William James Stovall, better known by his stage name Sir the Baptist, is an American artist and songwriter. He has worked as producer and writer on two GRAMMY Award-winning albums, two GMA Dove Awards winners, two Stellar Awards winners a BMI Award as songwriter, and is BET Award-nominated artist.
Early life and ancestry Sir the Baptist was born James Haven Stovall and raised in the Bronzeville neighborhood on Chicago's South Side as the 20th child of the late family patriarch James Benton Stovall. His father was born in 1924 on the land his family farmed and owned slaves; he later became a traveling pastor and Christian apologist, during the Great Migration, founding the Bright Star Church of God in Christ in Chicago. His mother Patricia Ann Harris, is a transatlantic missionary from roots of Sierra Leone who served communities in 17 countries with Baptist as he toured America and Europe.
Career
Stage name His name, "Baptist" was adopted as a ceremonial name deriving from his father's occupation as a Baptist preacher. His name, Sir, was ascribed during his parochial school years at Leo Catholic High School. Sir practiced ritualistic baptisms at music festivals in America and at 22 shows across Europe.
Baptist worked as Director of Digital Marketing and Media for McDonald's campaigns at Leo Burnett Company, Inc. His work ranged from digital marketing, to writing music scores for a film that featured Meghan Markle, to jingles with Ira Antelis (Be Like Mike). After a dispute over the ownership to his publishing rights with the agency, he became homeless, and drove for Lyft until he signed a deal with Atlantic Records/Warner Music Group in New York City with Craig Kallman, Julie Greenwald and Michael Kyser.
Baptist's conversion to Christianity was due to a marijuana experience, and that his debut release Saint or Sinner was a blueprint to the urban Christian believers. He has toured Europe with Nelly, Mary J. Blige, and August Alsina.
Artist collaborations Baptist has collaborated with musical artists Anthony Hamilton, Donald Lawrence, Kierra Sheard, Killer Mike, Twista, Michelle Williams, Tony Bennett, Pharrell Williams, Musiq Soulchild, Brandy Norwood, Estelle, Tori Kelly, Elle Varner, D.C. Young Fly.
Brand partnerships Baptist has partnered with companies, agencies, and lifestyle brands Facebook, Apple, Google, Lexus, Glenfiddich, Samsung, McDonald's, W Hotels, Lyft, WeWork, Toyota, Tidal, Yeti, Converse, Vans, Macy's, The Chicago Bears, The Recording Academy, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, Fat Tire and Pandora.
Discography
Singles
Creflo Almighty Dollar (feat. Twista & ChurchPpl) – 2015 Wake Up – 2015 Raise Hell (feat. ChurchPpl) – 2015 What We Got (feat. Donald Lawrence & ChurchPpl) – 2016 Movin – 2017 He Heard My Cry – 2018 I Still Love You – 2019 Me & God – 2019 Bossa Nova – 2019 Switched Partners – 2019 Kingdom Come – 2019 Can't Help Myself (feat. Saint Ashleey, Estelle, MC Lyte, Syleena Johnson, Ann Nesby, & Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast) – 2020 Scream & Shout – 2020 Jesus In The Ghetto (feat. Anthony Hamilton) – 2021 Adam & Eve'n (feat. Saint Ashleey) – 2021
Albums
Saint or Sinner – 2017, Atlantic Records Godfidence: Kingdom Bae – 2020, tymple The Baptist – 2024, tymple
Awards
Year Award Category Nominee Result2016BET Hip Hop AwardsImpact Track of the Year"Raise Hell"2019GMA Dove AwardsTraditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year"Deliver Me "2019GMA Dove AwardsTraditional Gospel Album of the Year"Goshen"2020GRAMMY AwardsBest Gospel Album"Goshen"2020Stellar AwardsSong of the Year"Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus)"2020Stellar AwardsProducer of the Year"Goshen"2020Stellar AwardsUrban/Inspirational Single of Performance of the Year"Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus)"2021GRAMMY AwardsBest Gospel AlbumKierra2021GMA Dove AwardsContemporary Gospel Album of the YearKierra2021NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Gospel/Christian AlbumKierra2021GMA Dove AwardsContemporary Album of the YearKierra2021BMI Trailblazers of Gospel AwardsSong of the Year"Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus)"2023GRAMMY AwardsBest Roots Gospel AlbumThe Urban Hymnal2023GRAMMY AwardsBest Spoken Word Poetry AlbumThe Poet Who Sat By The Door2025GRAMMY AwardsBest Gospel Performance/Song"Church Doors"
Political views Baptist supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 United States presidential election. In August 2016, Baptist taunted a Donald Trump impersonator on stage for his Afropunk Festival performance in Brooklyn. He has also been quoted saying that Donald Trump is "way out of touch" with the African American community. Baptist has partnered with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, VH1 Save the Music, and Global Citizen.
References
External links Official website