Can you tell us your name, age and your passion?
My name is Cori “Fader” Jacobs, I’m 39 and my passion is music.
How did your passion unfold and where did it lead you?
My passion unfolded when I was a child at church. I noticed that the guy behind the “big box” almost controlled the tempo of what was going on in church. So after church I wanted to know what was going on behind the big box. I walked around the box to behold my first set of 88 keys. That led me to want to play music.
Here is where music has taken Cori (from his website www.themasterfader.com).
I can’t sing very well so I record instrumental music that is fueled by my influences. In studying these many styles of music I’ve scored a short film, become a musical director of an 11-piece African pop band, performed with George Clinton and traded cards with James Brown, the ‘Godfather of Soul.’ I’ve played with Dawn of Lucy Pearl & En-vogue; I’ve performed with David Hollister, worked with Jonnell, Dwayne from Toni, Tone, Tony, Lauryn Hill of the Fugees, as well as Tedra Moses. I’ve produced a track on the Thug Angel 2Pac documentary and played on track 4 of the Pussycat Dolls new CD. I also did a piano arrangement for Beyonce Knowles on the song “Still In Love.” I’ve released two of my own CD’s as well, Copperskin and Intervention.
The funny thing is that even if I never met or played with any of these famous people, I would still be somewhere playing my original tunes. I love what I do; I just love it.
What inspired you to think bigger than the norm?
My desire to live how I wanted to live inspired me to take charge of my life and just go out and do it.
I know a lot of musicians who have never worked jobs and that’s how I wanted to live. I wanted my music to pay my bills.
What has set you apart from other people?
What sets me apart from a lot of people is that I don’t care if the road is hard or easy. I care if the road will take me where I want to go. Also, I’m not just an “I like doing this part of music but not that part of music” type of guy. I’m learning everything about music: how to write, read, mix, master, and produce. It can be compared to meeting a girl; if I like her then I want to know everything there is to know about her, her past, her family, friends . . . everything. Music is the same way. Why get into something that you don’t know everything about?
This next bit about Cori’s name “Fader” was taken from his website www.themasterfader.com. We liked what he said too much to leave it out 
If you’ve ever been in a sound studio, you will notice that the focal point is a rather large desk with lots of buttons, knobs, and sliders on it. That’s called a “mixing board” and the sliders on it are called “faders.” Each fader controls the volume of whatever sound is associated to the specific channel that the fader is controlling. One fader may carry a piano part that has already been recorded or is coming in live, while another fader may carry a drum track. Each fader plays a part in the overall tracking of a song. On the far right of the faders you will find either a single unique fader (usually red), or a set of faders, that are positioned apart from the rest (typically, the word “Stereo” or “Master” will be just below it). These faders are called the “master faders,” and control the overall volume of all the levels. If the master fader is turned all the way down, then nothing will be audible (even if faders are turned up on the mixing board). Conversely, if the master fader is turned all the way up, then every track, on all the faders that are turned up, will be audible.
We are all “master faders” when it comes to life. We make the final decisions on anything and everything that goes on in our life. Within boundaries set by the laws of nature and the laws of the land, we control everything. I’m a fader, you’re a fader, and we’re all on this giant “mixing board” of life being run by the great Master Fader (call it what you will).
Who encouraged you and who discouraged you?
A man named Gian Fiero, who represents me, has encouraged me over the years. He has been there when I didn’t expect him to be. He’s a great asset to me. Unfortunately my older brother discouraged me a lot. He would tell me that I’m no good, that I don’t have a label behind me and ask why I was doing this. He would say, “There is too much competition out there and you’re not good enough.” For some reason I was able to over come those words, though they hurt me so.
Can you tell us what mental barriers and fears you had to overcome?
The mental barrier and fear that I had to overcome was simple, me. Once I took control of me I had no fears. I realized that there are no accidents so you might as well live life to the fullest. We all have time but we all don’t know how much time we have.
What are your strengths and weaknesses? Which are you trying to improve upon?
My strength is writing and production along with playing. I’ve been a piano player for the greater years of my life so I can play virtually anything that I hear. My weakness is not being able to stick to the mainstream. Some people have to create music like what they hear on the radio. As a producer I have to achieve that or I loose the client. I’m improving on that by sneaking in some originality in the music. People love it.
How do you perceive society?
Society in America is very black and white. America is so afraid, some of us, that we only stay where we believe we’re safe. People only listen to one kind of music and are not willing to venture. Maybe their parents listened to that or friends and that’s why they listen to it. I believe America is afraid to expand; although there are people who do break that mold. For the most part I’ve found people to be soldiers and not venturers.
————————————————————————-What are you able to identify in other people who just talk but don’t act? What holds them back?
People are controlled by the illusion of security. One may have a dream, but because they make so much money at their job, they never follow their dream because of that check that comes every other week, on time. Furthermore, these same people hate their jobs and even their spouse that they’re with. As a result they talk about what they want, but in reality, it will never happen because they won’t take the risk of being happy. That’s funny to me because anyone should risk their sadness for some happiness. I did and I’m happy
What is the best advice you can give to other people who want to live out their dream but haven’t taken the steps yet?
A guru once told me, “Jump and the net will appear.” We have to test our beliefs. I did and found out that it is true. The universe can’t take steps to help you until you take that first step. I’ll never forget turning in my two week notice after 14 years at a Fortune 500 company, walking to my car and saying to the universe, Ok, where is the Motha’ F***ing net!” The net is there. We can’t see the net because it is only visible to the believing eye and not the distrusting eye.
What is your next dream?
My next dream is to travel the world with my music and find a life partner to share some good times with. I don’t want to get married. I just want someone who’s fun and wants to travel with me.
What is most important to you in life?
The most important thing in anyone’s life is HEALTH. Health holds up our lives. The next is the state of our spirit, how we think decides how we function.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of taking that risk in leaving my secure job and finding out that I control my experience and I am the “Master Fader” of my life. I’m so grateful that I have learned these things while I’m still healthy.
Click on the links below to learn more about Cori and his music:
