Meet Reggie Sampson | Professional Contemporary Saxophonist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Reggie Sampson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Reggie, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am originally from Los Angeles, California but now reside in metro Atlanta, GA. My background was like most that was raised in a big city where music was a key component in my childhood household. Growing up in the 80’s, most of the music that I grew up listening to spanned many different genres from R&B, Hip-Hop, Gospel, Country, and Jazz. I was naturally drawn to Jazz due to the influence of my sister listening to Grover Washington Jr. In my earliest memory, I have always been musically inclined and gifted which led to playing music at 10 years old. The natural progression of playing music in Middle School, High School, and College led me to a career in the United States Army as an Army Musician. I served in the Army as a musician for 20 years and because of this, I was afforded the extraordinary opportunity to perform for many dignitaries and audiences all over the world. Since retiring from the military, I have become very involved in the music scene here in Atlanta, GA, and have started my business as an independent artist.

The idea of becoming a business owner was always something that I initially ran away from, partially because I did not understand how it worked. After understanding how rewarding owning a business could be I felt comfortable taking the leap into the “unknown” and became a business owner earlier this year. I can look back at this decision and realize that it has been one of the best decisions that I have made in my life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, and what you are most proud of or excited about.

I believe that one thing that sets me apart from others is the vast amount of experience that I have gained throughout my military service and my ability to create a positive relationship with everyone that I meet. Being in such a big city as Atlanta it can be hard to separate yourself from many other great musicians who are here as well and this task can be daunting or intimidating but I welcome it as a great learning experience and have enjoyed it

How did you get to where you are today professionally? Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges?

One of the many ways that I can say that helped me get to where I am today is through consistency, patience, and dedication to my craft. It was definitely not easy but the reward has been worth it. If I had to choose a way that I used to overcome the challenges it could be attributed to my resiliency and faith. These attributes have helped me overcome many challenges in my life.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way? What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

The biggest and most fulfilling lesson that I have learned thus far can be summed up in a quote that says “The road of life is always under construction” I have used this phrase in many instances throughout my life to remind me to always keep striving for greatness and to keep going despite not feeling like it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Some of my favorite spots in the city are mostly tourist spots. The World of Coke, The Georgia Aquarium, and the College Hall of Fame are some of my favorite sports to visit. Some of my favorite food spots are South City Kitchen and Slutty Vegan ATL

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Wow! Where do I even begin? There have been so many people throughout the course of my life that has been influential in helping me along the way. I will start by giving a major shoutout to all of those outstanding musicians who have helped mentor me along that way throughout my military career, There are honestly too many people to name individually. Next, I want to give a shoutout to all my family and close friends that I have helped me continue to pursue music further even when there were times that I wanted to give up. Lastly, I want to give a shoutout to the Men of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated who helped provide me with the motivation and resources to launch my business. I appreciate all of the help and support that I’ve received.

Website: https://rsmusicentertainment.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reggiesampsonsax/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reggie.sampson/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqDfN82YMTZvW1WJ92g487w

Image Credits
Brandon Stovall (Hustle Dream Production LLC)