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Keith King, a sophomore at Combs High School, will perform in public for the first time at the Nile Theater in Mesa on Oct. 9 at 6 p.m.
The hip-hop/rap artist, who produces and records his own music, will be one of several acts scheduled to perform at the concert event.
For King, the opportunity to perform in front of live audience is the first step in what he hopes becomes a professional career.
“I think part of preparing for that is getting comfortable with performing (in front of an audience),” King recently told the Ledger. “I’m excited about performing at the Nile Theater because it’s a venue that if you perform well people will remember you for it.”
“If I can go there, perform well, and people really get the message I’m trying to convey it will take me a step further to where I want to be,” he added.
King’s interest in music and performing started in seventh grade when he was a student at J.O. Combs Middle School. Inspired by his cousin, whose own performing aspirations were progressing well, King started writing his own songs and received positive feedback from family and friends.
Then, as an eighth-grader, Keith participated in a talent show at the middle school and received more positive feedback.
“From there I just thought it would be really cool to take the next step and try to make a career out of it,” he said. “For my birthday I received the program I use to produce all of my music and started getting into that. I still show my friends all of (music) and ask what they think about it.”
He self-produced a six-song CD, which he passed out to friends, hoping they would enjoy what they heard.
Somewhat surprisingly, King is not part of the Combs’ band or orchestra, however, he is involved in dance at the school. He believes the performing art class can help when he is on stage, although he expects some nervousness when he makes his inaugural Nile Theater appearance.
“I’m excited for (the performance), but at the same time I have some stage-freight jitters,” he admitted. “I’m going to pretend it’s the school talent show. That’s going to be mindset going (on stage).”
King has shown determination and focus – traits not commonly seen in younger high school students – in pursuing is dream career.
“I think it’s great that Keith has a world view that is larger than this campus,” said Jette Thompson, a Combs’ guidance counselor. “The fact that he can harness what his skill set is, what he’s interested in, and be brave enough to start pursuing it is awesome. It’s what we want to see in all of our high school students.”
Making it in the music industry won’t be easy, something King is more than aware of. With a GPA north of 3.0, he intends to study performing arts and the technical side of the industry in college.
“Education is one of my top priorities,” he said. “If I can make into a college where I can better my education on what I want to do and the technical aspect of it, the performing aspect of it, then I’ll be that much better.”
“If down the road the performing aspect doesn’t work, I’d be just as satisfied working on the technical side of it.”
Tickets for the Oct. 9 show are $9 in advance and $14 at the door. The 800-seat Nile Theater is located 105 W. Main Street in Mesa. The event is scheduled from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Those interested in one of Keith’s CD’s can find him on campus or contact him through Facebook at www.facebook.com/keith.king.522.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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