J READ IS A SINGER, VIOLINIST, AND EMCEE BORN IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. HE MOVED TO BETHLEHEM, PA AT THE AGE OF 9 WHERE HE WAS INTRODUCED TO THE VIOLIN. AT THE AGE OF 12, HE WAS ENROLLED AT THE BOARDING SCHOOL, MILTON HERSHEY, IN HERSHEY, PA, WHILE HIS FAMILY MOVED TO CHARLOTTE, NC.  THIS IS  WHERE HE WAS INTRODUCED TO WRITING AND RECORDING MUSIC. AFTER GRADUATING, HE ATTENDED NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY WHERE HE MAJORED IN ECONOMICS. J READ THEN RETURNED TO NEWARK TO PURSUE HIS MUSIC CAREER.  HE HAS SINCE BECOME A LOCAL PHENOM, AND CONTINUES TO SHARE HIS PASSION.