Today we’d like to introduce you to J’Amore.
J’Amore, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I began with theater when I was four and I transitioned into film in 2012. I had my first break on television when I starred on Fatal Attraction in 2016. When it comes to music, I began as a rapper. I was introduced to Shekinah by my good friends Big Kay & Fly Knight. She began to manage us as a group and one day she introduced me to Tiny and Keisha Baby. They loved my music and it was an honor. They showed me so much hospitality. I felt welcomed every time I came around. Tiny and Keisha loved my music, but they were also interested in my skills as a writer. Thanks to them they gave me the opportunity to write for Zonnique, Lourde, Baija, & Reginae of the OMG Girlz. I have many more credits in writing also. Now I’ve made the decision to come out as an artist and I want the world to know my story. From sitting in a Jail cell with an indictment, facing 20 years, to starting my own shoe line! How did that happen? Ok well here goes.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My senior year I had three scholarship offers, two opportunities to move out of the country and 1 lesson that was taught by God! Upon my graduation, I found myself in a situation that most couldn’t handle or fathom. How do you go from being an all star triple threat actor singer and rapper to being a convicted felon facing 20 years within minutes? That one decision I made changed my life forever! In the midst of my incarceration, God found a way to complete his mission and get his message through to me! Who would’ve thought that inmates would be God fearing and conscious of Christ’s sweet love? I dreamt one night. A very distinct dream! I thought I was home I thought things were great and then I hear…COUNT TIME! Damn I woke up to a Jail cell.. With no bail money or no help until the end! I did the thing my mom always taught me to and that was Pray! I received a court date and was excited, on the contrary the news wasn’t exciting! They indicted me and I didn’t know how long it was going to be before my next court date. I felt horrible for what I had done! I thought I was never coming home. One night I had a disturbing dream that the mother of my soon to be child had aborted our baby and left me! It struck my heart with anger because she and the fetus were the only thing holding me strong during my time! As I woke, angrily and disgruntled, I hear a call on the intercom, “510 Morton, you have an attorney visit!” I then knew that God was very real. We discussed my case and I received a court date.
When I went to court my judge Alfred J Dempsey was working on a murder trial therefore I had to be reset. My public defender gave me two choices; Either wait until the trial is over or go in front of another judge the same day which would be VERY risky! It hurt my heart and mind because I knew I was going home that day but it took all of the strength in me to practice patience and wait. The whole week after that I fasted! A 7 day fast! I prayed over 20 times a day and read my Bible and Daily Bread. We had even assembled a bible study in one inmate’s cell in which I would attend every night! Towards the end of my fast, I dreamt again! I kept seeing the number 777… I finally received money on my books so I called my mom and asked her what the numbers meant! She stated that seven means almost complete.. God was almost done healing me! At 5am I heard a call for me! They scheduled me to go to court! I talked to my public defender and she discussed a possibility of probation! I jumped on it and took a negotiated plea! She warned me of the possible outcomes and what could happen but I had so much faith built inside me I had even told my mom a week ahead that I was coming home! I went in front of the judge and the prosecutor damn near made me faint when I heard 20 years.
All I’m thinking is, I’m too playa for a cell, I get money and I love doing things on my time! But somehow God worked his way through the judge and tuned out the bullshit the prosecutor was talking about and suggested I have a five years probationary sentence! I thanked him and everybody in that room! And thanked God. I came back to the dome and only told a couple of people I was going home! You’re not supposed to tell anyone because when it’s close to going home people will try to do anything to make you catch an extra charge cause they’re staying longer. Fast forward, I GOT OUT!!!!!! And I don’t regret anything I did because it taught me a lesson. It humbled me. It made me wiser. That was ten years ago. Now, I am proud to announce my new shoe line, “Amore.” It’s designed to represent love in all shapes and forms. The proceeds all go to suicide awareness and my Focus Group I have started for suicide prevention. I have had a lot of friends of mine take their own lives, and I wish I could’ve started this organization earlier so that have saved their lives! Or at least helped them.
Alright – so let’s talk business. What else should we know about you and your career so far?
My business specializes in raising the awareness of suicide. We give each member a safe place to converse and speak about their mental health issues. So many people go through things and wish they had someone there to help. We help.
And my happiest moment was when my track coach, coach James, gave me my first pair of spikes. I ran all the way to state in some Reeboks and qualified in regular tennis shoes. It was the first time I ran track and I came in 2nd place. the next track meet we had at Woodward Academy. I was warming up and it was right before my race. I went to lace up my shoes and Coach James said, “Jamal, I got something for you”. and I looked and it was a brand new Nike track spikes and I was so excited! I won first place that day! I want to thank coach James for that because that was the happiest moment of my life as a child.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory was when I scored my first touch down.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aliveshoes.com/amore-39
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamoreluv/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialjamorelove/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamoreluv
- Other: https://g.co/kgs/SZJbns
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