I Ascend: Please share with us, who is Dr. Earl Bynum? 

Dr. Bynum: Earl Bynum is a young man born and raised in the city of Franklin, Virginia. For those who do not know Franklin, Virginia, is in Southeastern Hampton Roads, which consists of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake which they call the seven cities. My hometown is probably around thirty-five minutes from the Hampton Roads beach area if you know where the beach is. Most people fly into Norfolk if they are coming this way. I was born and raised there. My parents Earl Bynum senior and Geneva Bynum raised me in the church. I have been in church all my life; I loved church so much that my mother had to stop me from going to Church. (Light Chuckle) My mother would say, “I know you are not still in church,” but I went to a Pentecostal church, and we had revivals almost every week. Our pastor, if he saw a gift in you, he would allow you to use it. They saw me playing the piano, and I knew I could sing. I started singing early, probably about the age of four or five. My parents at the age of six, literally bought me a full scale 88 Key grand piano, because I would climb up to the table and act like I was playing one. When they put that piano in the home, I literally played my first song at six by ear, whatever I heard, I played. From there, God kept moving, and giving me the ability to do things. My mom was in a group called the Gospel Sunbeams and my dad was in a group called the Gospel Travelers. Their groups would travel with the likes of The Mighty Clouds Of Joy, Shirley Caesar, and The Pilgrim Jubilees Of Chicago. On the weekends I had the honor of traveling with my parents and the other performers that were on the road. They were always pushers, motivators, and true supporters even to this day. I must give all of them honor. My parents still travel with me on the road even now. My mom works the merchandise table if I have one. My dad loves to drive if I am going somewhere, so it has been an absolute joy to have them around. This year, my dad will be eighty years old, and my mom will be seventy-six years old. I am very fortunate to have them as parents. 

I Ascend: How many years have you been performing professionally?  

Dr. Bynum: It has been at least thirty years. I still remember prior to graduating from high school, I started a gospel choir. I was in the eighth grade and the senior class president at the high school said, will you start a gospel choir for us? I did and the Gospel Choir grew so large that by my tenth-grade year in high school, the high school principal, said we had outgrown the school. We went from being the Franklin High School Gospel Choir, to the Franklin Community Choir. My mom made us robes and we would have rehearsal at my home, and we just continued. From high school I went on to Norfolk State University. I was a music major, vocal was my major and piano was my secondary. There I was the first ever freshmen chosen to lead that Gospel Choir. We went on to win awards, and I became part of the jazz choir, the concert choir, performance choir and I even marched in the Norfolk State Spartan Legion Band. During my junior year, Old Dominion University, called my school and was looking for someone to cover their weekend anniversary. This was for their Gospel Choir at Old Dominion University which is also in Norfolk. The head of the music department Dr. Carl Harris at Norfolk State recommended me. I went there for that weekend, and it literally turned into ten years. I became an adjunct professor for the school and the choir. Life continued from there where I started a group on the campus of Norfolk State called “Earl Bynum & As We Are,” that group went on for years. They came together for my birthday a couple of years ago, and we have recorded together as well. We produced “Sanchez Harley” and Sanchez Harley produced Kirk Franklin, Lemmie Battles, Shirley Caesar and all the likes. We did a recording with Derrick Lee, who was the Music Director for Bobby Jones, was actually the vocal producer and pianist for my project. He is no longer with us, but those moments were amazing. That record went on and ten years later, I put that record out again. It went on to be nominated for two Stellar Awards. God just continued to bless.

I Ascend: What has the process of becoming been like for you?  

Dr. Bynum: I would say it has not been hard, yet, it has not been easy. Coming up in a small city where you did not have others really doing what you do. It was hard to find that person that you could look up to. I still remember as a youth, there was a lady named Peggy Britt. She is still around, she is a great writer, and a great psalmist that scores her own music. I began looking up to her, and then another Choir Amos Davis, & The Angelic Choraleers from our area. I then got involved in the Gospel Music Workshop of America and played for various churches and colleges. This expanded my territory. The church that I am now the Executive Director of Music, Worship, and Arts is called The Mount. The pastor at The Mount used to be the boy on the front row when I was in my hometown playing at Shiloh Baptist. His father was the pastor when I was playing back then so, it has been a full circle. The process has not been as hard for me, I will say that because I had supportive parents. My parents were amazing. Like I said, if I had an engagement, they were on it. I mean, we have driven all up the East Coast and they just never said no to the gift that they saw in me. So that made it that much easier.

I Ascend: If you had to pinpoint a moment, when did you know this was going to be something great for you?

