Without A Label, Local Gospel Artist Tops Billboard Charts

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Jovonta Patton's album "Finally Living" is number one on the Billboard Gospel charts.

Patton joins an elite group of artists who make it to the top of the charts without the help of a record label.

Patton gives credit to God's grace and social media for helping him get to number one.

Patton, 26, has been singing since he was 4, professionally since he was 16.

His latest project, "Finally Living," has soared to the top of the Billboard charts, beating out veteran artists like Shirley Caesar and Kirk Franklin.

"After you've gone through so much and after you've had no's and rejections, you live in spite of," Patton said.

Patton says rejection from record labels forced him to self-fund the album. It also sent him to social media to promote it.

"Let's use Facebook and literally thousands of clicks, likes and sales directly from Facebook," Patton said.

Facebook and face-to-face sells here in the Twin Cities led to more than 1,500 albums being sold.

"I've sold more records than what independent artist do in the lifespan of a CD that they have out in one week," said Patton. "I'm not trying to keep up with the status quo, I'm just going to keep doing what I've been doing."

Patton says his inspiration comes from his daughter, 1-year-old Ella.

She knows every song on the album.

Patton says he started writing music for the project after she was born.

"I was concerned about how I was going to take care of this kid and my wife for the rest of their lives, so I started saying, 'I have nothing to worry about because I know who is in control,'" Patton said.

For Patton, writing was therapeutic. He says he was encouraging himself.

Now the music is helping others.

"The album wasn't planned, it was just the leading of God," Patton said.

Patton will join the choir from Shiloh Baptist Church in St. Paul for a concert at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Gov. Mark Dayton will also honor Patton with his own day on July 31.