Nelson began playing drums at age eight. By age thirteen, he began organizing and directing local gospel and school choirs. For four seasons (2008 -2012) he was the music director for the CSO Spiritual Ensemble and the CSO Spiritual Ensemble Chorale. He served as the Associate Director for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Gospel Choir, directs the Perpetual Praise Chorale, and is Minster of Music for the Tri-County Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America.

Mr. Nelson, a well-regarded public school music educator and administrator, continues to work in the public education field and currently is the Interim Principal of the new Simmons Pinckney Middle School.  He is called upon to conduct choral clinics for church musicians, choral groups, and orchestras and also helps initialize and enhance church music departments. He has conducted and performed in England and Africa and mesmerized sold out audiences throughout the Southeast.

He served as a vocal trainer and choir director for many renowned gospel singers and has shared the stage and worked with the late Rev. James Cleveland, Shirley Caesar, Dorothy Norwood, Daryl Coley, Hezekiah Walker, Larnell Harris, Earnest Pugh, the late Moses Hogan, Dr. Andre’ Thomas, Dr. Roland Carter, Dr. Jeffery Ames, Dr. Jeffery Redding, Sandra S. Barnhardt, and Vincent L. Danner. Mr. Nelson holds a BA Degree in Music Education with an emphasis on Choral Music and Secondary Education from Charleston Southern University and an MS in Educational Leadership and Supervision from Cappella University.