Iverson was born in Manhattan, New York, in 1976, the son of a firefighter and a secretary for the postal service. Iverson developed an early interest in show business and, as a child, always wanted to perform. At the age of 11, he auditioned for the Harlem Boys Choir. As a member of the Choir, Iverson received intensive training in classical, hip hop, jazz, and gospel music. He also had the opportunity to travel throughout the United States, as well as Singapore, France, Spain, and the Netherlands. After six years with the Harlem Boys Choir, Iverson left to attend Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan. He thrived at LaGuardia and was chosen to appear for a two-week engagement on Broadway. He also won second place in the Lena Horne Vocal Jazz Scholarship competition. Iverson’s second place finish earned him a scholarship to the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford and the Richard and Mica Hadar Foundation scholarship. Following his graduation from Hartt in 1998, Iverson had planned to continue his musical studies. However, he could not afford to pay the tuition fees. He traveled to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, to audition for a part in a new show at the town’s Fireside Dinner Theater. Iverson landed the part and his excellent performances soon attracted the attention of the show’s director, Phil McKinley. McKinley was also the director-choreographer for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and he felt that Iverson’s commanding stage presence and beautiful singing voice made him an excellent candidate for ringmaster of the circus. Iverson agreed to attend the ringmaster auditions and, from a field of 28 candidates, was selected as the new ringmaster of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

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