Q. Hey everyone it’s ya boy Darren Southern Plug Brown, here with a
mega Southern Plug Exclusive. Introducing to some, Reggie King Sears.
So, tell our readers that may not be familiar with you or your work just
who you are and what it is that you do exactly.
A. I’m Reggie King Sears, recording artist, singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, engineer, and studio owner out of the Tatertown
neighborhood, better known as Boulevard Gardens, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I call my sound Ghetto Soul — Southern Soul and Contemporary
R&B mainly, but I also make real Neo-Soul records and records with straight-up Southern Rap energy. Gospel is a big influence too, along with soul-blues and real-life storytelling. I’m mainly a singer, but I have rapped on records before when the song called for it. I’ve been a Southern Soul artist since my first Southern Soul album back in 2006. I was 15 years old when I came into Southern Soul, and at that time there weren’t teenagers in this lane. Southern Soul was grown folks’ music, and I was blessed to be a kid getting love from legends, you feel me? I’m blessed and thankful to still be in the game all these years later.
Q. So, what inspired you to start your journey as in your perspective field?
A. Music was always in me. I was a music fan first, and once I started performing, recording, and seeing how people connected with it, I knew it
was what I was supposed to do. I started performing professionally around 11 or 12, started recording around 14, and by 15 I had my first Southern Soul album out, Southern Soul, Florida Style, in 2006. A big part of what inspired me was being around real artists early. I was blessed to be mentored and encouraged by Solomon Burke and Marvin Sease. Solomon took me in like family, called me his godson, gave me the name “King,” and poured into me as a young artist. Marvin Sease really showed me love coming into Southern Soul, and that meant a lot because Marvin was one of the real architects of the soul-blues and Southern Soul world. I also got love, advice, and encouragement from people like Denise LaSalle, Roy C, Theodis Ealey, The Love Doctor, Lenny Williams, Sir Charles Jones, Omar Cunningham, LJ Echols, Karen Wolfe, Kenne’ Wayne, Nathaniel Kimble, Fred Bolton, Bobby Stringer, David Hudson, Betty Padgett, Moody Scott, Andre’ Lee, Ghetto Cowboy, and many others from the Southern Soul and soul-blues circuit. Being around those people taught me how to tell stories, perform, carry myself, and sing to real people.
Q. How and when did you coin your stage name and how do you feel that title fits you?
A. My real name is Reggie Sears, but Solomon Burke gave me the nickname “King.” I first met and played for him when I was 12 years old, and over time he took me in like family and called me his godson. When I was 17, we were onstage in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and he crowned me “King” in front of the audience. That moment stayed with me. So Reggie King Sears ain’t just something I made up because it sounded cool. It came from a real moment, a real legend, and a real relationship.
Q. Do you have any upcoming projects or announcements to make?
A. Yes. I got a new single called “What He Don’t Know,” and I’m finishing up my new album Crowned & Dangerous. The album is for the grown folks — Southern Soul, Contemporary R&B, Neo-Soul, Southern Rap, love, pain, temptation, betrayal, and real-life storytelling. I’ve got some real people helping bring this project to life. My bro Xose has been my collaborator for nearly 15 years.
He’s a great lyricist, writer, and artist in his own right, and he brings a lot of ideas to the table. Then I got my homie Charles DeBay, a young talented musician, writer, and producer who co-wrote and co-produced some dope songs on this project. I also got Nick “Young Buck” Bencosme, another young talented musician I’ve been working with. Grammy Award-winning producer Patrick “GuitarBoy” Hayes produced a track on the album that’s a duet with me and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. JT Money is on a track too. I’m also working on one with Mr. David, and there are some more guests on the album that I gotta keep on the low right now.
Q. What would you say is the secret recipe for your success?
A. Let me put it like this — faith in Christ comes first. God has kept me through a lot, and I know I wouldn’t still be here doing this without him. After that, I gotta give credit to my parents, my family, and my people for having my back. My parents sacrificed for me, supported me, believed in me, and kept me grounded. Then it comes down to respecting the craft, staying original, not chasing every trend, and telling the truth through the music. I believe people can feel that.
Q. What was your favorite part about what you do?
A. I’m a music fan first, so just being able to express myself through music is a blessing. Taking a feeling, melody, chord progression, or something I went through and turning it into a full record — that’s one of the best feelings in the world. And performing live, fasho’. There’s nothing like seeing people react right in front of you. When they’re singing along, dancing, laughing, crying, or locked in feeling it, that’s what makes it worth it.
