Jason Clayborn is an American gospel singer, songwriter, and choir director from Louisville, Kentucky, best known for writing “Better,” the Hezekiah Walker hit that sat at number one on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart for 18 weeks.
A Dove Award winner and Grammy Award nominee, Clayborn has spent over two decades writing songs for gospel’s biggest names before stepping fully into the spotlight himself.
Beyond his own recordings, Clayborn leads The Atmosphere Changers, a gospel choir of young adults from Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio, and serves as choirmaster at St. Stephen Church in Louisville.
His songwriting has reached far outside gospel circles too, including a co-write and vocal feature on Louisville rapper Jack Harlow’s hit “Same Guy.”
Jason Clayborn At a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jason Clayborn |
| Born | Louisville, Kentucky, USA (exact date not publicly disclosed) |
| Nationality | American |
| Family | Oldest of six children born to Jocelyn Clayborn |
| Marital status | Not publicly disclosed |
| Ministry | |
| Role | Choirmaster and Minister of Music |
| Church | St. Stephen Church, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Choir | Founder, The Atmosphere Changers (TAC), est. 2016 |
| Career | |
| Genre | Contemporary gospel, urban inspirational |
| Years active | 2002 to present |
| Signature writing credit | “Better” (Hezekiah Walker, No. 1 for 18 weeks) |
| Awards | GMA Dove Award; Grammy, Stellar, Soul Train, and Billboard Award nominations |
| Net worth | Not publicly disclosed; no reliable figures available |
Early Life and Background
Jason Clayborn is the oldest of six children born to Jocelyn Clayborn in Louisville, Kentucky. Gospel music runs deep in his family history. His grandmother, Wilma Clayborn, was the first female gospel radio DJ in the state and owned one of Kentucky’s only gospel record stores at the time.
Growing up in that environment, Clayborn started singing and playing drums early, both in his local church and through the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses (NCGCC). By the time he reached his teens, music wasn’t a possibility he was considering. It was already the family business.
Ministry and Career Journey
The Righteous Riders
In 2002, Clayborn signed to Tyscot Records as a member of The Righteous Riders, a Christian hip-hop group. During his time with the group, he earned three Gospel Music Association (GMA) award nominations and a Stellar Award nomination, and the group made appearances on BET and TBN. The Righteous Riders disbanded in 2004, closing that chapter but opening the next one.
Becoming a Songwriter for Gospel’s Biggest Names
After the group split, Clayborn shifted into songwriting, and this is where his career really took off. He wrote “I Worship You” and “Over and Over” (featuring Kim Burrell) for VaShawn Mitchell, “Get Me Thru” for Wess Morgan, and “I Survived It” for Ricky Dillard.
His biggest writing credit by far came through Hezekiah Walker. Clayborn originally wrote “You’re All I Need” for Walker and The Love Fellowship Choir’s 2008 album Souled Out. It never became a radio single at the time, but it found new life in church worship services for years afterward.
“Better”: A Number-One Hit and a Dove Award
In 2016, Hezekiah Walker recorded Clayborn’s song “Better” for the album Azusa 2: The Next Generation. The song hit number one on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart and stayed there for 18 weeks.
It earned Clayborn a GMA Dove Award for Best Traditional Gospel Song, along with nominations at the Stellar Awards, Soul Train Awards, Billboard Awards, and the Grammy Awards.
Founding The Atmosphere Changers
In April 2016, Clayborn founded The Atmosphere Changers, also known as TAC, a gospel choir made up of young adults ages 18 to 34 from Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. The choir quickly became more than a side project.
They performed at the 100th Anniversary celebration of the Metro United Way, toured parts of Europe, performed at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy, and even met Pope Francis during that trip.
TAC released the album God Made It Beautiful through JayClay Music and Tyscot Records, with the title track surpassing one million streams on Pandora. Their single “Praise Belongs to You” reached number 28 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart and earned the choir a Stellar Award nomination.
Crossing Into Mainstream Music
In 2020, Clayborn and The Atmosphere Changers joined Louisville rapper Jack Harlow and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine on the hit song “Same Guy.” Clayborn co-wrote and sang on the track, a rare moment of a gospel choir crossing directly into mainstream hip-hop without losing its identity.
Recent Work: “Whatever It Is”
In November 2025, Clayborn released “Whatever It Is” in collaboration with fellow Grammy-nominated artist Melvin Crispell III, through JayClay Music and Tyscot Records. Clayborn has said the song came out of a season where his work felt unseen, grounded in Galatians 6:9’s promise that faithfulness eventually reaps its reward.
Songs and Writing Credits
| Song | Recording Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|
| You’re All I Need | Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Choir | From 2008 album Souled Out; later remixed |
| Better | Hezekiah Walker | No. 1 for 18 weeks; Dove Award winner |
| I Worship You / Over and Over | VaShawn Mitchell | Featured Kim Burrell |
| I Survived It | Ricky Dillard | Billboard chart entry |
| Get Me Thru | Wess Morgan | Multiple weeks on Billboard charts |
| Praise Belongs to You | Jason Clayborn & The Atmosphere Changers | No. 28, Billboard Gospel Airplay |
| Whatever It Is | Jason Clayborn & Melvin Crispell III | Released November 2025 |
Personal Life
Jason Clayborn keeps most of his personal life out of public view. His exact birth date, marital status, and family details beyond his mother and grandmother haven’t been shared publicly, and no reliable source confirms a wife or children. He remains based in Louisville, Kentucky, where he continues to lead both his choir and his church’s music ministry.
Ministry Philosophy
Clayborn’s approach to ministry centers on building people up through music, not just performing for them. Members of The Atmosphere Changers have described him as someone who treats young, often overlooked singers and dancers like professional artists, paying them fairly and giving them real platforms rather than just volunteer opportunities.
Influence and Legacy
Clayborn’s career shows how much impact a gospel songwriter can have without ever needing to be the face of the song. “Better” alone reshaped how Hezekiah Walker’s catalog is remembered, and Clayborn’s crossover work with Jack Harlow proved gospel choirs could hold their own in mainstream music without compromising their sound.
Awards and Recognition
- GMA Dove Award, Best Traditional Gospel Song, for “Better”
- Grammy Award nomination
- Stellar Award nominations (as writer and as performer with The Atmosphere Changers)
- Soul Train Award and Billboard Award nominations
- Three GMA award nominations and a Stellar Award nomination with The Righteous Riders
Interesting Facts
- His grandmother, Wilma Clayborn, was Kentucky’s first female gospel radio DJ.
- He met Pope Francis while touring Italy with The Atmosphere Changers.
- He co-wrote and sang on Jack Harlow and Adam Levine’s hit “Same Guy.”
- “Better” stayed at number one on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart for 18 straight weeks.
Timeline
- 2002: Signs to Tyscot Records with Christian hip-hop group The Righteous Riders.
- 2004: The Righteous Riders disband; Clayborn shifts into songwriting.
- 2008: Writes “You’re All I Need” for Hezekiah Walker’s Souled Out.
- 2016: “Better” hits No. 1 on Billboard Gospel Airplay for 18 weeks; wins Dove Award; founds The Atmosphere Changers.
- 2020: Co-writes and performs on Jack Harlow’s “Same Guy.”
- 2021: The Atmosphere Changers earn a Stellar Award nomination for “Praise Belongs to You.”
- 2025: Releases “Whatever It Is” with Melvin Crispell III.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jason Clayborn?
Jason Clayborn is an American gospel singer, songwriter, and choir director from Louisville, Kentucky, best known for writing Hezekiah Walker’s hit “Better.”
What songs has Jason Clayborn written for other artists?
He’s written songs for Hezekiah Walker (“Better,” “You’re All I Need”), VaShawn Mitchell (“I Worship You,” “Over and Over”), Ricky Dillard (“I Survived It”), and Wess Morgan (“Get Me Thru”).
How old is Jason Clayborn?
His exact birth date hasn’t been publicly disclosed, so a precise age isn’t available.
What is Jason Clayborn’s net worth?
There’s no reliable, verified net worth figure available for Jason Clayborn.
Did Jason Clayborn win a Dove Award?
Yes. He won a GMA Dove Award for Best Traditional Gospel Song for writing “Better,” recorded by Hezekiah Walker.
A note on search results: some search queries grouped with this artist’s keyword cluster reference Jason Upton and Jason Nelson, two entirely different gospel and worship artists with no connection to Jason Clayborn beyond sharing a first name. Questions about Jason Upton’s religious background or Jason Nelson’s biggest hit and pastoral status belong in separate, dedicated profiles.
