[1] He began playing saxophone while attending Fowler High School under the leadership of his music teacher and mentor Lou Adams.

He competed in the NAACP's youth achievement program "ACT-SO" (geared towards African Americans demonstrating academic, artistic and scientific prowess and expertise) representing the city of Syracuse and won the state competition three years in a row in three different categories: instrumental contemporary, composition, and classical music.

[1] After high school, he moved back to Virginia, where Bishop Michael Patterson of the World Harvest Outreach Ministries in Newport News made him music director.

[1] He played the national anthem at a professional basketball game in Washington, D.C. At the Bermuda Jazz Festival, R&B singer Angela Bofill invited him on tour with Jean Carne and Ronnie Laws.

In 2010, he was given Keys to the City by Mayor Stephanie Miner of Syracuse for Outstanding Achievement in Music along with a proclamation of August 5, 2010 as Jackiem Joyner Day.