Any largescale musical project requires a team.
Everyone might know the soloist, but the background vocals provide the “connective tissue” to bring it altogether. Augusta’s Jamal Moore has been part of that connective tissue on multiple high-profile projects of late — among them are singing with Beyonce on her rendition of “Jolene” on her Grammy Award-winning “Cowboy Carter” album, singing on the soundtrack of the film “Wicked” which has been nominated for an Academy Award and performing with the artist Raye on the recent Grammy Awards broadcast.
“I do a lot of studio work for film and occasional albums,” said Moore, a 2008 graduate of John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, who moved to Los Angeles in 2017. He studied vocal performance at the prestigious Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in New York.
Much of his training there was in opera. Moore said he always loved classical music, but he’s always wanted to explore different genres. He credited teachers such as James Dunaway at Davidson, Evelyn Ellis of Creative Impressions and Patti Myers who taught at Augusta University in giving him a solid foundation so he could do just that, he said.
Music wasn’t the career he had originally planned. As a child, he wanted to be the next Michael Jordan, but his mom convinced him that he wasn’t tall enough.
Moore grew up in a musical family. His dad was a drummer, and Moore could play the drums by the time he was four. And being part of the choir at church was central to his childhood.
At 13, he joined Creative Impressions where he met Ellis as well as meeting longtime friend, Trey McLaughlin, who is the group’s current director.
While at the University of Rochester, a singing experience set him toward the path he’s on.
As part of the Yellow Jackets, an a cappella singing group, he had the opportunity to perform and compete on the show, “The Sing-Off.”
“’The Sing Off’ was a humongazoid help,” he said. “It exposed me to different groups from all over.”
He formed a friendship with Reginald Bowens of the group Afro Blue and the two of them recorded a single “Tumbleweed” in 2023.
“Seeing those people perform inspired me to be better in every single way,” he said.
The show was filmed in L.A., which is one of the reasons he ended up there. He wanted to be around the best voices.
Other studio projects he’s worked on have included soundtracks for films such as “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Super Mario Brothers” and “Turning Red.” One of the songs he performed plays during the opening of the film, “Joker: Folie à Deux.”
Last year, he sang as part of the 30th anniversary of “The Lion King” at the Hollywood Bowl which he said was an amazing experience.
And “Cowboy Carter” wasn’t his first project with Beyonce.
He first sang with her less than a year after arriving in LA. He submitted several YouTube videos for an “A-list” vocalist in need of backup singers. He had no idea who that A-Lister was until he got a packet of paperwork and read the non-disclosure agreement.
His first backup gig with Beyonce was at Coachella. He’s also performed on her “The Lion King” recording and her “Black is King” project.
Moore said he’s hopeful to return to Augusta and perform in his hometown soon.
“I definitely want to give back to the community that has given so much to me,” he said.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
