of Pastor Terrance Johnson, Higher D has grown from 29 members in 1999 to more than 12,000 with 10 operative lead ministries and a host of sub-ministries that cater the needs of kids, youth, men, women, couples and singles.

Music career


James Fortune & FIYA’s highly anticipated debut CD, "You Survived" was released in September 2004. He was honored at the 19th annual ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards for his hit single "You Survived" off the same album. "You Survived" also peaked as the No. 2 most played Gospel song in the country and has remained in the Top 7 for the last 3 years. The radio single, "God Can" features Micah Stampley and upcoming gospel artist Zacardi Cortez. James Fortune received a 2006 ASCAP Writers Award for "You Survived" alongside some of music’s finest like L.L. Cool J., Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin and J. Moss. FIYA has been nominated four years in a row for the Texas Gospel Youth & Young Adult Choir of the year. They have been featured on Eric Carrington’s album, "Soar".
FIYA has been blessed to open up for various artists such as, John P. Kee, Kim Burrell, Stevie Wonder, Mary Mary, Donald Lawrence, Albertina Walker, Fred Hammond, Tye Tribbett & G.A. and many others. FIYA made their mark in the gospel arena when they participated in the "One Church Tour" with some other gospel greats such as Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers, RiZen, Smokie Norful, and Vickie Yohe.
James Fortune and F.I.Y.A.'s second project on Black Smoke Music World Wide (formerly World Wide), "The Transformation", was released January 22, 2008. The first single "I Trust You" is dominating Gospel radio with 25 weeks straight at No. 1 and counting. Because of its crossover appeal, "I Trust You" was No. 30 on Urban AC charts and No. 1 at WLIB in New York City.
In 2012, James was nominated for two Grammy awards for Best Gospel Album of the Year and Best Gospel Song of Year, and topped Billboard's "Best of 2012 Gospel Songs/Artists List". [1] In 2014, James Fortune released his first Live CD titled "Live Through It".
On an BET episode of "Lift Every Voice" host CoCo Brother, James Fortune is interviewed and reveals the history behind writing the hit song "I Trust You." In 2014, Fortune and FIYA released their first live recording, "Live Through It." The album was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia in front of an audience of 5,000 people.

Radio career


In 2013, James Fortune became the evening host on 1190 AM WLIB, which was acquired by Emmis Communications in February 2014. He is on-air Mondays through Fridays from 7pm to 9pm.

Legal troubles


In 2003 James Fortune pleaded guilty to felony injury to a child and received six years deferred adjudication. According to a civil lawsuit, Fortune burned his stepson leaving the boy disfigured with severe burns over nearly 50% of the child's body. In October 2014, Fortune was arrested in Fort Bend County, TX after a heated dispute with his wife, Cheryl Fortune, and was charged with aggravated assault of a family member. Fortune was later released on $20,000 bail.

Discography


You Survived (2004)
The Transformation (2007)
Encore (2010)
I Believe: Live (2010)
Identity (2012)
Grace Gift (2012)
Live Through It (2014)
Dear Future Me (2017)

