Reggie Sears

{{Infobox person

|name = Reggie Sears

|image = ReggieKingSearsLive.jpg

|caption = Sears performing live

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|04|12|mf=y}}

|birth_place = Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States{{cite web|url=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sftsradio/2010/08/06/sfts-party-time-guest-call-in|title=Reggie "KING" Sears chars with SFTS RADIO 08/05 by SomethingfortheSoul|publisher=Blogtalkradio.com|access-date=August 12, 2013}}

|death_date =

|death_place =

|birth_name = Reginald W. Sears

|alias = {{plainlist|

Reggie "King" Sears
Reggie "Goku" Sears{{cite web|title=Dust Da Rapper|url=http://www.holyculture.net/blog/2013/06/08/free-download-listen-download-dust-nothing-on-me/|website=Holy Culture|date=June 8, 2013 |access-date=26 August 2014}}

}}

|height = {{height|ft=5|in=8}}

|module = {{Infobox musical artist

| embed = yes

| instrument = Guitar, vocals, bass guitar, keyboards, piano, drums, percussion

| genre = {{Hlist|Neo soul|pop|R&B|funk|hip hop|psychedelic soul|blues|southern soul|jazz|alternative R&B|rock}}

| occupation = Musician, guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer, composer, arranger, singer-songwriter

| years_active = 2002–present

| label = Redd Dawg Records

| associated_acts = Solomon Burke, Black Zack, Fruteland Jackson, The Soul Generals, David Hudson, Jerome Towers, Dust Da Rapper, Blowfly, Fred Bolton, Timmy Thomas, Glasses Malone, R.A. the Rugged Man,{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/RAtheRuggedMan/status/757764390577967105|title=R.A. the Rugged Man on Twitter|publisher=Twitter|access-date=April 24, 2018}} Kurupt{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/reggiekingsears/videos/vb.642196051/10154602612541052|title=Reggie King Sears|website=Facebook.com|access-date=April 24, 2018}}

| website = {{url|www.reggiekingsears.com}}

}}

Reggie Sears (born April 12, 1991) is an American recording artist, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist musician and record producer, and a former child prodigy guitarist{{cite news|last=Hagerty|first=Jim|title=Music Review: OTW Left Bank Stage: True to the blues|url=http://rockrivertimes.com/1993/07/01/music-review-otw-left-bank-stage-true-to-the-blues/|access-date=August 12, 2013|newspaper=Rock River Times|date=September 12, 2006}}{{cite news|last=BLAIR|first=PAUL|title=WATERSIDE JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL IN FORT PIERCE, APRIL 1|url=http://www.jazzbluesflorida.com/archives/hothouseissues.html|access-date=August 12, 2013|newspaper=Hot House Magazine|date=April 2006}}{{cite web|last=Durante|first=Joan Brazer|title=Greek Music, Belly Dancer Add Energy To Great Food|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2004-01-16/entertainment/0401140536_1_fort-lauderdale-s-museum-greek-music-greek-restaurant|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113812/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2004-01-16/entertainment/0401140536_1_fort-lauderdale-s-museum-greek-music-greek-restaurant|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 26, 2014|work=Sun Sentinel|access-date=August 12, 2013}} known for his songs "Dirty Dancer", "Dip My Dipper", and "You Betrayed Me".

Early life

Born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States,{{cite news|last=Tatangelo|first=Wade|title=Stalling Dawn, Poco, Chubby Checker|url=http://cltampa.com/tampa/stalling-dawn-poco-chubby-checker/Content?oid=2029320#.UgkyT5I3tdc|access-date=August 12, 2013|newspaper=Creative Loafing|date=January 2, 2008}} Sears is the son of an African-American mother and a Caucasian father and was raised in a lower-income area in Fort Lauderdale's inner-city.{{cite web|title=Reggie Sears|url=http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/bio/reggie-sears/3458512|work=Artist Direct|access-date=August 16, 2013}}

