William James Stovall, better known by his stage name Sir the Baptist, is an American artist and songwriter. He has worked as producer and writer on two GRAMMY Award-winning albums, two GMA Dove Awards winners, two Stellar Awards winners a BMI Award as songwriter, and is BET Award-nominated artist.
Sir the Baptist was born James Haven Stovall and raised in the Bronzeville neighborhood on Chicago's South Side as the 20th child of the late family patriarch James Benton Stovall. His father was born in 1924 on the land his family farmed and owned slaves; he later became a traveling pastor and Christian apologist, during the Great Migration, founding the Bright Star Church of God in Christ in Chicago. His mother Patricia Ann Harris, is a transatlantic missionary from roots of Sierra Leone who served communities in 17 countries with Baptist as he toured America and Europe.
Stovall was the 13th generation of his family to be baptized. His ancestors practiced the Baptist tradition on their transatlantic journey during the English Separatist movement in the 1600s.
Born into the Stovall lineage, his name, "Baptist" was adopted as a ceremonial name deriving from his father's occupation as a Baptist preacher. His name, Sir, was ascribed during his parochial school years at Leo Catholic High School. Professionally, the epithet "Sir the Baptist" was used because his model for evangelizing Jesus Christ in the wild was adopted from the prophet, John the Baptist. Sir practiced ritualistic baptisms at music festivals in America and at 22 shows across Europe.
Baptist worked as Director of Digital Marketing and Media for McDonald's campaigns at Leo Burnett Company, Inc. His work ranged from digital marketing, to writing music scores for a film that featured Meghan Markle, to jingles with Ira Antelis (Be Like Mike). After a dispute over the ownership to his publishing rights with the agency, he became homeless, and drove for Lyft until he signed a deal with Atlantic Records/Warner Music Group in New York City with Craig Kallman, Julie Greenwald and Michael Kyser.
Baptist's conversion to Christianity was due to a marijuana experience, and that his debut release Saint or Sinner was a blueprint to the urban Christian believers. He has toured Europe with Nelly, Mary J. Blige, and August Alsina.
Baptist has collaborated with musical artists Anthony Hamilton, Donald Lawrence, Kierra Sheard, Killer Mike, Twista, Michelle Williams, Tony Bennett, Pharrell Williams, Musiq Soulchild, Brandy Norwood, Estelle, Tori Kelly, Elle Varner, D.C. Young Fly.
Baptist has partnered with companies, agencies, and lifestyle brands Facebook, Apple, Google, Lexus, Glenfiddich, Samsung, McDonald's, W Hotels, Lyft, WeWork, Toyota, Tidal, Yeti, Converse, Vans, Macy's, The Chicago Bears, The Recording Academy, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, Fat Tire and Pandora.
As a humanitarian, he builds luxury mission homes for missionaries of the Christian faith. He is the Chaplain of Innovation, the majority shareholder and architect of Christian website tymple.
Baptist supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 United States presidential election. In August 2016, Baptist taunted a Donald Trump impersonator on stage for his Afropunk Festival performance in Brooklyn. He has also been quoted saying that Donald Trump is "way out of touch" with the African American community. Baptist has partnered with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, VH1 Save the Music, and Global Citizen.