Dr. Bynum: In all honesty, I knew I was going to keep doing this while attending Norfolk State University. I started the group with Cedric Meekins called “Earl Bynum & As We Are.” I knew at that point because I never stopped. I ended up meeting Kirk Franklin, and during that time his song” The Reason Why I Sing” had been released. I began meeting various people that I have watched on television. I said to myself, because you have to put it in the atmosphere “One day, I am going to be on the Bobby Jones Show.” Since then, I have had twenty-two world tours to the country of Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, and Denmark. One day while I was in Europe watching Bobby Jones on television, the promoter for our tour said “Hey, do you want to meet Bobby Jones, he is on our way.” We got in the vehicle, and they drove my group to the hotel that Bobby Jones was staying at. When Bobby Jones came downstairs, he asked if we were all singers, we performed the song “Total Praise” in the lobby, no music just acapella. The next season, we were on the Bobby Jones Show, and I have been on that show now about four or five times. God is just amazing, Dr. Bobby Jones always says, “Earl Bynum is the only artists that had to leave the US and come to Europe to meet me.” We both reside in the US, so that was truly amazing.

I Ascend: What hardships have you faced in Ascending to where you are currently? 

Dr. Bynum: Learning that people are not always truthful about what they tell you. I am a stickler of doing what I say. I will let you know if I cannot do something. There are people who will say they can do certain things. You then find out later, even after hiring them and paying them that they could not give you the results that they claimed. I think it is a sad time when people will not just be honest. That has been one of the biggest things for me. I do not like seeing it happen to other artists, especially independent artists, because they work hard. They may not have the big companies behind them like Sony or Columbia. However, this is their money. I really hate when people are taken advantage of. 

I Ascend: Who served as your Cushion and Support Team during the hard times? 

Dr. Bynum: Actually, one of my sisters Aisha, she has been amazing. Aisha has been with me on the road, in the US and overseas she has hung in there for the past thirty years. Jewel cherry and my son Asaun Bynum have been there. My son is very supportive he always asks “Pops what you need? We are going to make this happen.” Asaun is also an artist. Then last but not least, Kenneth Craig (KC) Williams Jr. who has been my administrative assistant for over twenty years. We have been the company literally. Each of them has been a great support team.

I Ascend: What have these experience taught you? The Highs and Lows if any?  

Dr. Bynum: I would say that it has taught me to be patient with purpose. Many times, we can jump ahead by what we feel should be happening without a plan. I think we should strategically think through the process of everything that we do concerning where we are going. We cannot lead anyone or take anyone along with us, if we are steering the ship, and we do not even understand where we are going. 

I Ascend: How do you juggle your time with home life while pursuing your calling? 

Dr. Bynum: When I get home, my home, it is my space. I try not to think music or industry. I just think of my safe place. I can do the movie time at my house; I love being at home. I think that came from always being on the road being in front of people and being public. I tell people all the time, if you do not like people, you do not need to be public. My quiet time, my downtime is just being at home. Whether I am cooking, or just sitting catching up on shows. Of course, I like all of the shows, like the voice, and all of those. I am still learning, I tell people, you should always be in a learning state. I watched the voice, and all of those shows to see if I saw what the judges saw. Or if I saw something from an artist did that I can learn from, or that I can implement into what I am doing. So, I love those kinds of programs. 

I Ascend: Congratulations on Ascending and standing in your Truth and Pursuing Destiny. What do you want people to remember most about you?  

Dr. Bynum: That I tried my best to treat everyone with the same respect, regardless of who you are, and where you come from.

I Ascend: What word of advice would you give to readers to have them continue to Ascend in pursuit of their dream, no matter where they are currently? 

Dr. Bynum: I would say remember, nobody can beat you at being you, so be the best you that you can be. I say that to artists all the time. Because if you try to be Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell, Donnie McClurkin, or Hezekiah Walker, who do you become when they show up and you’re on the same program. The best thing to do is be the best you at the start because no one can beat you at being you. 

I Ascend: Please share some of the projects that you’re currently working on, and how can our readers continue to follow and stay abreast of all that you’re doing?

Dr. Bynum: We are working on several projects. One is with Assan Bynum, which is my son. He is working on some more music. We are also working with Lady Tibba Gamble. For those who do not know, she is the mother of Coko from the group SWV (Sisters With Voices,) we are getting her single prepared. Earl Bynum is also working on new music; I am excited about that. My church choir, we are always working on new music. I am also excited about something that is upcoming, that we have Kim Burrell on as well.

You can follow me on all social media platforms. On Instagram and Twitter follow at: Earl Bynum and Facebook at Earl Bynum Music, and on YouTube: Earl Bynum.