Major (American musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Major
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| Birth name | Major R. Johnson Finley |
| Born | March 10, 1984 Denton, Texas, U.S. |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | BOE Music Group, EMPIRE |
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Major R. Johnson Finley (born March 10, 1984), known by his stage name Major (written as MAJOR.), is an American pop and soul musician. He is a talented singer, songwriter, producer, and even helps other performers with their stage shows. Major is famous for his 2016 song "Why I Love You." He was also nominated for a Grammy Award for his song "Honest" at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
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Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Major was born in Denton, Texas, and grew up in Houston. He came from a big family with many siblings. From a young age, Major loved making music. He performed in many places both in his hometown and in other countries when he was a child.
He went to the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. There, he received special training in classical music. He learned from Professor Steve Smith, who taught at The Juilliard School. Major also studied at the Houston Grand Opera High School Voice Studio. Later, he attended the Berklee College of Music, a famous music school. After finishing college, he moved to Los Angeles to start his career in entertainment.
Major's Music Career
Major first gained a lot of attention through YouTube. In early 2014, he started working with B.O.E. Music Group and a producer from the UK named Harmony Samuels. Major says that working with Samuels helped him find his true musical style.
Major is well-known for his amazing live shows. He has performed to sold-out crowds at famous venues like the Troubadour in Santa Monica and the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Hit Songs and Albums
Major released an EP (which is like a mini-album) called i am MAJOR. This EP included two popular songs and music videos: "Why I Love You" and "Keep On." These videos have been watched over 126 million times on YouTube. The legendary musician Stevie Wonder even called "Why I Love You" "the wedding song of the year." This song also reached the Top 5 on the Adult R&B Billboard charts. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA, which means it sold over a million copies!
His first full album, Even More, came out on September 7, 2018.
Acting Roles
Besides music, Major has also acted in TV shows. In 2019, he had a repeating role in the Fox musical drama series, Star. In 2021, he played the famous musician Curtis Mayfield in two episodes of the show Genius: Aretha.
Major's Music
- I Am MAJOR (2016)
- Even More (2018)
Major's Acting Roles
Major has appeared in several TV shows and films:
- 2013: Masters of ... – He played a singer in an episode called "Asterion."
- 2015: Legend – He appeared as a singer.
- 2019: Star – He played Cousin Rashad in 4 episodes of season 3. He was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for this role.
- 2019: Dear Santa, I Need a Date – He played Mark in this TV film.
- 2021: Genius – He played Curtis Mayfield in 2 episodes of season 3.
- 2022: Deitrick Haddon's the Fallen – He played Dallas Love.
