[title subtitle=”words: Dwain Hebda
images: courtesy Grandmaster P”][/title]
Somewhere in Arkansas, as the couple says, “I do,” guests are ready to cut loose. Somewhere a group of teenagers gathers for a dance or a birthday celebration or a neighborhood gathers to kick back and let off steam at a block party.
Somewhere in Arkansas this weekend, it’s party time. And you can’t start a party without a “P” – James “Grandmaster P” Perry, that is.
“What I’m really looking for when I play the music is people’s heads bobbing,” says the father of two from behind his trademark louvered shades. “I’m looking for people’s feet moving to the beat, and if I don’t see that I just try to find the feel of the room.
“I feel like I’m just getting out there and engaging with the crowd and having a fun time, which I find that many DJ’s don’t do that. They just play the music and hide behind their booth. I’m in your face and I’m out there having a good time with you.”
Everything about James, aka Grandmaster P, is a study in contrasts, a blend of influences and cultures and even the occasional contradiction. You don’t find too many youth ministers who love and play rap and hip-hop. It’s hard to square the imposing physique and stone-cold stare of his publicity stills with his quick, megawatt smile. In conversation, his enthusiastic tone is more Mister Rogers than Mister T.
In fact, he sounds like a third-grade teacher which, believe it or not, is exactly what he is. James moves through these various personas as seamlessly as he lays down tracks.
“It’s very easy for me and, I tell my wife this very often, I don’t really feel like I’m switching roles,” he says. “Having that background with kids and in the church and all that, just wanting to be a part of a community, that helps so much as a DJ. It helps me to just have fun and be relaxed whenever I’m doing it.”
Every chapter in James’ story transcends barriers and stereotypes. He and his fraternal twin sister Julie grew up in Barling, part of a bi-racial family. The family’s modest material means were more than made up for in spiritual wealth from faith and music.
“We went to Christian school our whole life,” James remembers. “I’ve been a part of Harvest Time (church) in Fort Smith, I’m still a children’s pastor there, and I’ve been there my whole life.”
James graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith with a degree in early childhood education. For the past thirteen years, he’s been putting third-graders through their paces – eleven years at Sunnymede Elementary in Fort Smith and most recently at East Point Elementary School in Greenwood. Male teachers are a relative oddity in the primary grades, but even if they weren’t, James stood out.
“The big story about it all is, when I was at Sunnymede Elementary, I want to say it was 2008 or 2009, I used to do the morning assembly shows,” he says. “I’d play music for the kids when they came in before school started and I’ll never forget this Kindergarten teacher. Her name was Erin Wilson. She said, ‘Keep on playin’ those beats, Grandmaster P! Keep on playin’ those hits!’”
Even though the new handle stuck, James still didn’t consider getting into the DJ business until a fellow teacher asked if he would provide the music at her wedding reception. Despite having only rudimentary gear and zero experience, James agreed.
“I DJ’d her whole entire wedding with an iPod,” he said with a laugh. “Did my thing, got out there and danced with the people and at the end of the wedding, people were saying, ‘Who are you? Do you have any cards? Where’s your website?’ I said, ‘I don’t have any of that. I’m Grandmaster P.’ They’re like, ‘You’re awesome, man. We need some more information. We want you for our next wedding and proms.’”
In the years since, Grandmaster P has upped the production value, graduating from his lone iPod to a laptop and turntable pumping through some old speakers and then to the total party package he is today. He’s also added a sidekick, Ryan Rasmussen, aka MC Moose, a pal from college. But for as flashy as the delivery is, what lies beneath are some fundamental elements he considers central to his success.
“[Clients] usually send me a list of what they want, so I’ll look through them on iTunes or whatever and get the lyrics and make sure everything is clean,” he says. “I make sure all my music is clean. I take out all the cuss words and explicit content because I know I’ve got to preach the next morning at church.
“That’s one thing that’s really cool about being a DJ and being a pastor, too; I just kind of connect with the bridal party and make sure that I know the songs.”
The second thing that hasn’t changed is his interaction with the crowd, especially dancing out in their midst. It’s a skill that demonstrates his joy for what he’s doing, is contagious with the crowd and is something he comes by honestly.
“My dad is a break dancer. I’m talking afro, Converse, the whole cardboard flat, everything,” James said. “He’s awesome! He can pop and lock like Michael Jackson. So, I grew up with that, just mirroring Michael Jackson on the TV.
“Honestly, people are not very comfortable with just getting out there anymore. You get some people who get a couple of drinks in them and they’ll just do whatever, but most people are just going to sit back and watch. And that’s not what I want. I want to see people up and having a good time and just celebrating. So, you’ll see me get out there and I’m doing my thing.”
James estimates he plays every other weekend – half of them wedding receptions – and his gigs have taken him from Fort Smith’s proms and other celebrations to points across Arkansas and in other states, too. He’ll go anywhere, he says, as long as the gig allows him to stay true to himself.
“I don’t want to say I feel restricted because I’m a Christian, but I feel that people are watching me. They’re watching what I’m doing,” he said. “They’re watching Pastor James get out there and dance and shaking his booty, so I’m very careful with how I dance, even though I know all about the twerking and all the dirty dancing that’s out there.”
On his off time, James takes on yet another persona – Dad – and relaxes by spending time with his wife Jodi and two children, Cadence and Jameson. He insists his various callings aren’t that tough to juggle, but the success of the DJ business has given him a lot to mull for the future.
“I tell my wife this: everything where it’s at right now is perfecto,” he says. “I can see if I wanted to pursue a full-time business in DJ-ing and entertainment, I could. But right now, I’m supposed to be teaching. This is a calling that I’ve been given to be able to teach young kids. I want to keep on doing it.
“I pray about it every day about where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to do, but right now I am exactly where I’m supposed to be, teaching, preaching and DJ-ing.”
James Perry – Grandmaster P
479.459.1137
Find him on Facebook @ grandmasterpdj.
