About Yocontalie Jackson
Yocontalie Jackson began singing at the age of 13 years old at the world famous “Metropolitan Opera House” later Known as the “Met” Church located at Broad and Poplar Streets, in Philadelphia to audiences of 4,000 plus every Sunday. The “Met” was the most acoustically sound auditorium in the country and Yocontalie became one of their most notable lead singers.
Yocontalie Jackson, known to her friends as Connie, has the distinction of being named “Best Female Vocalist” in the Delaware Valley, by The K.F.C. Gospel Competition of which she performed to a sold-out crowd at the Academy of Music. She has recorded with Grammy award winners, Walter and Edwin Hawkins. Connie also, performed to a sold-out crowd of over 10,000 at the Gospel Music workshop of America in Detroit Michigan and New Orleans, Louisiana. She has performed on stage with artist such as Walter Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Tony Moore & Jehova’s Chosen, Lynette Hawkins, Hezekiah Walker, Tyrone Tribett and GA, just to name a few.
Yocontalie Jackson sang lead with the Dawkins New Sound Choir where she recorded her first hit “He’s everything to me”, which rose to top 10 of the Billboard gospel charts for several weeks. She continued to sing with this professional choir for twelve years and traveled throughout the United States. After leaving the DNS Choir, she joined the world renowned “Johnny Thompson Singers” and toured Europe, recording a CD as a lead vocalist that topped European charts for weeks.
After leaving the Johnny Thompson Singers, Connie embarked upon her own solo career. She recorded her first CD in 2001 entitled, “Church Folk Ain’t Nothin But Church Folk”; her second solo CD entitled “Actions Speak Louder Than Words” was release in 2009 and received national distribution and airplay; her third project, which is an EP entitled “Motivator”, was written after Connie was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She wanted to encourage and inspire others living with MS, and so she released her project with national distribution, giving hundreds of CD’s away to individuals living with MS and other illnesses, to inspire and encourage.
Connie Jackson was inducted into the Woodrow Wilson High School Hall of Fame, Camden Hall of Fame and the 2016 IDEA Artist Legacy Life Time Achievement Award. She is a founding member of the Camden Walk of Fame and is also a founding member of the Twin Bridges Yact Club.
In 2011, Yocontalie Jackson was featured on a Grammy Nominated CD entitled “Healthy Food for thought Good enough to Eat that included other artist such as Julian Lennon, Moby and Sweet Honey in the Rock, and numerous other phenomenal artist She has written over 50 songs, several of which are being showcased on her CD entitled, “Actions Speak Louder than Words”. Connie formed her own production company called The East Coast Entertainment Group. She produced the first Gospel Festival in the City of Camden which, drew thousands. She later continued and brought in such artist as, Pastor Shirley Caesar, The Canton Spirituals, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Tye Tribbett & GA, Tony Moore and Jehovah’s Chosen, Barbara Ward Farmer & Wagner Alumni Choir, and Lynette Hawkins, just to name a few. She later produced Jazz concerts featuring such world renown artist as Angela Boefill, Jean Carn, Norman Connors, War, Ohio Players and Billy Paul which drew over 10,000 at the Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden, NJ. Connie has produced plays such as God’s Trombones and has written several other dynamic theatrical productions. She performed in “Dream Girls”, directed by Tony Award winner Joseph Walker whom she worked closely with marketing some of his most dynamic productions at Rutgers University.
Yocontalie has studied percussions under master drummer, William Towns. Her percussive abilities are featured on her CD featured on several of her CD’s. Her single entitled “The Church Medley” debuted on an Italian Radio Station and New York.
While serving on the Camden Board of Education, she was instrumental in starting the Camden Creative Arts High School and the Medical Arts High School. She raises the bar and then leaps over it.
Yocontalie took her business seriously and helped other artist in their endeavors. When she was told certain artist performed on projects but didn’t receive their awards, she worked to make sure awards were received. Yocontalie contacted the National Academy of Recorded Arts and Sciences (NARAS), better known as the Grammy Association. She paid the fees that should have been paid by the record companies to get the awards. Once she received the awards from NARAS, she delivered them to the Grammy Award Winning Artist, Carla Benson, Keith Benson, Johnny Ingram and Christopher Stevens who is now playing for John Legend, respectively.
She has also appeared in the award-winning film, “The Golden Empire” with world renowned actor, Clifton Powell. The Gold Empire was written and directed by, Jesse James Jackson of Jersey Style Films. Ms. Jackson also wrote and directed such plays as “The Pastor’s Wife” and “Let’s All Go To Church”.
Ms. Jackson’s entrepreneurial skills have proven to be extraordinary as she is President/CEO of her own Construction Management Firm. Yocontalie serves as Chairperson of the Camden City Arts and Historical Commission.
Yocontalie, has a Master’s Degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University. She lives by Psalms 34:1, I will bless the Lord at all times, and his praise shall continually be in my mouth.