The Music in His Heart

Southern University student Keith Jacobs knows that good things take time. But as far as he is concerned, no time is as good as the present.
A senior psychology major from Houston, when Jacobs isn’t spending his days as a full-time student, he’s working diligently on his career in music that’s been 21 years in the making.
Jacobs recently celebrated the release of his debut CD, “Keith Jacobs: A Part of Me, Chapter 1” with a mixtape release party on Thursday, Nov. 9 at Sogo Live, a nightclub in downtown Baton Rouge.
“It’s smooth, yet truthful,” Jacobs said, providing commentary on the collection of 12 soulful R & B ballads all written by the artist himself. “All of it may not be from my own personal experience, but somebody has been through it.”
Jacobs, also popularly known as “Keif Jay,” said he got his start just like most mainstream R & B singers of the past by singing in the church youth choir.
From there, Jacobs said his passion blossomed into what it is today.
“I was in the church choir and from there I transitioned into my school choir,” he said. “After that, I started doing things in the community and it became something I loved.”
Jacobs, whose musical inspirations include Prince, Carl Thomas and Kanye West, said the mixtape release party was a sponsored event, and he had to pay out of pocket for the marketing and production of the CD.
“I consider myself a prime investment,” he said with a smile.
Many of Jacob’s schoolmates said they felt the party was a huge success.
“It was very well put together,” said Kevin Walker, a senior theatre arts major from Compton, Calif. “It was very professional, and the turnout was pretty big.”
While Jacobs is set to swoon the audience and pave his own way, he said he couldn’t fulfill his dreams on his own.
“Part of Me” also features a live full-scale back-up band, most of whom are also Southern students like Jacobs.
Having just recently performed with Jacobs during the 2006 Homecoming Concert, band members said they’ve only been playing together for one month, but fused together well enough to get positive reactions from the crowd.
“We were looking for people who were easy to work with, and also individuals who had the ability to learn at a fast pace,” said TaRon Lockett, the musical director and drummer of the band.
According to Lockett, there wasn’t a formula used to create the sounds behind Jacob’s vocals, the band just came together and meshed well with Jacob’s vocals, which is something the singer said he couldn’t be happier about.
“Together, the band and I are a perfect fit,” Jacobs said. “About a month ago we came together, and we instantly gelled so smoothly!”
As far as future goals go, Jacobs said he is ready to take on the world.
“I am my biggest competition,” he said. “I feel that I determine my own fate, and I plan to go all the way.”
Jacobs self-titled debut CD will go on sale Wednesday, Nov. 15 in the student union at a cost of $10. Jacobs said anyone could also buy them from band members or representatives around campus.
*Anthony Monroe helped contribute to the reporting of this article.