Byron Rivers was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, thoroughly enjoying singing the sounds of the Motown era. Always an avid reader of books, particularly fiction, he began to devour classics from Richard Baldwin to Donald Goines in his youth. As a sophomore he joined the journalism staff at Detroit’s Northwestern High School, where he enjoyed covering school events and writing short stories for the school paper. Taking a job as a page at the Detroit public Library following his junior year of high school left him alone with the classics when not locating them for patrons. Though still inspired by the written word, he made a decision to study business Administration at Western Michigan University. It was 1975, and though the black literary explosion had not occurred yet, he longed to be a part of it. While at Western he joined the W.M.U. Gospel Choir and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Those experiences were rich in spiritual and social fulfillment, and his love of singing in the Choir would become the passion that would keep him returning the rest of his life.Upon graduation in 1980, Byron met the late Dr. Frederick Sampson and joined Tabernacle Baptist Church in Detroit. Dr. Sampson would have a profound impact upon him as a teacher, pastor and mentor. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1985, and guided by God, Byron changed careers and become an entrepreneur and educator. He is currently employed as a high school teacher for Fulton County Schools, where he is a teacher and motivator of our next generation. Byron joined the Mt. Moriah Men’s Choir called Manpower in the early 90’s, and while singing there for over seven years the idea of writing Voices of Redemption was fermented. Also during the 1990’s, Byron began to study creative writing as an art form. He is currently a member of a distinguished EBC Men’s Choir in Metro-Atlanta.
Motivation
The motivation to write Voices of Redemption, Byron Rivers debut novel, came naturally. While singing, he often pondered not only the worthiness of himself, but the inner motivations of any man who sings in the choir. Impressive were his observations and interactions with men of diverse spiritual maturity. Many have fallen down in life in various ways. Many more are completely imbued with the spirit. But even more impressive were those who candidly admitted falling, gotten back up and sough the bonding, healing and redemption that only strong men of the Lord can. Believing iron truly sharpens iron, the prayers, choir rehearsals, and bible studies of these men around the globe are a real testament to it. Their songs on Sunday morning are stirring, but they bear only a scant reflection of the powerful phenomena transpiring within their souls. Thus, a story needed to be told, and in an attempt to capture it properly, it needed to be told from a man’s perspective.
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