TIFTON — A local R&B singer has released a new single, and while living out his dream, he hopes to inspire other young, talented singers in the community to do the same.

James Rodney Rainey, better known by his stage name “J Rain,” is the son of Willie Rainey and Brenda Tolbert-Bell. He’s been singing since he was seven years old and grew up singing in the church with his family.

“My mom is a singer,” Rainey said, adding that he joined his family in forming a gospel choir.

He stated that he and his family members eventually went their own way, and he fell into R&B. At a very young age, he performed with various groups that were formed out of Albany.

Rainey said he had given up on music and took a two-year break until early this year when he realized that singing was what he wanted to pursue.

He released his single called “Stereo On” on Nov. 6. The song is now available on iTunes and Amazon.com.

Rainey stated that the single was written by Valencia Myrick of Macon. He explained that the song means he loves music and that he’s in love with his stereo — “it goes everywhere you go.”

He said Myrick wrote the song back in February and presented it to him.

“We built a relationship through Facebook and bonded through there,” Rainey stated. “We’ve been working on music a lot together.”

Also, Rainey recently had his first music video for “Stereo On” filmed in Atlanta by CML Entertainment.

Rainey’s cousin, Mike McDaniel, is the CEO of CML Entertainment out of Atlanta. McDaniel is originally from Tifton but currently resides in Atlanta. He is the son of Major and Eloise McDaniel of Tifton and graduated in 1993 from Tift County High School.

“I started CML Entertainment in 2005 along with my brother Lewis McDaniel of Tifton (graduated in 1988),” McDaniel stated in an e-mail.

He is also the vice president of a film company in which he runs with the CEO of the film side, Carlos Burley, who is also from Tifton and graduated in 1993. Their film company is called Big Show Productions.

“Our plans are to one day film a movie in Tifton,” he stated.

Rainey, who is the marketing director for CML, said his cousin pushes him and is very passionate.

“I like that,” he stated.

The video for “Stereo On” will soon be released on YouTube, Facebook and World Star.

Rainey said the video was shot in various locations in Atlanta.

“It was an experience,” he stated, smiling. “It took two days to shoot — long hours.”

However, Rainey said he’s very excited about the video. He hopes to release a CD next year.

“More songs are coming,” he stated.



Rainey said he’s getting training from someone from Atlanta who has helped developed a lot of today’s popular artists.

McDaniel stated in an e-mail, “J Rain is the perfect pseudonym for James Rodney Rainey, with the ability to sing angelically while keeping fans captivated. He has quickly attracted a fan base. Although there are many up and coming solo R&B artists vying for the top position on the charts, J Rain has the rare sound, ability, loyalty, work ethic and humble spirit that gives him an edge over his fellow competitors.”

He added that Rainey has a great respect for various classic R&B artists who have influenced him to do music, such as R. Kelly, Ne-Yo, Usher, Monica, Justin Timerlake, Tank and Joe. He said these artists are all role models for the success that Rainey is aiming to achieve.

Rainey has performed at various events, including the JFly Music Festival in Waycross and the Sweet Auburn Festival in Atlanta.

Not only is Rainey a singer, but he’s also a community basketball coach for seventh graders at Eighth Street Middle School. He’s been doing this for two years. In addition, he volunteers helping with a lot of recreational sports in Tifton.

Along with being a singer, Rainey says he wants to send a message to younger people that he’s here to be a role model and show them that dreams are possible.

Rainey said he also wants to teach them to give back, to be positive and ways to be successful. He added that he wants them to have someone to look up to.

“Without my parents, I wouldn’t be able to do this,” he stated.

Rainey said it takes a lot of work to be a singer, which goes for any career. He stated that it’s not just about picking up a microphone and singing.

For any dream that someone has, Rainey’s advice is: “They can do it if they work hard at it. If it is something you want to do, maintain that and stay focused. Nothing is easy.”

He said besides being a singer, his goal is to be a role model by visiting local schools and talking to students about finding their way and sticking with it, being positive, saying no to drugs, how to handle situations the right way, and that they’re somebody and there’s a place for them in the world. He stated that reaching one person would be an accomplishment.

Rainey has a background in law enforcement. He said he worked in a juvenile facility and also an adult facility. He said the experience of working in a juvenile facility helped him with being able to hear their stories, and it helped him mature more and stay on the right path.

To book Rainey, contact McDaniel at clenter008@yahoo.com. Also, for more information, visit facebook.com/IAMJRAIN or twitter.com/I_AM_JRAIN.