Born and raised in Atlanta, GA of his father's church, there is no denying his southern influence. Filling in from a young age on any instrument that was needed in that lively pentecostal church, he quickly began molding his musical roots in black gospel and hymns. It was clear through his youth, he was being groomed to be a musical figure in the church world but like many of us, he realized there was more to life and more to faith than “church”.