Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin King.
Hi Kevin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was introduced to music at the age of 3 years old at South Park Baptist Church on the south-side of Chicago. I began to play the piano during Sunday service sometimes for the main pianist. I became passionate about music at age 6 when Chicago legend Diane Ellis introduced me to Jazz and the tenor saxophone. I quickly fell in love with performing and improvising. Improvising gave me this feeling of enjoyment and creativity that I feel to this day. Performing and Improvisation became a passion for me. I began to practice constantly and listen to records. On one eventful day, my band director Ms. Ellis overheard me playing a riff on the only three notes I knew at the time G Bb and C. Ms. Ellis then stated that I should make my rambling into a tune. I wrote a blues song shortly after and entitled it, King Ellis. The school band even played an arrangement of the composition that Ms. Ellis helped me write. From that day forward, composition and arranging have been important to me. My voice as a composer is one in the same with my improvisational voice. I recently finished working on my first symphony. The Tent-City symphony incorporates improvisation and a rhythm section into the classic orchestra setup. In high school, I discovered my passion for playing multiple woodwinds including flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and saxophone. I hope to one day master them all. Recently, I turned 27 and I feel beyond blessed to have had so many great mentors in my life. Without these people giving me their time and energy I wouldn’t have been able to achieve my goals. Chicago Musicians taught me that it is important to serve your fellow man as well as serve the music. My voice is a tool to make a positive difference in people’s lives. The music I create is in many ways a symbol of the values I live by. An urgency to improve the world we live in with the art of sound creation, experimentation, and exploration. The music is a reflection of the world itself. I explore the triumphs of humanity as well as its failures. With every new day I continue my pursuit of sound healing.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life has always been a struggle for me in one way or another. Whether it was financial, racial, or any other “cial” you can think of. However, my faith and music make the struggles more or less manageable. Ultimately, I am so blessed and lucky to be able to create art in this world
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a woodwind Improviser from the southside of Chicago. I have played flute, clarinet, bassoon, oboe, and saxophone in many different professional settings. Playing so many instruments, including keyboard and drums, influences the way I operate. Not only musically but in life as well. I am a composer/arranger. I have written for orchestra, big band, small group, funk horns, and any other ensemble you can think of. I practice obsessively because I think of music like a Video Game. I used to play games for hours, and music kind of replaced that itch in my brain. The completionist within me wants to find all that music has to offer. Even though I know the goal is impossible, it is still a worthwhile pursuit. That being said, I think of myself as a music fan first. Listening and playing alongside the greatest players in the world pushes me to want to be the best human I can be.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I read quite a bit using my Kindle. My last finished book was the Sonny Rollins biography by Aidan Levy called The Saxophone Colossus. I am a huge history buff and self-help book reader. The last self-help book, funny enough, was a speed-reading technique book.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kevinkingregime.com
- Instagram: @kevinkingii and @kevinkingregime
- Facebook: Kevin King
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KevinKingII
- Other: https://kevinkingregime.bandcamp.com/album/call-to-action