References


External links


Fortune's Myspace site
Review of "You Survived" album

Did it All For ME Did it All For ME - James Fortune

I AM I AM - James Fortune

All I Want All I Want - James Fortune

All I Want All I Want - James Fortune

Nobody Like Jesus Nobody Like Jesus - James Fortune

Let Your Power Fall Let Your Power Fall - James Fortune

Alright Alright - James Fortune

All For Me All For Me - James Fortune

I Believe I Believe - James Fortune

He's Mighty He's Mighty - James Fortune

Empty Me Empty Me - James Fortune

I Trust You I Trust You - James Fortune

Last Word Last Word - James Fortune

Wait on You Wait on You - James Fortune

Prayer Saved My Life Prayer Saved My Life - James Fortune

Worship The King Worship The King - James Fortune

Revealed Revealed - James Fortune

My Life - Tribute My Life - Tribute - James Fortune

If You Want To If You Want To - James Fortune

My Life My Life - James Fortune

 It's Gonna Happen It's Gonna Happen - James Fortune

Help Me Help Me - James Fortune

Holy Is Our God Holy Is Our God - James Fortune

My Father Knows My Father Knows - James Fortune

Still Able Still Able - James Fortune

With You With You - James Fortune

Forever Forever - James Fortune

Favor of God Favor of God - James Fortune

Battle Is Over Battle Is Over - James Fortune

I Wouldn't Know You I Wouldn't Know You - James Fortune

Trade It All Trade It All - James Fortune

I Owe All I Owe All - James Fortune

You Survived You Survived - James Fortune

Forward Forward - James Fortune

It Will All Work Out It Will All Work Out - James Fortune

Identity Identity - James Fortune

The Blood The Blood - James Fortune

With You With You - James Fortune

I Need Your Glory I Need Your Glory - James Fortune

It Could Be Worse It Could Be Worse - James Fortune

Worth It Worth It - James Fortune

What If? What If? - James Fortune

Expectation Expectation - James Fortune

I Want to Praise You I Want to Praise You - James Fortune

Throw My Hands Up Throw My Hands Up - James Fortune

Live Through It Live Through It - James Fortune

Encore Encore - James Fortune

I Am I Am - James Fortune

We Serve We Serve - James Fortune

Hold On Hold On - James Fortune

Dear Future Me Dear Future Me - James Fortune

No Filter No Filter - James Fortune

Best Praise Best Praise - James Fortune

Do A Work Do A Work - James Fortune

Make a Sound Make a Sound - James Fortune

Joy Joy - James Fortune

Welcome Home Welcome Home - James Fortune

Miracles Miracles - James Fortune

I Forgive Me I Forgive Me - James Fortune

Greatest Days Greatest Days - James Fortune

Never Let Me Down Never Let Me Down - James Fortune

I'm Good I'm Good - James Fortune

Bounce Back Bounce Back - James Fortune

We Welcome We Welcome - James Fortune

Built For This Built For This - James Fortune

My God My God - James Fortune

But God But God - James Fortune

God Can God Can - James Fortune

Never Again Never Again - James Fortune

The Way You See Me The Way You See Me - James Fortune

Dream Again Dream Again - James Fortune

Grace Gift Grace Gift - James Fortune

More Like You More Like You - James Fortune

Dream Again Dream Again - James Fortune

Never Forsake Me Never Forsake Me - James Fortune

Forever Reprise Forever Reprise - James Fortune

The Greatest The Greatest - James Fortune

F.I.Y.A. F.I.Y.A. - James Fortune

Just Smile Just Smile - James Fortune

Love Came Down Love Came Down - James Fortune

My Letter My Letter - James Fortune

The Curse Is Broken The Curse Is Broken - James Fortune

Holy Night Holy Night - James Fortune

Here2Hear Here2Hear - James Fortune

There Ain't Nothing There Ain't Nothing - James Fortune

Trusting God Trusting God - James Fortune

Praise Break Praise Break - James Fortune

Hold On Hold On - James Fortune

God Held Me Together God Held Me Together - James Fortune

You Still Love Me (Interlude) You Still Love Me (Interlude) - James Fortune

Don't Count Me Out Don't Count Me Out - James Fortune

I'm Healed By The Blood I'm Healed By The Blood - James Fortune

It's Gonna Happen It's Gonna Happen - James Fortune

Committed Committed - James Fortune

It Will All Work Out Reprise It Will All Work Out Reprise - James Fortune

We Give You Glory Reprise We Give You Glory Reprise - James Fortune

It's In You It's In You - James Fortune

We Give You Glory We Give You Glory - James Fortune

He Always Makes A Way He Always Makes A Way - James Fortune

You Are Here You Are Here - James Fortune

Can't Live (U) Can't Live (U) - James Fortune

You've Been You've Been - James Fortune

Couldn't Be Me Couldn't Be Me - James Fortune

Christmas Time Christmas Time - James Fortune

The Halftime Show (Favor Of God Reprise) The Halftime Show (Favor Of God Reprise) - James Fortune

I Wouldn't Love Me I Wouldn't Love Me - James Fortune

Where Are You Now (Interlude) Where Are You Now (Interlude) - James Fortune

Dear Mirror Dear Mirror - James Fortune

Light The Way Light The Way - James Fortune

Voyage Voyage - James Fortune

I Forgive Me Reprise I Forgive Me Reprise - James Fortune

Free Indeed Free Indeed - James Fortune

Praise Anthem Praise Anthem - James Fortune

It Gets Better It Gets Better - James Fortune

You Rescued Me You Rescued Me - James Fortune

Light The Way Reprise Light The Way Reprise - James Fortune

For a Long Time For a Long Time - James Fortune

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Albums & Songs

  • Walked in (She-Mix) [feat. DJ Caliroyce, Rappin Queen, Kat St John, Mazii Mone't, Richelle Gemini, Jazz Anderson, Bosslady Jaye, Surreall, B.O.S.S, Guch & FIYA]
  • Yo Radio
  • You
  • Love Seed
  • Babylon Ya Fallin'
  • One
  • Wine Party
  • 1st Off
  • Kool Kid (Feat. Alex)
  • Get Doe
  • Leavin
  • P****y Money Music
  • 2nd Off
  • Bonafide Grind
  • Pay for It
  • Souljia
  • Show You
  • Alive
  • Brand New World
  • Who Iam
  • Im Ready
  • Coming Up
  • On tha Run
  • Unknown Legend
  • Itz like Magik
  • Magic Words
  • Bad Blood
  • Rattlesnake Blues
  • King
  • Rushes
  • You Are On Your Way
  • Custody
  • Coming True
  • If You Don't
  • Pure Joy
  • Lousiana Fiya
  • Stuntin Is a Habit
  • F*** Yall
  • Gotta Hustle
  • Lookin for Me
  • I.M.A.G.
  • Street Mindz Ni***
  • On the Run
  • Dreams
  • Waitin
  • Small City Threat
  • I'm Ya Step Mama
  • I'm Ya Step Mama
  • Intro
  • Tear It Up
  • Test Me
  • It's On
  • I Apologize
  • Fuckem' Up Fiya
  • Cut Buddy
  • Freestyle
  • Warning, Pt. 2
  • Act a Fool
  • Turn Back the Hands
  • Blazin' Hot
  • Hustla 4 Life
  • Shout Outs
  • Off da Chain
  • Represent That
  • Smile
  • Guns In the House
  • Lions
  • Tell Your Children
  • Further
  • Little Babies
  • New Dog
  • The Problem
  • Revelry
  • Born to Do