Ingrid: Do you think it’s important to stay true to your roots/community as an entertainer and business man…etc?
Gary: Oh yeah, very important. I haven’t even touched the surface of the things I want to do for Nashville. It’s important to stay true to your roots…where you come from. At any moment what’s been given to you can be taken away. It’s important to come back, give back and spread love.

Ingrid: Do you think you have received the kind of support desired and/or necessary from your home town Nashville?Gary: Oh yeah …absolutely. I love Nashville. Nashville has done me no wrong. Even in the beginning with the “Freak Me Song.” I was a church boy, Bobby Jones singer and member of the church choir. I thought I was going to get a back lashing, but everyone greeted me with open arms. A couple older mom types asked me “boy what are you doing”, but all supported me. With the chitterling circuit, night clubs, etc., everybody was so glad for me and supported me… even when I come back. Everybody comes out in support and I love that.

Ingrid: What/who is Gary Jenkins today?
Gary: I would have to say that I am just a man, still learning how to be more of a man and a strong man who has a strong will power and who has the mindset to succeed by any means necessary. I am a giving and loving man who is not in it for selfish reasons, but hoping one day to be able to spread future wealth to all so that everyone can benefit from the success of G.

Ingrid: What has been the key to your longevity in the industry?
Gary: My good looks (smiles). I would have to say the key to my longevity would be the support level that I have had throughout my career. I treat people with kindness and I don’t have an ego. I am very easy to work with and I think in every situation I take it seriously. I respect other people’s creativity. That’s why I think I keep getting calls. I have to thank God for making me capable to do the things that I have and the gifts to do it. I have to thank God everyday to making me like that so people want to work with me and use my gifts.

Ingrid: How did you get hooked up with Tyler Perry?
Gary: Tyler had heard of my work and saw me in other plays. He called me up one day and we met up. He wanted me to read for him for Madea’s Family Reunion. I did it, got the part and the rest is history. He saw my ability and capability and that is it.

Ingrid: Tell me about Gary Jenkins the family man?
Gary: Gary the family man: I am a firm believer in family. I come from a big family. I am the baby of 7 kids. I have 2 daughters of my own and I am trying to assist the wifely to instill in them all the right things to do, education… etc. I believe I am a really great father. We have a close knit little family. My daughters have talent. I am trying to nurture them without being a crazed parent. I am trying to let them make the decisions on what they want to do. I am trying to teach them how to ride a bike. I am a normal family guy in the midst of traveling. It’s kind of hard as I travel as much as I do and am away from family. I am still learning, but I am pretty good.

Ingrid: Tell me something about you that will bring a truth to light that hasn’t been brought to light until now?
Gary: If people only knew how silly I am. I like to have fun. If people only knew how spontaneous I am.

Ingrid: How have your experiences developed and matured you as a person first, next an entertainer?
Gary: It has matured me in a responsibility aspect. It is a big load when you are carrying it all by yourself. Just the way the industry is so up and down…trying to keep a grip financially and mentally. Because of some experiences, a normal person probably would have been driven to a mental asylum or taken their lives. I thank God for the strength I have to have endured what I have in my career. It helps me mentally to grow in my mindset on how to interact with people (socially). In particular, how to deal with the different type of people you deal with in certain situations. As you see, I don’t like talking about my self too much. It helps me to understand all that glitters isn’t gold. Every action has a reaction. I have learned some restraint. I guess it goes back to the Lord giving me the wisdom to accept those things I can’t change and the wisdom and knowledge to know the difference. It helps me to learn so that my children don’t have to go through what I have. I have my mindset that I am a protector for my children. Again, I have learned to turn negatives into positives.

Ingrid: What are some of the ways you have used your success to give back to the community and the world?
Gary: I am doing some charity events. I am going to different schools to talk to kids—trying to instill values in them. I haven’t scratched the surface on all the things I want to do. I have given monetary help for people in some situations. I give back through my work songs, plays… etc. I have been able to touch people in a way that is unexplainable through my songs—relating and changing someone’s mind about something through song. Letting men know its’ ok to be sensitive. The type of music I sing pulls in emotion—in everything I do. That’s my word to the fellas it’s ok to be sensitive. Women want that.

Ingrid: What can we expect next from you?
Gary: I am in the process now of doing more music for a solo project. Not fully released yet, but it’s called the “The Otha Side.” I am in a new group called Blayse. The group is made up 3 groups me Silk, Mark Nelson and Tony Grant from Az Yet and Terrell Phillips from Blackstreet. We are set to release in the fall. Silk, Blackstreet and Az Yet together. Is that powerful or what. R &B has been pushed to the wayside and it’s time to bring it back in a big way. I am still performing with Silk every once in a while. I am doing a couple of plays—one of which is called Voices by Nedra Simone and I just got casted for the play that Vivica Fox is doing. Among a few other things, I will be doing some solo performances in the future and you can look for some more good music.

Ingrid: You have a blank sheet of paper to express yourself “free style.” What would you say to the world so we can feel the real essence of you?
Gary: I wish this war would stop and I wish we could go back to the old days when everything was pure, natural, no worries and no stress. Even though times are hard, you have to have your family around you. I wish I could put an end to poverty. I promote humbleness, positiveness and unity. I wish that in any arena, we could all come together for the purpose of making peace and networking together. Basically, in the industry there is a lot of separation. But I have always thought there is room for everybody. I believe in the words of Ray Charles, “Make it do what it do!”