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Vocalist
James C. Morant |
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James Morant was born in Baltimore,
Maryland. He began singing in church at an early age,
but did not find his niche as a soloist until a choir
director heard him singing in the background at a music
taping session. He was asked to be a lead vocalist at
the very next concert given by that choir director.
Since then, James has directed choirs on his own,
performed at the Smithsonian Institution and Arena Stage
in Washington, the Meyerhof Symphony Hall in Baltimore,
Cobo Hall in Detroit, the Camden Yards Stadium (before a
hometown crowd of 25,000) in Baltimore, and many other
venues in the United States and abroad.
He was a member of the Gospel Music Workshop of America,
serving as the director of its Maryland chapter for five
years and directing the 2,500-voice National Recording
Choir as it rehearsed for its recording session in St.
Louis. He was a featured vocalist with the group
"Tabernacle" in performances in France at the Montauban
Jazz Festival and the Ramparts Jazz Festival, and at the
Vittoria-Gastiez Jazz Festival in Spain. He was
co-lyricist for a special composition performed by him
at Windsor Castle in London before members of the Royal
Family, and then he went on to perform in Paris with
famed jazz organist Rhoda Scott and Duke Ellington Award
Winner, Lavelle. He then performed with 100 Voix (a
multicultural 100-voice gospel choir based in France) as
it performed in Caen.
He attends New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, and
is an active member of its Music Ministry, singing with
its Praise Team, the Church Choir, and the Chancel
Choir. He is frequently called upon by his Pastor,
Bishop Walter Scott Thomas, to render inspirational
solos during the "praise and worship" phases of the
Sunday services. James has a smooth vocal style, often
wringing the very last ounce of emotion from a lyric. He
can also transform himself and the mood with a burst of
power and range, evoking a different emotional intensity
from an audience.
James retired from Federal service at the US
Environmental Protection Agency in July, 2009, after
39.5 years. He was Senior Advisor for the International
Organizations Program, with responsibility for several
multilateral environmental initiatives on behalf of the
United States. He resides in Baltimore, with his wife
Barbara, and his two children, James and April. |
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