With two albums and a growing catalogue of choral music, James Cheesman is combining his love for God and music through a career in music ministry.
“When I was a freshman in high school, I was sure I wanted to pursue music. I thought about being a classical pianist or a band director,” Cheesman said, adding, “By my junior year, God had called me to ministry.”
A 2008 graduate of Cuero High School, Cheesman now serves as the worship pastor at First Baptist Church in Farmersville. From a musical family, Cheesman’s father, Larry, is the current music minister at while his mother, retired Cuero teacher Brenda, serves in various musical capacities at FBC.
“My first instrument was the piano and I started taking lessons when I was eight.” Including piano, Cheemsan now plays guitar, French horn, trumpet, flugelhorn, mandolin, banjo, drums, bass guitar organ and accordion.
Though he may have dreamed of being an author, scientist, teacher, soccer or basketball player and even a spelunker, music became his passion. “I was blessed to have great friends through my high school band, our Ice Weasels film group and the church youth group.”
Cheesman attended Baylor University where he was in the Baylor Men’s Choir, Christian fraternity Phi Kappa Chi and the Baylor Golden Wave Marching Band. He earned a Bachelor of Church Music with piano concentration. “Baylor was a great time for me. I was blessed with amazing friends, he said. “The music school was competitive and I really grew there as a musician.”
In developing his musical style, Cheesman said he has had many influences that cross several genres. “Probably the key influences on my songwriting and church music are Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, Andrew Peterson, CityAlight, and Sandra McCracken,” he said. “Other artists and composers range from neo-classical Arvo Part and jazz pianist Bill Evans to Coldplay and the Avett Brothers” he said.
With a masters in Church Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Cheesman is continuing his education by finishing his Ph.D. in Church music and Worship. “I hope to use my terminal degree to help equip the next generation of worship leaders and songwriters.”
Visiting a church today, one will more than likely come across a praise band instead of the traditional choir. When asked his opinion on whether choirs may become a thing of the past, Cheesman said, “That is a great discussion and we could write a whole lot about that.” He continued that musical style changed, even in the church. “The pendulum swings and there was a swing away from choirs, but now choirs are making quite the comeback. However, praise bands have steadily gained influence and utility in churches of all sizes and will never go away at this point.” He added that there is a current trajectory towards the combination of praise bands and choirs leading worship together.
So how did this local Cuero boy find his way on to streaming services such as Spotify and YouTube. “My church had been singing some of my original songs for worship and one day someone asked me, ‘How close are you to recording an original album of James Cheesman worship music and I answered that I was about 5 songs and $10,000 short.’ They replied that if I got the five songs I needed, they would supply the money!”
Writing songs throughout 2019 and 2020, Cheesman soon found himself working with songwriting consultant James Tealy, now of Integrity Music Publishing, who helped him with rewrites, edits and the selection of the six best songs. “The original church member plus some others pitched in for the expenses, and I also did pre-sales of the first CD to pay for everything.”
Sunset Blvd. Studios in Nashville produced this first album, “Your Glory Alone,” with producer Dennis Allen, musician Steve Dady and a band of A-list Nashville players. The second album is, “Songs for a Church Like Ours.” Cheesman said he would like to do a Christmas album at some point and maybe even a children’s worship CD.
From small town Cuero to music and worship leader at the Southern Baptist Convention, Cheesman has found that his music is reaching people in ways he never expected. “I teach a worship band class at Southwestern Seminary and one of my students started using my songs at his church in Fort Worth. Randomly, while I was on campus one day, someone I never met recognized me and asked if I was James Cheesman.” He continued that this person played in the worship band of that former student. He has also run into a person in Boston at the airport that he had met at a church concert in Houston.
“Despite the Lord using my songs (all glory to God) and sending them to places around the US and the globe, I really am not famous or anything, even though my daughter may want me to be,” he said. “I remind them that I don’t care if I have 50 or 50 millions followers on Spotify, I just want to be faithful to serve the Lord and have offered any music to Him.”
Cheesman has met many great musicians and has had the opportunity to learn from them and to watch them. His opportunities in the church music industry has led him to fifteen songs on streaming services, plus 10 more registered with CCLI that other churches can use. “I have estimated that I have written well over 200 worship songs, but many of those never see the light of day!”
Married to Megan, they have two daughters, Claire and Eve. He will be hosting a free concert on April 4 at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church Cuero. Along with him will be collaborator Kris Redus, worship pastor at 2nd Baptist Church in Corpus Christi. Redus is a studio producer and drummer. He has recorded drums and hammer dulcimer for many artists, most recently contributing hammer dulcimer to “Jesus, Bread of Life” by Frenardo Ortega.
From leading worship at 16 at FBC Cuero to Cuero Gobbler Band drum major to recording artist, Cheesman has been forging a path in the church choral music and Christian music scene. “After I knew God had called me to the music ministry, I’ve never really questioned or doubted or wanted to do anything else!”
