Joseph Simmons

Background

Joseph "Reverend Run" Simmons was born Joseph Ward Simmons on November 14, 1964, in Hollis in Queens, New York, United States. He was born to a Joseph Ward Simmons as his father and Evelyn Simmons as his mother. He was brought up alongside to siblings including Danny Simmons and Def Jam Record’s co-founder Russell Simmons.

Education

Joseph Simons developed a keen interest in music from a very young age.

In the same way, the way he has displayed his talents and aptitudes, there is no denying that he had amazing education facilities to nurture, develop and guide his talents in the right direction.

It sure did help him to achieve what he always wanted to and dreamed of.

However, there is no information regarding his education and qualifications in detail.

Career

Joseph Simmons started his career journey by being a lead vocalist in The Force hip-hop group. He later alongside Darryl ‘D.M.C’ McDaniels and the late Dj Jason ‘Jam-Master Jay’ Mizell founded the Run-D.M.C as a lead vocalist. He was later ordained Pentecostal Minister by his spiritual mentor E. Bernard Jordan. He later started using ‘Rev. Run’ as his stage name. In 2002, he appeared in ‘The Weakest Link’ which was a special Rap Stars edition.

In 2004, Joseph Simmons was named the Protégé of the Year Award by Jordan. In 2005, he released his single ‘Song 4 Lovers’ his first using his stage name Rev. Run. He later released ‘Distortion’ which was his first solo album. In 2005, he started appearing in ‘Run’s House’ which is an MTV reality show series, he appeared until 2009.

In 2007, he alongside his son appeared in ‘My Super Sweet 16’. He was later honored as a BMI Icon at the annual BMI Urban Awards. In 2011, he was a special guest in churches including Texas Bay Area Fellowship Church and Grapevine Fellowship Church. In 2014, his series ‘Rev. Run’s Renovation’ and ‘Rev. Run’s Sunday Suppers’ premiered.

Achievements

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  Rеv Run іѕ соnѕіdеrеd оnе оf thе mоѕt рорulаr ѕіngеrѕ іn thе wоrld. Не hаѕ ѕuссеѕѕfullу rеlеаѕеd mаnу аlbumѕ аnd ѕіnglеѕ wіth thе grоuр Run-D.М.С. Тhе grоuр іѕ оnе оf thе fіrѕt hір-hор асtѕ tо арреаr іn Rоllіng Ѕtоnе соvеr аnd аlѕо іn Аmеrісаn Ваndѕtаnd. Ніѕ рорulаrіtу аlѕо mаdе hіm арреаr оn mаnу ТV ѕhоwѕ. Не іѕ аlѕо іnvоlvеd іn vаrіоuѕ рhіlаnthrоріс wоrkѕ fоr undеrѕеrvеd соmmunіtіеѕ. Іn 2011, hе bесаmе а Fеllоwѕhір Сhurсh’ѕ ѕресіаl guеѕt.
  
  Joseph Simmons has been listed as a notable musician by Marquis Who's Who.
  
  Run-D.M.C. was voted the 48th Greatest Artists in Rock 'n' Roll by "Rolling Stone" magazine.
  
  Іn 2007, аt thе ВМІ Urbаn Аwаrdѕ, Rеv Run wаѕ соnfеrrеd wіth thе ВМІ Ісоn. Іn 2004, hе wаѕ nаmеd аѕ thе “Рrоtеgе оf thе Yеаr Аwаrd.” Wіth Run-D.М.С., hе wаѕ іnduсtеd іntо thе Rосk аnd Rоll Наll оf Fаmе. Тhеу hаvе аlѕо rесеіvеd а Grаmmу Аwаrd nоmіnаtіоn аnd hаvе арреаrеd іn Rоllіng Ѕtоnе mаgаzіnе’ѕ соvеr.
  
  

Works

More photos

• book

  • Words of Wisdom: Daily Affirmations of Faith from Run's House to Yours

    (Words of Wisdom is a collection of inspirational aphorism...)

    2009
  • Manology: Secrets of Your Man's Mind Revealed

    (Rev Run of Run DMC and Tyrese Gibson offer insight on lif...)

    2013

• music

  • Run-d.m.c. 1984
  • King Of Rock 1985
  • Raising Hell 1986
  • Tougher Than Leather 1988
  • Back From Hell 1990
  • by Run DMC on Amazon Music - Amazon.com 1993
  • Crown Royal 2001
  • Distortion 2005

Religion

Simmons repeatedly credits his faith with helping him make sense of his life. He was "sceptical" when former Run-DMC bodyguard Bobby Walker first introduced him to worship at the New York-based Zoe Ministries in 1990, but within five years Simmons had gone from usher to ordained minister. He was even on hand in 1999 to officiate at the (now defunct) union of rap stars Pepa, of Salt-n-Pepa fame, and Treach from Naughty by Nature. Even now, Simmons is keen to emphasise his growth. "I can sit here before you strong and confident now because of the dark moment nobody needs to understand."

He dropped the "DJ" and added the "Rev." title to his stage name.

Views

Joseph Simmons is an active charity supporter. Joseph co-founded the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation with his brothers, Danny and Russell Simmons. He also took part in events, organized for Champions for Children, CLIC Sargent, Food Bank For New York City, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, Share Our Strength: No Kid Hungry, Soles4Souls and others.

Quotations: "Without God, life is everything."

"The honey is guarded by bees.. The rose has thorns.. To enjoy the sweet & beautiful you can NOT be cowardly."

"Don't be so concerned about the size of your next step ... The direction is what matters!"

"Stop running to those who ignore you and start running to those who adore you."

"A dream will always be a dream until you wake up, and make it happen."

"How do you recover from an extraordinary loss? Take stock of the loved ones around you. Hug them, love them, and cherish them. When you appreciate the joys in your life, it makes sorrow that much easier to swallow. Every day is a new day. Hope floats, so let it rise. God is love."

"You don't always have to say something. Let your life be your message."

Personality

Joseph Simmons began adopting a vegan diet from 2017.

Physical Characteristics: Rev Run's height is 1.73 m tall, and his weight is 75 kg.

Connections

In 1983, Joseph Simmons married Valerie Vaughn with whom he has three children. In 1994, he married his second wife Justine Jones with whom he has three children. He currently lives with his family in Saddle River in New Jersey.

Father:

Daniel Simmons

Mother:

Mary Simmons

Spouse:

Justine Simmons

Son:

Joseph Junior Simmons

Daughter:

Vanessa Simmons

Daughter:

Angela Simmons

Son:

Russell II Simmons

Daughter:

Miley Simmons

Daughter:

Victoria Anne Simmons

On Sept. 26, 2006, Victoria Anne was born and died shortly after because she had omphalocele, a birth defect that caused her organs to grow outside her body.

Son:

Daniel Dwayne Simmons III

Friend:

Tyrese Gibson

colleague:

Steven Tyler

colleague:

Jason Mizell

colleague:

Darryl McDaniels

References

• Old School Love And Why It Works
  2020
• Tougher Than Leather: The Rise of Run-DMC
  2001