Anthony Nelson was born and raised in south Louisiana in a close-knit and historically significant town known as Carville, Louisiana. He grew up in a musical household with two godly parents: Joe and Joyce Nelson.
His late father, Joe, who often served as a local disc jockey, had crates of vinyl L.P.s from obscure and well-known jazz and R&B artists from the 1960s through the 1980s. Nelson’s father introduced him to legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Luther Vandross, The Isley Brothers, and Maze, featuring Frankie Beverly, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, etc.
His late mother, Joyce, was a well-known community figure and noted gospel vocalist and choir director at the Mount Bethel Baptist Church in Carville. His late grandmother, Elizabeth Brown, was also a noted gospel vocalist and choir director at Mount Bethel B.C. Nelson’s mother ministered through song for over 50 years throughout southern Louisiana. Nelson’s mother introduced him to other traditional gospel music artists such as Andrae Crouch, James Cleveland, Mahalia Jackson, Shirley Caesar, The Hawkins Family, and the Mississippi Mass Choir.
Nelson credits his parents with inspiring him to learn how to read music at an early age, to learn the proper mechanics of singing, and to play alto and tenor saxophones in marching, concert, and jazz bands at a very early age.
He also credits his parents and the elders in his family, such as his great-grandmother Georgia Jackson, a centenarian who lived to the ripe age of 101 years old, with inspiring him to seriously pursue academics which he accomplished by graduating as valedictorian from East Iberville High School and with a B.S. (Magna Cum Laude) and M.S. degree from Southern University and A&M College and LSU, respectively. Nelson also completed additional studies at Alabama A&M University, Penn State University, Purdue University, and Columbia University (N.Y.).
In 2004 and 2011, Nelson lost his father, Joe, and his mother, Joyce, as they transitioned to Heaven. Though he was not void of hope, Nelson found himself alone in a deep valley of grief and sorrow.
In this valley, the LORD spoke to Nelson in January 2013 to make music unto Him and for the Body of Christ. Being obedient, Nelson began songwriting and composing music and has never considered giving Yahweh all of His due glory. Nelson commenced professional recording of Gospel music in 2013.