Q. Name a time where you've faced adversity in your career? And, what impact did it have on you or your career?
A. I’ve faced a lot — losing people close to me, industry politics, being misunderstood musically, rebuilding momentum, and people trying to put me in boxes. I started young, so I learned early that this business ain’t always pretty. But it made my music deeper and gave me more to say. It also made me more independent, because I learned I couldn’t sit around waiting on somebody else to open every door for me. It is what it is — I had to figure out how to keep going, and I believe that made me stand stronger on who I am.
Q. Is there something in particular that you want people to know about you or your art?
A. On the real, Ghetto Soul is my life in musical form. I’ve been part of Southern Soul since my first Southern Soul album in 2006. I came into the genre at 15, back when there weren’t teenagers in this lane, and I was blessed to be embraced by artists who were already carrying the scene. My sound comes from Tatertown, the church, the hood, the bedroom, the club, the family, the pain, the love, the mistakes, and real life. That’s my thing. That’s what I do.
Q. How do you juggle your personal life and professional life?
A. Honestly, I’m still learning that balance. When you’re really passionate about something, it can take over your whole life with the quickness. I try to stay grounded through my walk with God, my relationship with God, family, close friends, and remembering why I started. I’ve learned that if your personal life ain’t copacetic, eventually it can bleed into the music too. So I’m trying to keep everything aligned — my relationship with God, my people, my peace, and the music, you feel me?
Q. What advice would you give those wanting to start their journey in music?
A. Keep God first, stay humble, and respect the craft. Grind, always work hard to be better, and don’t just chase attention or try to go viral.
Learn how to sing, write, perform, record, promote yourself, network, and understand the business side too. Study artists who are really working. A good example is J-Wonn. He’s one of my favorite artists out here right now because he has his business locked down, constantly releases dope music, stays on the road, and connects with his fans. That kind of work ethic is what longevity looks like. And respect the ones who helped shape the lane — obvious pillars like Johnnie Taylor, Latimore, Marvin Sease, Mel Waiters, Denise LaSalle, and Sir Charles Jones, but also artists who don’t always get mentioned enough, like Chuck Roberson, Barbara Carr, Karen Wolfe, Sorrento Ussery. This music came from people before us, and none of us got here by ourselves. Most importantly, praise and give thanks to God, and appreciate
the people who support you. Fans, DJs, promoters, writers, family, friends — whoever is really showing love, don’t take that for granted. I’ma be real — without God and without the people, we wouldn’t be shit.
Q. Who would you say is your biggest inspiration and why?
A. In life, my biggest inspiration comes from God. Then my parents, my family, and the people who have stood by me. They keep me grounded and remind me why I do this. Musically, Gerald Levert is hands down my biggest influence. He is my greatest singer, and he was a great writer and producer too. He could do no wrong. I’m also inspired by Marvin Sease, Bobby Womack, K-Ci Hailey, JT Money, Dave Hollister, Johnnie Taylor, Pimp C, Tyrone Davis, L.V. Johnson, Alexander O’Neal, Millie Jackson, J. Blackfoot, Sir Charles Jones, Lenny Williams, Master P, Pressha/Mr. David, David Hudson, Michael Sterling, D’Angelo, Dwele, Eric Roberson, Young Bleed… man, I could go on
and on.
Q. Ok we do this every interview! What creatives would you absolutely die to work with?
A. I’d love to work with artists who understand soul, storytelling, pain, romance, and real-life emotion. On the R&B side: Trey Songz, August
Alsina, Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, Tank, Dave Hollister, Donell Jones, Keyshia Cole, Syleena Johnson, and Raheem DeVaughn. On the
Southern Soul and soul-blues side: Sir Charles Jones, Tucka, King George, Pokey Bear, Karen Wolfe, Crystal Thomas, Calvin Richardson, West
Love, and Jureesa “The Duchess” McBride. On the Southern Rap side: Silkk the Shocker, Boosie, Trick Daddy, Big Gipp, Slim Guerilla, Kingpin
Skinny Pimp, and Whoppa Wit Da Choppa.
Q. Tell our readers how they can book you and connect with you on the world wide web and on the socials.
A. People can connect with me online at: Website: reggiekingsears.com Instagram: @reggiesears Facebook: @reggiesears YouTube: @reggiesears For booking, features, production, studio work, or interviews, reach out through my website. New music, videos, and updates on Crowned & Dangerous are coming soon.
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