DATE: Thursday, October 23, 1997            TAG: 9710210111

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 16   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MARK YOUNG, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   59 lines

MUSIC TAKING FLIGHT FOR GOSPEL SINGER

Recording artist Jaymes Hodges, 40, has not yet quit his day job, but someday soon he just might have to. In the space of two weeks the Christian song stylist has made a public appearance at McDonald's, appeared on a morning television talk show and performed at a free concert.

Local stores including Blockbuster Music, D.J.'s Music and Tapes, the Baptist Bookstore and Dudley's are stocking Hodges' compact disc, ``Cornerstones.'' Last July, Hodges and the live band, Warriors for Christ, opened the show for national recording artists God's Property at Rock Church. But success has not come overnight for the Virginia Beach resident.

Hodges grew up in the Berkley section of Norfolk and began singing at St. Mark's Holiness church at the age of 6. His mother nurtured his talent, providing him with musical instruments to learn. At 8, Hodges was writing songs. He performed in bands before graduating from Lake Taylor High School and spent six years in the Marines before moving to Oakland, Calif., to pursue his musical dreams.

While Hodges and friends dreamed of their big break amidst an atmosphere of alcohol and drugs, homelessness came knocking on their door. Evicted and forced to live out of shelters, depending on the charity of others, Hodges began to face some hard facts about himself. He realized that he had been seeking fame only to satisfy his own desires.

``Homelessness gave God an opportunity to deal with my heart. It let me know the No. 1 purpose of my life was not to be famous, but to put God first and have a relationship with him,'' Hodges said.

One night at The Love Center Fellowship in Oakland, ``I found Christ, or actually, he found me,'' Hodges said. After saving money for a plane ticket the next step was a move to Baltimore, where friends helped Hodges put his life back together. Later, at the Memorial Institutional Church of God, Hodges was ordained as a minister. But the sturdy ex-Marine realized his ministry was in music. He returned to this area and began seeking his musical aspirations once again.

For 12 years he worked on his music and helped others achieve their musical dreams, eventually opening a recording studio in his home. Hodges pays the bills by working as a policeman for the Virginia Port Authority. Recently Hodges and fellow Christian David Wilson have started Resurrection Records, in order to aid others who want to use their talents for a higher purpose.

Hodges is encouraged by growing popularity of his music. The CD has circulated as far away as Michigan and New Jersey.

Hodges and his group also have several dates booked in the area: On Oct. 31, they will play at Founders Inn in Virginia Beach; on Nov. 15 they will give a live perfomance on the program ``Keeping It Real'' on Christian radio WPMH 1010 AM, and on Dec. 20 they will perform at ``From the Pit to the Palace'' women's conference. MEMO: For information on Jaymes Hodges or Resurrection Records call

471-3417. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY

Jaymes Hodges, a Christian recording artist, has released his first

compact disc, ``Cornerstones,'' which local stores are selling.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu