by Shawn Nowlin
Jamal Nubi is at a point in his life where he can reflect on his journey and appreciate all that he has overcome.
A Roanoke native, Nubi grew up on Jackson and Rorer Avenue. It was his sister, Lenora, and father, Henry, who introduced Nubi to music. Growing up in an environment where melody and rhythm were constant allowed Nubi to dream beyond his wildest imagination.
The first to admit that he had to fight his own battles in life, Nubi was determined not to let his past mistakes define his future.
With assistance from a mobile studio courtesy of Richmond’s Alpha Audio, a group of inmates serving time for armed robbery and assault, including Nubi, recorded an album at Powhatan Correctional Center in 1979. The other individuals were James Carrington (keyboards), Cornelius Cade (guitar), Henry Coleman (percussion) and McEvoy Robinson (bass).
One of the group’s members cultivated a relationship with the owner of Bohannon’s Records & Tapes, Milton Hogue. That opened up even more opportunities for the talented musicians.
Shortly thereafter, the band members were dispersed by parole and transfers. Four decades later, their story was told through a powerful documentary – Edge of Daybreak: The Real Jailhouse Rock – which was created by acclaimed filmmaker Alix Lambert.
“Our journey is sort of like a never-ending story. Once you turn a page, it’s like, ‘Wow, we are in another chapter,” Nubi said.
Two of the group’s songs, “Eyes of Love” and “Our Love,” have surpassed over a million streams on Spotify. Lyrics in “Our Love” paint a beautiful picture that so many can relate to: “If you agree with your own heart, then let’s plant a seed, we will never part, nothing will go wrong with our love.”
Today, Nubi is a professional recording artist, songwriter and vocalist. To get to this point, he had to overcome various life obstacles.
“Music is my salvation, my religion, my everything. It is God’s gift to me. Sharing my talents with the world has always been a dream of mine. Without music, there’s no telling how my life would have turned out,” he said.
He added, “Family is important to me, especially my children and grandkids. I want to leave them a legacy in hopes of sparking the talent in them.”
Nubi has some advice for anyone interested in pursuing a music career: “Do you for you. Believe in yourself and your mission. Never give up on your dreams, no matter how difficult things get. And remember, it’s up to you to be who and what you are born to be.”