Sears was inspired to sing and play guitar after receiving a copy of Phil Thornalley's Swamp album at age four. He asked for a guitar at age five and the following Christmas he received one but his interest soon shifted to drums and he began playing drums after his parents bought him a drum set when he was eight. Inspired by blues artists, notably Buddy Guy, B.B. King and Lightnin' Hopkins as well as the soul, rock and funk music his parents would play, he got started after his father purchased for him a Lonnie Mack CD{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_multi=RRSB%7C&p_product=RRSB&p_theme=gatehouse&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=reggie%20sears%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(reggie%20sears)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=n|title=Teen bluesman to hit Rockin' Rib Fest, Waterfront on first tour|publisher=Nl.newsbank.com|access-date=August 13, 2013}} and he began taking guitar seriously at age 11 after a cousin turned him onto Jimi Hendrix. At age 12, Sears asked his father to take him to an open-mic at a local club and Sears began gaining recognition as a young blues guitarist. Sears began sitting in with local bands and soon began appearing with Hubert Sumlin, Ronnie Baker Brooks (once referring to Sears as a "young Rico Suave"), Guitar Shorty, Bob Margolin, Chris Beard, Ana Popović, Michael Burks, G. Love and Special Sauce, Fruteland Jackson, Lil' Ed Williams, Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby Rush, Inner Circle, Henry Gray, John Primer, Jimmy "Bo" Horne, Pinetop Perkins, backed up The Temptations,{{cite web |last1=Jeffries |first1=David |title=Reggie Sears |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/reggie-sears-mn0001490135/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=15 May 2015}} and even appeared with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Solomon Burke who dubbed Sears "the future [of Soul and Blues]" and referred to him as "godson". Within a few months he was playing professionally.{{cite web|last=Gordon|first=Rich|title=Reggie Sears|url=https://groups.yahoo.com/group/blues-dj/message/19491|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130814225456/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blues-dj/message/19491|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2013|work=WYHY 95.3 FM|access-date=August 12, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Piltz|first=Dave "Doc"|title=17th Annual Fort Lauderdale Sound Advice Blues Festival|url=http://www.mnblues.com/review/2004/17thfortlauderdalefest-1103-dp.html|work=Blues on Stage|access-date=August 12, 2013}}

In early 2004 Sears assembled a band of veteran musicians and he began booking shows at local clubs and festivals on the weekends and developed a loyal fan base and attracted the attention of several independent labels.

Career

=Debut album: ''Transitions''=

Sears{{'}} national debut album Transitions, a jazz-rock influenced collection of classic and obscure blues covers was released in September 2005.{{cite web|title=Reggie Sears- Transitions|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/transitions-mw0001444829/credits|publisher=All Music Guide|access-date=August 12, 2013}} Sears enrolled in virtual school so that he could play music full-time. He began touring in support of Transitions, which led to appearances at notable venues such as Sarasota Blues Fest in Sarasota, Florida;{{cite news|last=Sanders|first=Mark|title=2005 Sarasota Blues Festival|url=http://www.cltampa.com/tampa/2005-sarasota-blues-festival/Content?oid=2023486|access-date=August 12, 2013|newspaper=Creative Loafing|date=October 26, 2005}} Skippers Smokehouse in Tampa, Florida,{{cite web|title=Upcoming Shows|url=http://www.skipperssmokehouse.com/venue/upcomingshows2005.shtml|work=Skippers Smokehouse|access-date=August 12, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018063809/http://www.skipperssmokehouse.com/venue/upcomingshows2005.shtml|archive-date=October 18, 2006|df=mdy-all}} and slowly built his way to headlining or co-headlining appearances at House of Blues in Orlando, Florida,{{cite news|last=Goldhaber|first=Mark|title=Walt Disney World Park Update|url=http://www.mouseplanet.com/8079/Walt_Disney_World_Park_Update|access-date=August 12, 2013|newspaper=Mouse Planet|date=December 12, 2006}} on The Waterfront in Rockford, Illinois, and Cultural Fest in Las Vegas. His second CD, Blues Power, was released in fall of 2006. Looking to expand his musical horizons, Sears taught himself how to play over 20 instruments and learned the technical side of music production.

=''Southern Soul, Florida Style''=

File:Reggie Sears live in 2016.jpg

In late 2006, Sears moved to the Southern soul genre with the release of his third album, Southern Soul, Florida Style, a collection of blues and Southern soul songs that gained little exposure or radio play despite the lead single "Back That Thang Up" finding its way on some radio playlists and club reports. Sears slowly built a strong fan base in the Southern soul market by tirelessly touring the south's Chitlin circuit of rural juke joints, ghetto bars, and blues festivals. Despite his often suggestive lyrics and racy concert performances which was deemed too explicit for commercial audiences, he became an underground success across the South and audiences, especially female ones, flocked to see Sears in concert.

His fourth album was released in mid-2007 with the lead single "Dip My Dipper" faring well. In 2007, he served as musical director and lead guitarist for Miami soul singer David Hudson as well as guitarist/bassist and musical director for The Soul Generals while recording his fifth CD, his would-be major label debut Sweet Thang, which was ultimately shelved in 2009 and remains unreleased. By the end of the year Sears went on hiatus from music at age 16 after personal problems arose. After a bout of depression and an attempted suicide, he turned his life over to God and began to do shows again, editing the lyrics to many of his songs and considerably cleaning up his stage show.

