After graduating from Tarboro High School, Timothy Jevon McGuire left Edgecombe County to pursue his dreams of playing in the National Football League � the sport that he religiously admired.
The former Tarboro Viking running back signed to play football at Winston-Salem State University and at that time it was the biggest decision of his life.
Four years later, McGuire, 27, dream a different dream and it didn't involved the sport that he loved so dearly. After facing obstacles on the college gridiron and life trails and tribulations McGuire dreamt of becoming a music producer, music writer, rapper and a singer.
The Tarboro native found his second dream is much more durable than his first and he has turned it into a reality.
Under the name of Novej, McGuire recently wrote, produced, rapped and recorded his first gospel compact disc, "Everyday Like Sunday."
The 2006 Winston-Salem State University graduate also designed the cover for the CD. His stage name is his middle name spelled backward.
"When I went to college, I had my mind set on becoming a professional football player," McGuire said. "After I was redshirted my freshman year because of my grades I became discouraged. I lost my motivation to play football and I decided to pursue a music career."
McGuire began singing and writing secular music. Things got off to a good start and several producers wanted to sign the gifted rapper to their labels. McGuire said he and the producers could not come to terms, and he became depressed. Through the depression he fell on hard times and sold his music studio equipment.
"I was at my lowest," he said. "I didn't have anywhere to live so I moved in with my sister. All of my friends were still pursing their football careers and I wasn't doing anything. I was miserable. I didn't know what to do."
McGuire, who parents who are both ministers, (Timothy and Sylvia McGuire of Tarboro), began counseling their son. It didn't take too long for those counseling sessions to hit the core of McGuire's heart. He decided to pursue his music career again, but this time with gospel genre.
"It has always been a part of me," McGuire said about gospel music. "When I was a little boy I found about five or six tapes that belong to my uncle. I played them over and over and over again. Then I used to follow my daddy when he used to sing with the United Male Choir. I knew just about every song that they sang. I knew gospel music."
McGuire's gospel roots would soon place him back on solid ground. He began attending church regularly and rededicated himself back to Christ. Once humble again, McGuire wanted to give back and help the youth. That's why he choose rap � music that is popular with the younger generation.
"There is a big gap between the young generation and the older generation," McGuire said. "the young people doesn't listen to hymns and older people doesn't listen to rap. With my music I want to bridge that gap. I would like the old and the young to listen to my music."
"Everyday Like Sunday" was inspired by McGuire's struggles. His favorite song on the CD is "Bible Definition." McGuire isn't stopping on the morales of his first CD. He has already began working on his next CD � a mixture of singing and rap.
McGuire would probably never forget the days of running on the gridiron and the musty smell of the locker room. He will never forget going undefeated from the seventh grade to the 10th grade. Those moments that he had hoped to turned into a professional football career are now just memories that he hope to one day use in songs to inspire his listeners.
"Football will always be a part of me but that's not what I'm about now," he said. "I want to make feel good music, good music that can help someone else along the way."
TGIF
Football's loss was gospel music's gain
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NCWRC schedules September Outdoors-Woman program events
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will offer two special outdoor skills sessions for women in September through its Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program. (BOW) Registration is open to women ages 18 and older, on a first-come, first-serve basis, with a fee to cover costs of materials and accommodations. Partial scholarships are available.
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‘Sound of Music’ opens tonight in Keihin
The Tar Rivers Players final production of the season, The Sound of Music, opens tonight at 8 in Keihin Auditorium. In all, the 27-member cast will present a total of six performances in the directorial debut of James Guy.
Performances will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, June 22-23 and June 29-30, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 24 and July 1. -
Kickin Grass coming to Saint Anne’s Saturday
The Kickin Grass Band, a Raleigh-based bluegrass group, will play at Saint Anne’s Chapel on Saturday, June 9.
Ten years in the making, the Kickin Grass Band has made its mark on the roots music scene with strong voices and original songs that reflect the depth and breadth of the human experience. -
Country Music Showcase and Variety Show
Cassie Dunn of Macclesfield, will be performing during the pre-show and the regular show at the Country Music Showcase and Variety Show at the Paul A. Johnson Auditorium, at Johnson Community College in Smithfield Friday June 15 and Saturday June 16.
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Tar River Children’s Choir celebrates 20 years tonight
Who would believe a children's choir from our Rocky Mount area would give concerts in such places as the Washington DC’s National Cathedral, NYC's Riverside Church, Phildelphia's Church of the Holy Trinity, Charleston's Piccolo Spoleto Festival, and Williamburg's Bruton Parish and that they would sing with symphony orchestras and symphonic band?
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Tarboro native ‘Cooter’ in Selma tonight
Tarboro native Ben Jones, better known as either “Cooter” from the television series “Dukes of Hazard” or as a former two-term representative in Congress from Georgia’s 4th District, will join Nathan Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys tonight at 7 at the Rudy Theatre in Selma.
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NC Boys Choir coming to Tarboro May 11
The North Carolina Boys Choir, one of the relatively few existing boys choirs in the country, will perform in Clark Hall at Calvary Episcopal Church at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Admission is free.
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Former Tarboro resident to be featured at Greenville gallery
Chip Hemingway grew up in Tarboro.
It is, he says, the place where his father, Dr. George C. Hemingway, shared his love of the outdoors with him and where so many of his values were established.
“It was a great place to grow up,” he said, noting that his father and mother, Lynn, have only been gone for about two months after relocating to Wilmington. -
‘Our Town’ opens in McIntyre tonight
“Our Town,” a heartfelt and humorous story that compels the audience to stop and enjoy the simple things in life, will be presented both this weekend and next by the Tar River Players (TRP).
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ECC drama class sets shows tonight, Saturday
Edgecombe Community College’s (ECC) drama classes will perform two plays geared to engage, entice and entertain the entire community tonight and Saturday morning.
In honor of one of the most famous Elizabethan playwrights, William Shakespeare, the ECC Acting II class will perform in “An Evening with the Bard: Scenes from Four Great Plays.” - More TGIF Headlines
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