Sheri Jones-Moffett

• Interviews
• August 10th

It’s safe to say that her debut album is one of the most eagerly anticipated Gospel releases of ’09. After having a successful 2 album run with Ted & Sheri and also noted as one of Donald Lawrence’s premiere vocalists, the platform has been set for this female vocalist.

Once I found out Sheri Jones Moffett would be releasing her first solo CD “Renewed” on August 11^th, 2009, I knew I had to hurry up and schedule my interview before her schedule got hectic and little ole me was left out in the cold! Luckily I put my bid in early enough and we were able to sit down and chat!

How did you get your start in Gospel music?

Orlando Draper was instrumental in Ted & Sheri getting connected with Donald Lawrence. He knew Ted and I wanted to go on to bigger things and singing in his choir was only going to take us so far.  So Orlando reached out to Donald Lawrence and asked him if he would take us under his wing. And that’s how it really got started.

So you met Ted in the choir?

Yes, I’ve known Ted for many, many years. After he got out of the military he moved back to Memphis and we were in the same community choir. Out of that choir we formed a group and the group eventually became Ted & Sheri.  Ted & Sheri worked so well because it wasn’t about the music with us, it was about the gifts we pulled out of each other. Ted is a driver, a go-getter. He’s extremely ambitious and he had a way of making me work hard. I’m a homebody. I balanced Ted out. I got him to settle down a little. We just happened to click musically and our friendship was so strong that the music just worked. It was a perfect brother and sister relationship. We absolutely knew we wanted something bigger and music was our calling.

How did you guys get your record deal?

We were at GMWA one year and we had reached out to Neily Dickerson and she expressed an interest in signing us to her own label. She was managing us when we had our deal with Light Records. That deal fell through and that’s how we eventually ended up on Church Howse Music.

Were you happy with how the first Ted & Sheri album did?

“The Healing Starts Right There” definitely gave us a push and a buzz around our name, but as far as it being a big success, that it was not. It was difficult because we knew we had a great project, but when the company backing you doesn’t have all the mechanisms in place to take you where you need to go, you’re only going to go so far. And as important as the industry is, the industry knowing who you are doesn’t mean a thing if the consumer doesn’t know who you are. But, Neily Dickerson is a great business woman and she is the best at what she does.

Were you making money off the album?

The album came out in ’01 and I didn’t stop working until a year later. I worked at a private school and taught study hall. I had been there for 9 years when I finally quit. The biggest misconception is that these artists you see on TV, you think they have this big house and nice car and most likely they are living in an apartment just trying to survive. The people benefiting from the music is not the artist, it’s the executives of these labels! Just as strongly as this is a ministry, it’s a business. If that business element isn’t in place and you’re not savvy, you will get taken to the cleaners. You have to be smart. A label’s purpose is for you to make money for them by selling records. They are using your gift to make them money. Now in return, they are the vehicle that allows your product to get to the masses. You have to use that to your advantage. It took me a long time to get that and if it wasn’t for Donald Lawrence, I’d still be trying to figure everything out.

Exactly what kind of advice did Donald Lawrence give you?

Well he told me I needed to start writing more. I told Donald I didn’t want to be a songwriter, but he saw something in me and said I really needed to hone my skill. This was a gift I sat on for a long time. Everyone isn’t a songwriter, so I’m not telling every artist to be a songwriter if they’re not good at it. Most of the money I made came from appearances and publishing checks.

Why did Ted & Sheri breakup?

After our second album was released we started shopping for another deal. We were in talks with another major label, but they wanted us to be locked in for a good amount of time. Neither Ted nor I wanted to be tied down that long.  We had other avenues we wanted to pursue. It was a strange time for both of us. Ted had a business that was really striving and is still doing very well. And there were things as a singer/songwriter that I wanted to say, but I needed to say on my own. It was an amicable split. We are as close today as we were when we decided to part ways.

What is it like to study under one of the most respected producers in the Gospel industry, Donald Lawrence?

He’s been the greatest teacher I’ve ever had! He really makes it hard to work with anyone else because he sets such a standard of excellence. It’s hard to fathom that everyone doesn’t work the way he does. Everyone I’ve worked with comes second to him. He’s fast, efficient and always on! He is the male version of me. Donald told me that he got this overwhelming feeling that he was supposed to look out for me and teach me about this business. And that’s exactly what he’s done. Donald Lawrence has been an angel.