The next few years went by with a few singles and some sporadic tour dates on the Chittlin' circuit. In 2010, Sears won a Soul Patrol "best of" in the Slow Jam category for his digital-single "You Betrayed Me".{{cite web|last=Davis|first=Bob|title=2010 Best Black Music Albums, Tracks & Live Shows (Classic Soul, Jazz, Southern Soul & Blues, Funk, Neo Soul, Rap & Rock n' Roll)|url=http://www.soul-patrol.com/newsletter/2010/news5/best2010.html|work=Soul Patrol|access-date=August 12, 2013}} In November of that year he released his most successful single to date "Dirty Dancer" which fared well on the Southern soul charts, hitting number one in several markets.{{cite news|title=Top 20 21st Century R&B Soul The Reel Soul|url=http://dev.little.am/frostillustrated.com/full.php-sid=8527.html|access-date=August 12, 2013|newspaper=Frost Illustrated|date=March 16, 2011}} Sears was nominated for Soul Blues Music Award for "Best New Artist".{{cite web|last=Deanna|first=Dylann|title=Blues Critic Awards 2010 READERS POLL Southern Soul Blues|url=http://www.soulbluesmusic.com/2010bluescriticawards.htm|work=Blues Critic Awards|publisher=Soul Blues Music|access-date=August 12, 2013}}

=''So Many Roads''=

Sears began to embrace the neo-soul and urban Adult Contemporary Rhythm and Blues (R&B) sound with the release of the low-profile single "Can't Get You Out of My System" in early 2011. By this time, Sears had devoted much of his time to church. Nothing else was heard from him until early 2012 when he released "With Every Beat of My Heart".{{cite web|title=NEW MUSIC: REGGIE SEARS – WITH EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART|url=http://www.thisisrnb.com/2012/02/new-music-reggie-sears-with-every-beat-of-my-heart/|work=This Is R&B|date=February 24, 2012 |access-date=August 12, 2013}} Sears continued writing and recording new songs and performing locally but dedicated most of his time to preaching while also doing session work, appearing as the featured guitarist on Anakarenn's debut album as well as production work on Black Zack's Southern Soul Radio album, and producing and mentoring local artists. In 2015 he toured as a bassist for Blowfly and played keyboards and guitar on his final album, 77 Rusty Trombones.{{cite web|title=Discogs- Blowfly 77 Rusty Trombones|url=https://www.discogs.com/Blowfly-77-Rusty-Trombones/release/8244069|website=Discogs.com|date=February 19, 2016 |access-date=4 April 2016}} Later that year, he began working with Timmy Thomas as a multi-instrumentalist and opening act.{{cite web|last1=Crandell|first1=Ben|title=Timmy Thomas and Drake Together Again|url=http://www.southflorida.com/music/sf-timmy-thomas-moca-north-miami-20160322-story.html|website=South Florida Sun Sentinel|publisher=Sun Sentinel|access-date=4 April 2016}} Sears is currently in production on a new EP titled 'So Many Roads'.

=Gear=

In the studio, Sears uses a plethora of guitars, amps and effects. He plays a Gibson B.B. King Lucille Signature ES-335, an assortment of Squier Stratocasters, an Epiphone Les Paul, Epiphone SG, and a few Harmony electric guitars however, he most notably is known for playing the Fender Buddy Guy Stratocaster, a guitar he has owned since he was 12 years old. He plays through an amp chain of a Fender Hot Rod Deville, Marshall JCM 2000 and a Dean Markley K-20 amp to get his signature sound.{{cite web|title=Equipboards|url=http://equipboard.com/pros/reggiesears|website=Equipboard.com|access-date=16 February 2015}}

Discography

=Albums=

Transitions (2005){{cite web|url=http://www.beetcafe.com/beetstewFeaturesDisplay.cfm?id=10050|title=15-Year-Old Blues Guitarist Reggie Sears Kicks off Stateline Tour|publisher=Beetcafe.com|access-date=August 12, 2013}}
Blues Power (2006)
Southern Soul, Florida Style (2006)
Get Up on It (2007)
Sweet Thang (unreleased)
So Many Roads (forthcoming EP) {{cite web|title=Reggie Sears Official Verified Audiomack Account|url=https://audiomack.com/artist/reggiesears/about|access-date=20 July 2018}}