Jae Deal is from Baltimore, Maryland and began playing instruments at the age of seven. He attended Friends School of Baltimore, the oldest private school in Baltimore.[3] By the time Jae was in high school, he was already a skillful bass guitar and synthesizer player. By the tenth grade, he was participating in PBS specials, international tours, and performances for the Pope with Dr. Nathan Carter of the Morgan State University Choir.[8] Shortly after high school, Gospel music producer Steven Ford hired Jae to play on two major gospel recordings. The first was Vickie Winans, Live in Detroit.[8] It was her first live recording and it was nominated for a Stellar Award.[9] The second was T.D. Jakes’ Woman Thou Art Loosed.[8] It won a Stellar Award and was Grammy nominated.[10]
Jae Deal attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Pure Mathematics.[3] He studied classical music independently in his college years. Jae Deal's parallel education in music and mathematics have let him employ a mathematically inclined methodology towards analysis and production of music as he explains in an interview with Jammcard.[11]
Deal is currently refining what he describes as a topological methodology for analyzing and composing music.[3]
Additional work
Jae Deal produced and directed the performances of the Millennium Harmony Orchestra at the AFRAM arts festival in Baltimore, MD.[13][14]
Jae Deal, alongside Hollywood curator Monica Payne, co-created and produced #FLASHLIGHT, a progressive musical performance series based in Los Angeles. Featured musicians included producers Ethan Farmer, Keith Harris, Ish a.k.a. “Wow Jones” & musicians Kamasi Washington and Tony Royster Jr. Featured DJs included MC Lyte and DJ Smooth Dee.[15]
G.A.M.E. (Gilmor and Morgan Exchange) - Baltimore, MD - Jae Deal was founder and director of The GAME program, of the 503 Academy, which connected Gilmor Elementary School students with college students from Morgan State University for mentoring.[14][18]
UCLA – "Ethnomusicology M119: The Cultural History of Rap (Hip Hop)" - Los Angeles , CA - Jae Deal was a guest lecturer discussing the chronology of technological development alongside the Hip-Hop culture, considering future trends in Hip-Hop technology.[19]
Los Angeles College of Music 2016 " - Pasadena , CA - Jae Deal wrote the Songwriting 1 curriculum for the Los Angeles College of Music ,served as an instructor of Songwriting 1 and Industry Showcase and provided career counseling.[1]
Musicians Institute 2018 " - Hollywood , CA - Jae taught Networking Strategies and Artist Development in the Music Business department of Musicians Institute .[1]
Jae Deal and co-composer Tia P won the 2016 International John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the category of Hip-Hop. In the same year both artists were the first international contestants to win the Australia's Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition.[27]
