Terran Jerrell Gilbert (born December 7, 1984), known mononymously as T-RAN, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, musician, philanthropist, music video director, motivational speaker, entrepreneur and actor from Chattanooga, Tennessee. T-RAN currently operates and resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is the founder of the entertainment company, 22Visionz, LLC. His debut album, Live And Not Die, has received airplay worldwide on television, radio and internet. Early life T-RAN was born December 7, 1984, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His father, Russell Gilbert Sr., is an elected official and hospital director. His mother, Terri Gilbert, works with children at the 22V Kids Academy and disadvantaged youth. T-RAN has three sisters: Skieree and twins Gabrielle and Whitney; and one brother, Russell Jr. He had an older sister, Sherree, who died at birth. He began singing and dancing at the age of three, mimicking his musical idol, Michael Jackson. T-RAN picked up his first microphone at the age of four. His grandfather was a Baptist preacher and his grandmother was a church pianist. He credits his grandfather as the first to call him, "T-RAN," as a way of helping people pronounce his first name. Secular and gospel music were the source for T-RAN's motivation as a singer by age 9. T-RAN joined the youth church choir at a local church at age 12. He became music director by the age of 13. That same year, he showcased his talent at a regional Gospel Star Search. It was during this time that he decided to sing professionally. By age 14, he appeared for the first time on television on The Babbie Mason Show. When he was 15, T-RAN wrote his first song, "Miracles." It was written as a testimony to God for delivering his older brother, Russell Jr., from a life-threatening illness. T-RAN attended the Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts from 1999 to 2002 and studied under Alan Ledford in a theatrical music troupe called The Choo Choo Kids. Under Alan's direction, T-RAN honed his performance skills and stage presence. In 2001, he toured with the troupe in Europe. College years T-RAN earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications from Lee University, a Christian liberal arts college in Cleveland, Tennessee, where he attended from 2003 to 2007. He toured in Jamaica and The Bahamas in 2006. In 2008, T-RAN licensed his company, 22Visionz, LLC. The name, 22Visionz, is derived from Proverbs 22:1 of