Casey Janice Hobbs (born June 29, 1986), known professionally as Casey J, is an American

gospel singer Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music, and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is com ...

best known for her (cover) of the Will Reagan song "Fill Me Up", which reached number 1 on the ''

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'' Gospel chart.

Early life

Casey J is a native of

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

. A self-proclaimed "

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" and

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, she attributes her creativity to her father, who died when she was five years old. Casey J recalls, "He was a carpenter by trade, very smart and creative". Both her mother and grandmother sang in the gospel choir at Lilly Hill Baptist Church in Atlanta, and Casey J attended her grandmother's basement Bible studies as a child. "I used to think it was the normal way of life because that's all I saw my grandmother and mother do," she once said. "I grew up thinking that singing in the church choir is what all kids did because it was my way of life." At the age of 12, Casey J joined the Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde and sang with them until she enrolled at the

University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...

. After graduating, she became an elementary school math teacher at Georgia Connections Academy Charter School in

Duluth, Georgia Duluth is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, Gwinnett County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. Located north of Interstate 85, it is approximately northeast of Atlanta. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, Duluth had a ...

, and sang as a worship leader at Fresh Start Church in Duluth on Sunday mornings.

Career

Casey J began to sing Will Reagan's tune "Fill Me Up" at Fresh Start Church and it received such a positive response that the church's pastor, Marquis Boone, decided to have Casey J record the song. It was released to the radio in spring 2014. It hit the top ten of the US ''Billboard'' Gospel Airplay chart that spring and reached the number 1 spot in 2015. Casey J has been described by ''

The Chicago Defender ''The Chicago Defender'' is a Chicago-based online African-American newspaper. It was founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott and was once considered the "most important" newspaper of its kind. Abbott's newspaper reported and campaigned against Jim ...

'' as "gospel's newest darling". The song "Fill Me Up" is featured on Casey J's debut album, ''The Truth'', released April 21, 2015, by

Tyscot Records Tyscot Records is an independent American gospel music record label based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tyscot Records was founded by Craig Tyson and Leonard Scott (musician), Dr. Leonard Scott in 1976 in to record their church choir, Christ Church ...

. The album has reached number 1 on the ''Billboard'' Top Gospel Albums chart and 131 on the US ''Billboard'' 200. ''The Truth'' was recorded live on January 30, 2015, at the Fresh Start Church.

Artistry

Casey J says she wants her music to be "imperfect" and not overproduced. Her music has been described by ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' as deviating slightly from the Gospel norm: "a little less thundering funk and abrupt style-switching, and a little more acoustic guitar; a little less prescriptive real-talk, and a little more contemplative interior monologue".

Discography

Albums

“The Gathering” Released: January 25, 2019

Singles

References

External links

*
Interview with Casey J
January 21, 2015 - Yolanda Adams Radio *, aired April 27, 2015 -

CBN News The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) is an American Christian media production and distribution organization. Founded in 1960 by Pat Robertson, it produces the long-running TV series ''The 700 Club'', co-produces the ongoing '' Superbook'' a ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Casey J 1986 births Living people American gospel singers 21st-century American singers People from Georgia (U.S. state) University of Georgia people 21st-century American women singers