This week’s guest is Alfred Jackson.Alfred is a pop and R&B recording artist from LA. Just recently, I had the great pleasure of meeting Alfred on a cruise ship, where he was a guest entertainer performing with the boyband, Uptown. I was captivated by Alfred’s talent, energy, charisma and charm on stage and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to interview him in person on the ship. This was a fascinating conversation with Alfred who shared his professional journey, throughout the entertainment industry, which began at the age of nine and has led him to numerous and a diversity of career highlights. Some of these include being cast in numerous musical theatre productions such as the Book of Mormon in Sydney Australia, directing West Side Story, touring in the Man in the Mirror across the US, entertaining at Universal Studios Japan and performing with numerous boy bands. Alfred has also had a very successful recording career as a singer-songwriter being signed to numerous music labels. At the age of 14, he was signed to his first record deal and he talks about how he was mistreated and body shamed at such a vulnerable young age. He shares with us that it was his mother who kept him grounded in an industry that could have destroyed his life. Over the years, Alfred has released two original albums which have been inspired by his own life experiences. His latest body of work is titled, UGLY, in which he shares his deeply personal account of his life and the importance of legacy. Alfred also discusses how he takes care of his physical, mental and emotional health in an industry where self-care is. You are going to love this interview with Alfred Jackson as he shares his stories, experiences and advice for others wishing to pursue a career in the music industry.In this episode 07:27 — Alfred’s Singing Journey10:00 — Singing Influences during his Young Age12:48 — Transitioning to a Professional Singing Career14:26 — Having a ‘Momager’ and its Impact on His Career22:44 — Belonging to a Boy Band Group25:48 — Singing a Healthy C5 in Pure Belt30:32 — Our Voice Tells Us Where to Listen32:26 — Impact of Traveling34:19 — Warm-up Rituals41:35 — Learning to Support the Voice42:17 — Getting Into Musical Shows44:48 — Working in Universal Studios in Japan for 4 years47:45 — What Do You Do for Self-Care?50:08 — Was There Ever a Time in Your Career That You Didn’t Feel Enough? 54:40 — Alfred’s New Album “U.G.L.Y”56:14 — Advice for up-and-coming Artists57:13 — Piece of Advice for Singing TeachersFind Alfred OnlineWebsite: www.alfredjackson.netFacebook: www.facebook.com/alfred.jackson.7Twitter: www.twitter.com/ajismusicInstagram: www.instagram.com/alfredjacksonmuzicFor more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/76Like this episode? Please leave a review here - even one sentence helps!Follow me on Instagram.