By Jonathan Anthony Burkett
People usually meet me through one door. Some find a book, some hear a song, and some land on one of the Upstormed stores. I want this page to connect those doors, so you know who I am, what I make and the one message that runs through all of it: whatever you have been through, keep going.
Where I Come From
I was born in Miami, Florida, in 1987, and I was raised in Jamaica by my grandparents. From childhood I faced economic hardship and serious health challenges, including brain surgery in January 2006. Those things were real, and they shaped me. But I refused to let them define me.
My grandfather, Arnold Burkett, was my best friend. Everyone in our part of Westmoreland called him “Doctor” because he loved to take people places and help others. He let me sit on his lap and steer the car while he worked the pedals, four hands on the steering wheel. When I couldn't sleep, I held on to his big stomach until his breathing calmed me down. He taught me to face problems one at a time, to be truthful and to put God first. My grandmother, Lynn Burkett, was always smiling, and she taught me to be thankful for what I had. I left Jamaica for Miami in March 1993, a few weeks after my sixth birthday, and my grandfather passed away in November 1996. When I think about the kind of love I want in my life, I still compare it to his.
I share this not to ask for sympathy but because a lot of people reading this are carrying something heavy right now. If that is you, I want you to know that where you start is not where you have to finish.
The Author and Poet
I found my voice in reading and writing, and that is how I became a published author. My memoir, Neglected But Undefeated, tells my own story: growing up without a mother's love, facing hardship and serious health challenges, and refusing to be defeated by any of it.
I also write fiction. The Friends 2 Lovers series follows best friends Claude and Kelly, beginning with The Unthinkable and continuing in Closed Doors Open and Unexpected Consequences. My novel Fighting To Become Champions is about fighting for what matters. Across all of them I keep coming back to the same themes: resilience, faith, love and friendship.
I describe myself as a poet because I care about how a single line can stay with someone. Readers on Goodreads have collected many of my lines on faith, forgiveness, friendship and love. One line sums up why I write at all:
I live to inspire, not start the fire.
— Jonathan Anthony Burkett
For me, that is the job of a poet. You take something people feel but cannot always say, and you put it into words short enough to carry around.
The Music Artist
As a music artist I record inspirational hip hop and soul on my own label, Upstormed Records. My songs are about change, perseverance and never giving up. My signature song, One Life, recorded with reggae artist Ambelique, is a reminder that you only get one life, so make it count.
If you want to go further, here is where to start:
- One Life (feat. Ambelique), my signature song.
- Born To Make It, an album released April 1, 2024.
- Life As I Know It, an EP also released April 1, 2024, with songs like Changes and Don't Give Up.
- Upstormed Records, a 25-song collection from 2024 that brings much of my catalog together.
The Entrepreneur
I founded Upstormed LLC and the Upstormed family of online stores, starting with upstormed.com. The flagship store carries clothing, jewelry, accessories, gifts and lifestyle pieces, along with Upstormed merch and my own books and music. Building a business is another way of saying the same thing I say in my books and songs: you do not have to wait for permission to create the life you want.
Upstormed has grown into more than one store. Alongside the flagship there are sister stores such as Upstormed Clothing and Upstormed Store. Each one runs on Shopify checkout with prices in U.S. dollars, and each has its own shipping, refund and privacy policies. If you ever have a question about an order, you can reach the team at contact@upstormed.com.
One Message, Four Ways
Entrepreneur, author, poet, music artist. Those can sound like four separate careers, but for me they are four ways of doing one thing. Each one is a way to tell people that hardship is not the end of the story.
What that means for you as a reader or listener is simple. You can start anywhere. If you like stories, start with a book. If you need something to play on a hard morning, start with a song. If you just want to see what I am building, start with the store. Whichever door you choose, the message on the other side is the same.
Where to Find Me
This blog is where I share ideas on life, healing, relationships and the work I do. You can read the full background on my About page, and if you want to hear the music, you can follow me on Spotify. Thank you for being here. Keep going.
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