We recently had the chance to connect with Jordan Patterson and have shared our conversation below.
Jordan, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
Very few people know that I’ve been writing my memoir while quietly producing a music project for a Los Angeles-based music group. What makes me most proud is that very few people are aware of how and where my journey started. I love the idea of believing that our dreams can become the foundation or road map to what’s possible in our futures. I grew up listening to various styles of music and groups in my childhood bedroom. Now, having the chance to work alongside some of those artists later in life has been a dream come true. My life is a prime example of what’s possible in life, and that dreams come true!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jordan Patterson, named after U.S. Civil Rights activist Clarence Jordan. As the youngest of nine, I share a birthday with blues legend Howlin’ Wolf. Music—especially blues, funk, soul, and R&B—has always been my passion. At 13, a friend snuck me into The James Cotton Blues Band at the Coronet Motor Hotel in Kitchener, Ontario, a night that changed my life.
I grew up surrounded by my siblings’ hand-me-down records and my mother’s infectious enthusiasm for Elvis. My parents, both retired professors in Ontario, Canada, fostered my love of learning and respect for history: my father, E. Palmer Patterson II, is known for his scholarship on the First Nations People of Canada, while my mother, Nancy-Lou Patterson, founded the university’s Fine Arts department. As white Americans shaped by the civil rights movement before emigrating to Canada in the late 1950s, they brought a strong awareness of justice and equality into our family. Their unwavering love and dedication empowered me, their adopted mixed-race child of German and Jamaican heritage, to embrace my identity and chart my own course.
After years of traveling across North America and Europe, I transitioned from a music career to the entertainment industry in the early 2000s. Over the past 20 years, I have helped develop co-branding strategies, managed corporate partnerships, contemporary art installations, and XM projects, as well as significant festival and cultural events, working with large teams in both the private and public sectors, and handling budgets worth millions of dollars.
Currently, I am focused on writing my memoir, a collection of unique stories from my life, along with poetry that reflects my personal thoughts and vulnerability as an artist.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Very few people know that I was deaf or hearing impaired until grade four. My hearing was corrected when I was 10 years old, which also marked when I heard the world for the very first time. Regretfully speaking, there were people in my early life who saw very little potential in my future, which affected my confidence and created severe feelings of self-doubt growing up. With a long list of learning disabilities, I was removed from academic learning in grade 7 and started working part-time in a mattress factory at 12 years old, which stunted my dreams and inspired very little by way of my future.
However, I love telling stories about the various angels who surrounded me growing up, those most incredible people who took it upon themselves to help steer my future, and provide the guidance needed to accomplish what it is that I’ve done in my life. It’s because of these people that I’ve grown to love mentoring and helping others in whatever way I can. I’m incredibly proud of who I’ve become and how my business colleagues have chosen to describe working together on LinkedIn. Things will never be easy, but my life should serve as a great example of what’s possible in our futures.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, I was never close to my father. He always ensured he treated me differently from my siblings. Our father was a classic abuser who used his wealth and supposed influence to shape others’ opinions and his image within our community.
Although we shared laughs, my siblings and I never formed strong bonds with each other. They were accepted by our father, and he made sure I knew I wasn’t. Most of our conflict is rooted in my family’s willingness to protect our father’s reputation. Through therapy, I’ve learned this isn’t uncommon for some victims. My life went in a different direction—I became an advocate for abuse victims and am willing to discuss trauma publicly. Where my siblings want to paint a picture that’s impossible to believe, and not the way certain people remember me and my family.
It’s taken time, but I now see how my family’s priorities collide, especially in difficult moments. Our self-destructive behaviors may differ, but the result is similar. Each of us seemed drawn to chaos and unable to reconcile the past. Some suffered self-inflicted wounds through substance abuse. Others faced emotional self-destruction by not dealing with the effects of the psychological and sexual abuse by our father.
It’s difficult to admit, but with help, I gradually recognized my family’s pain. Their resentment for my success or the relationship I had with our mother deepened our divide. It took years to learn that their anger toward me was their reaction to my happiness—something they seemed to envy quietly, even during our peaceful moments together. Whether I like it or not, I have come to terms with the fact that I will never be included in family matters. My feelings have consistently been disregarded, and my siblings and father are more than willing to take what is most important to me without a second thought.
There was a time in my life when everything felt overwhelming and dark, and I struggled to recognize just how difficult things had become. It has been a challenging journey, but I’m thankful to have emerged on the other side. This experience has transformed me into a more compassionate person, and I take pride in being a survivor. I now understand the importance of caring for myself, and I’m ready to extend my support to others who may need kindness and a listening ear. I’ve come to realize that recovery is a lifelong journey, and I’ve finally found comfort in that understanding. I have achieved a wealth of successes and encountered some of the most surprising challenges in my life. Yet, nothing compares to the immense privilege and satisfaction of making a significant impact in the lives of others. The ability to create change is the most incredible blessing of all blessings, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I openly acknowledge that there was a time in my life when I struggled to see my own worth. Despite my achievements, the impact of childhood trauma clouded my ability to appreciate who I truly am. There are moments when my inner child still feels the weight of those past hurts. My greatest regret lies in the untruths I told myself after being shaped by the belief that I was of lesser value. For so long, I found it difficult to pause and recognize the milestones I had reached. Even though my name appeared in countless music magazines that reflected the dreams of my youth, the relentless pursuit of my father’s approval left me feeling empty and unfulfilled. In that journey, I lost sight of the love and acceptance I should have found within myself.
Regardless of growing up in a big house, with a full fridge and a big TV loaded with cable, while never lacking anything most families would want, the truth is that our father taught us to lie and keep his secrets. That meant I couldn’t love myself or take pride in my personal and professional accomplishments.
So much has changed in recent years, but I still shake my head with regret. It amazes me to think I lied for no reason instead of feeling proud of myself and believing in my potential. I spent years doing whatever it took to feel better, but all I got was tired. That changed when I stopped and accepted the love from others.
The effects of abuse impact each victim differently. My childhood traumas prevented me from feeling proud and left me with fear and desperation. I often tell people to pray for love and for support. I have had lots of money, but it’s the furthest thing from happiness.
This is the first time in my life that I’ve ever been me. This newfound acceptance has transformed my outlook. I’m not only in love with myself, but I have never been more excited about who it is I’ve become. Not long ago, I told a friend that I’d rather have a story to tell than live my life wishing I did.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Time has shown me that while God is powerful, compassion reigns supreme, and that embracing forgiveness is vital for the healing of the soul.
For the most part, I hope people read my story and find a pathway toward humility. I pray everyone realizes we’re all more the same than different. I hope we learn that our stories matter less if we cannot get people to believe the way we feel is real.
I hope people find a way to listen with less judgment. Someone’s life experiences may not matter to you, as yours may not matter to them. But if we don’t lead with compassion and care, we’ll never reach what we want in life.
Lastly, I hope we learn that your success is my success, and mine is yours. Knowing you can’t fear what you’re not in competition with, we should ask ourselves why we wouldn’t want to play a meaningful role in someone else’s achievements or success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jordanpattersonmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanpattersonmusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanpatterson
- Twitter: https://x.com/jpthebluesman
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JordanPattersonMusic
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jordanpattersonmusic
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Fhm84MgHLZsWKcFVROBDw?si=EzSBGvKURBajnn_uV6buhw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jordan-patterson/78843932
Image Credits
All Photos / Jordan Patterson Photo Archive
