Joseph M. Banks

Born in Cincinnati, OH, Joseph is the youngest of three boys.  As the child of a minister, he lived in Cincinnati, OH, St. Petersburg, FL, and Atlanta, GA before moving to Jackson, MS around 1992.  Even though Joseph spent most of his adolescent and teen years as an athlete running track, playing football, baseball, and soccer, he chose to abandon sports upon entering the University of Southern Mississippi in the fall of 1998 to pursue another passion: music.

During his matriculation as a Music Industry major, Joseph was a dedicated member of several campus organizations, including Jazz Lab One Band, USM Top Choir, Southern Chorale, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.  Though he recounts all of his experiences at USM as ones that fostered his growth, it was his membership and involvement with two other organizations that helped Joseph to truly realize his gift for music: Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and the African-American Student Organization (AASO) Gospel Choir. 

As a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Joseph was able to network, bond, work alongside, and learn from other musical peers as he participated in performances and community outreach. Even still, it was his work as pianist and producer of the AASO Gospel Choir’s live recording that awakened Joseph’s talent and ability for producing and performing music. Joseph’s talents reached beyond the campus of USM helping him to become a well-known pianist in the city of Hattiesburg and the metropolitan Jackson area.  Having served as a praise & worship leader at Trinity Heights Church of God and traveling across the country and overseas with legendary blues artist Bobby Rush, his musical talents have no boundaries. 

As Minister of Music, Christian artist, and music producer, God is using Joseph to touch and bless the lives of the broken and hurting.  Daily surrendering his all to Christ, his unique sound is prophetic for this generation. Joseph’s music and voice is that of a true worshipper, and has empowered him to spread a message to the world that "there is a God who loves us!"