Tell me about your new project “Renewed,” which will be released August 11^th, 2009.

This project has been in the works for 3 years. We started in ’06, so we’ve made a lot of changes since we started. I worked with Daniel Moore who produced 80% of the album. He’s a musical genius. He’s the M.D. for Anita Baker and Jennifer Holiday. I feel so privileged to have worked with him. The album was actually supposed to be released last year, but I got pregnant. So that put everything on hold. They were so many songs we were supposed to do that we didn’t do. And within 3 years, a lot of things changed in my life and the world. I became a mother for the second time, I faced some hard challenges in my ministry, the economy tanked and so on. My music needed to reflect where I was in my journey. Every song on “Renewed” is a page from my life. I want to leave people feeling better. People are always hearing what they’re not and they need to hear what they are. I’m a big fan of Oprah. I know that’s not popular in the church, but her mantra is “Living my best life.” That’s where the song “Best Life” comes from. I’ve watched Oprah for years and I would always say I wanted to be like her, but I had to learn that what I had was enough. If “Renewed” had come out last year it wouldn’t have worked. The time is now for this album and I know this was God’s plan.

You’re signed with EMI now. How have they been through these past 3 years?

EMI has been great! They have embraced everything I’ve done! They let me record the type of album I wanted to do and sanctioned it. That’s really big because they don’t do that at all! Before we finalized my deal they heard some of things I had been working on and they’ve put their trust in me ever since then. We’re in a digital era now so Facebook, Twitter and MySpace have been great because I’m able to connect with so many more people. There has been a buzz and anticipation since “Encourage Yourself”, so it’s been a blessing!

Do you read reviews and how do you deal with criticism?

I do read them and people don’t always say nice stuff. I just read one on another gospel site and someone said the mix was bad on my new single “Renewed.” I do music from my heart and I pray that it will encourage someone to make a change and become a better person. I’m clearly aware that everyone’s not going to love what I do. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care, but I try not focus on the negative things.

How do you balance being a wife and a mother and keeping up a busy travel schedule and promoting an album?

I have a great husband. He is so supportive of me. He pushes me as “Sheri” the artist. We are both self employed so we plan our schedules accordingly. Sometimes he stays home with the kids and sometimes we take them with us. Fortunately my parents live in the area too, so they are a great help. There are days when I just want to stay inside and be a mom. There are times when my husband gets on my last nerve and vice versa. It’s not always rosy and happy. I have struggles in my marriage just like everyone else and it’s not always easy to find a balance. But, I love my husband no matter what and it’s because of our love for each other and Jesus Christ that we are able to make it and continue on.

Sheri’s 20 Random Truths

1. Favorite song on the new CD? “Renewed”
2. Least favorite song you and Ted recorded? “My Protector”
3. Favorite Cartoon? “Smurfs”
4. Dream car? Infiniti Q45 Truck.
5. If you weren’t singing what would you be doing? Teaching.
6. Biggest insecurity? My weight.
7. Have you ever lied to spare someone’s feelings? Yes.
8. Where did your husband propose to you? On the phone.
9. Favorite Donald Lawrence album? “The Law of Confessions.”
10. Guilty pleasure? As The World Turns and All My Children
11. Who is your favorite female R&B singer? Gladys Knight.
12. Take 6, Men of Standard, The Winans, Commissioned? “Commissioned.”
13. Culinary specialty that you cook? Chicken Rotelle.
14. Favorite cereal? “King Vitamin.” (cereal)
15. Top 3 favorite TV shows? “Golden Girls”, “Sandford & Son” & “The Jeffersons”
16. Favorite Bible story? The story of Joseph.
17. Karen Clark Sheard, Vickie Winans, CeCe Winans, Kim Burrell? “Karen Clark Sheard.”
18. Whose on your iPod? “Earth, Wind and Fire”, “R. Kelly”,” Jason Champion”, “Kirk Franklin”, “Myron Butler”, “Mary Mary”
19. Shower or bath? Shower.
20. Favorite ice cream? Soy Peanut butter Zig Zag.