In just a few years, James Fortune & FIYA has gone from empowering youth in the Greater Houston area to uplifting millions with their nationally acclaimed debut album You Survived!, released in September 2004. Their first smash hit single, also titled “You Survived,” peaked at #2 on the R&R Gospel Singles chart and became one of the Top 7 Most Played Gospel Songs of the Year, earning James Fortune honors at the 19th Annual ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards and the 2006 ASCAP Writer’s Award for Gospel Song of the Year.
After being the top recording on the Gospel National Airplay chart for 29-weeks, “I Trust You,” the second single from The Transformation, officially became the longest running #1 hit single for any genre, eclipsing Marvin Sapp’s six-month run at the top spot with “Never Would Have Made It.” This sensational single “I Trust You” had steadfastly maintained its place as one of the top 10 songs on Gospel charts.
James Fortune received the 2009 ASCAP Award for Song of the Year – “I Trust You”. In 2010, he received 2 awards for having the top 2 Gospel songs, “I Trust You” and “I Wouldn’t Know You”. James Fortune recently appeared on the 10th Anniversary Show for Celebration of Gospel, the 25th Anniversary show for 2010 Stellar Awards, the 2011 & 2012 Stellar Awards , Bobby Jones Gospel, BET’s Lift Every Voice and many other networks.
Accompanied by iconic GRAMMY-Award winning Gospel artists such as Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar, and Yolanda Adams, Stevie Wonder, Mary Mary, Donald Lawrence, Albertina Walker, Fred Hammond, Tye Tribbett & G.A. and many others. FIYA made their mark in the gospel arena when they participated in the “One Church Tour” with some other gospel greats such as Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers, RiZen, Smokie Norful, and Vickie Yohe.
James Fortune & FIYA has graced numerous major media outlets with their fiery presence and continues to enjoy trail-blazing crossover success with their wide-reaching message of hope and salvation set to uplifting urban contemporary music.
James Fortune released a new project, entitled, “Encore” on January 26, 2010. The single, entitled, “Encore” scaled up the charts blazing him forward as a Stellar Award nominee. The album featured great artists such as, Kierra “Kiki” Sheard, William Murphy, Isaac Carree, Anaysha Figueroa, Zacardi Cortez, Canton Jones and more.
In 2011 James Fortune received 4 Stellar Awards, Gospel Music’s highest Award. Currently up for 2 nominees for the 2013 Stellar Awards and 2 nominees for the 2013 Grammy Awards.
The single released from the Stellar Award project was, “I Trust You”, a message of hope to the people, even with everything going on in the world, high gas prices, poverty, relationships, jobless, sickness… you will still trust God! This song went to #3 in the country on Gospel Charts. Currently James Fortune holds the #4 Song in the country on the Gospel Music charts, “Hold On” from the #4 Gospel Album in the country.
James Fortune truly believes and is living the testimony - if you TRUST in God and wait patiently on HIM, you will receive all that is in store for you! God is faithful and true to HIS Word and Promise!