the Bible: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” In 2008, his father ran for a seat on the Chattanooga City Council in a special election and won. T-RAN worked as campaign manager for his father's campaign in 2008 and re-election campaigns in 2009 and 2013. Professional career T-RAN's earliest large venue performance took place at the SEC women's basketball tournament in 1999 at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga arena, where he sang the national anthem. He also sang background for Shania Twain at the same venue in 2000 for her performance of the song, "God Bless the Child." Shania sent a letter to T-RAN thanking him for backing her. In 2009, he headlined one of the largest stages during prime time at the annual Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga. He has also performed at the annual J-Fest Christian music festival. T-RAN has shared stages with many national and international artists: Monica, Chrisette Michele, Kirk Franklin, Chris Tomlin, Toby Mac, Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant, Bishop Paul Morton Sr., Da T.R.U.T.H., Anthony Hamilton, Coco Jones, Freddy Jackson, Bobby Rush, Pettidee, Lyfe Jennings, Gorilla Zoe and Kool & The Gang. He toured in 2013 with gospel artist Canton Jones on the KB4 Tour. He hosted and headlined the "Culture Shock" concert in Chattanooga in 2010 and 2011. T-RAN released his Live And Not Die EP in 2013 on the strength of the first single, "Need You Now," written and produced by T-RAN, co-produced by James Matchack. The video for the song, released on January 25, 2012, had over 1.4 million views on YouTube. In 2015, the song was featured in the TV One movie, For The Love of Ruth. That year, T-RAN headlined the Live And Not Die Tour. T-RAN recorded the Hip Hop song, "Turn The Lights On," with Teron Carter of the Grammy Award-nominated group, G.R.I.T.S. In 2012, T-RAN was the featured artist on the song, "I Believe," by The Voice contestant Sera Hill. He went on a media tour with Sera in Tennessee and Georgia in promotion of the song. In 2012, he went on a media tour in California that included performances at the 6th Annual Million Mothers March in Pomona, California. In 2013, he played at the legendary WitZend club in Los Angeles. In 2014, T-RAN headlined the Live And Not Die