“When I first started writing I was just writing. What came out of it was organic,” Bishop Jason Nelson said about his newly-released album “The Answer” on RCA Inspiration, home of Kirk Franklin, Michelle Williams and Marvin Sapp.
“I was just writing good music that was relevant to my walk, to the producer’s walk and discovered ‘The Answer’ is what we should be talking about.”
Nelson’s fifth album, “The Answer,” was recorded live at his church The Tabernacle at Greater Bethlehem Temple in Randallstown, Md.
Released on May 18, the album was led by the first single titled “Forever” co-written by his wife Tonya Nelson.
“I can’t thank anyone but God for putting that in my wife’s head,” Nelson said about the concept for the song.
His wife Tonya came into a room, where Jason and his music partner worked, singing a hook she made up. Nelson said that he and his music partner both looked at each other and instantly knew it was a song.
“Once it was written she wanted credit,” Jason laughed.
When asked if he gave his wife the songwriting credit she asked for he answered, “Of course!”
He noted that his wife wouldn’t call herself a singer but that she “can sing.”
Bishop Nelson’s last album, “Jesus Revealed,” debuted at number one on the Billboard “Gospel Albums Chart” and its single “I Am” remained at number one for 20 weeks.
His first album titled, “I Shall Live,” debuted in 2005. Since then his career as a songwriter has led him to work with and write songs for label mate Marvin Sapp and Donald Lawrence.
For the last 11 years, Nelson has served as the head pastor of his father’s church, The Tabernacle at Greater Bethlehem Temple.
At one point in his life Bishop Nelson did not want to follow in his father’s footsteps to be a pastor, but that’s exactly what he did in 2007 when his father retired.
“It’s just about me being open to instruction,” Bishop Nelson said about the big turn-around that led to him accepting the call to lead his father’s church.
“I was open. It just didn’t happen overnight though. I really wasn’t having it, but he turned it around. I’ve been 15 years active in the ministry. What we are called to do is not always easy.”
Serving as pastor at The Tabernacle hasn’t been an easy road for Nelson whose career was deep into music by the time his father retired.
“It takes effort, time, intuition . . . trusting in God,” he said.
“The Answer” offers 14 songs with featured vocalists Dove Award nominee Jonathan Nelson [Bishop Jason Nelson’s brother], Maranda Curtis and Naomi Raine.
You can learn more about Bishop Jason Nelson, his church, or his new project “The Answer” by logging onto his website at www.JNelsonOnline.com.