User:Uneek Promo/Common Kings

Biography
Common Kings

Common Kings’ style and music is a collection of inspirations orchestrated into an array of head rocking beats, feel good vibes, and emotional fever. Their crazy, fun-loving attitude compliments Common Kings’ live sound, producing phenomenal pop hits with rock, reggae, and R&B influences. These influences originate from each band members love for various genres, and widespread knowledge of music.

The majority of Common Kings were born in the South Pacific, and raised in Orange County, California. Growing up with households full of colorful personality and vibrant passions for music, Common Kings’ members naturally grew up forming individual musical paths. This musical journey involved mimicking and listening to artists such as Van Morrison, Stevie Wonder, Geourge Benson, Jim Croce, Michael Jackson, The Who, Led Zepplin, Gypsy Kings, Earth Wind and Fire, Bob Marley and more. The culmination of these musicians explains exactly who the Common Kings are.

Where everything comes to a point is through lead singer Sasualei “Jr King” Maliga. Jr King is perhaps one of the most powerfully impressive vocalists amongst today’s leading artists. Born with this natural, untrained raw-talent, Jr King’s singing ability seems boundless, as he amazes listeners with a wide range of belting notes and soulful passion. His humble demeanor off-stage needs no introduction as to when the band is rocking out on-stage creating a young, wild, and free atmosphere.

With the current success of hit songs Alcoholic, Wade In Your Water, and No Other Love, Common Kings are touring across the US and Pacific performing in front of thousands. They look to keep the momentum alive while preparing for their first Album drop in fall of 2013.

Members of Common Kings
JR – Lead Singer

Jay R. Maliga is perhaps one of the most powerfully impressive vocalists amongst today’s leading artists. Born with this natural, untrained raw-talent, Jay R’s singing ability seems boundless, as he amazes listeners with a wide range of belting notes and soulful passion. Although born in Samoa, and being raised in Orange County California has presented various inspirations, most say this passion derives from his mother’s Oaktown (Oakland) “swag.” As a child, Jay R recalls listening to old vinyl records playing James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, Prince, and Michael Jackson. Along with his mother’s influence, family played an enormous roll in Jay R’s life. He explains his early singing career as a “blessing in diguise,” referring to his older sisters who forced him to sing at every family function while his father played the guitar. Jay R lovingly explains “I’ll always cherish those moments, and consider them to be my greatest years! ;-)” Jay R has declared 2011 as a “break out year,” humbly guaranteeing musical stardom with his plans to move to LA. This move has allowed him and band members to prepare for their first Hollywood showcase of 2011 at Molly Malones on January 27th.  In between shows, Jay R is recording, and working with publishing team, The Factoree, building a catalog full of mind-blowing compilations.   Shaped by a variety of music from RnB and Jazz to Classic Rock and Country, Jay R is the fresh, and resourceful sound that compliments his versatile band members.  While the youngest in the band, years spent with them have led him to this point of maturity and musical understanding.  Ultimately, Jay R aspires to sing in front of the entire world, and at the end of a 50-year run, throw a big barbecue with friends, family, and close supporters for one last jam session!

IVAN – Bass Guitar

If there is a way to describe eclectic, Lui “Ivan” Kirimaua is it! Born in Suva Fiji, and arriving to the U.S. at the age of 10, he would hold out to the pressures of this “new society,” and fashion his individual path. This has led him through a musical journey, falling in love with classical and instrumental new age music, to glorifying Latin and flamenco. A few of these Latin influences included Oscar Lopez, Andres Segovia, Carlos Montoya, Ottmar Liebert, and the Gypsy Kings. With the majority of these artists/bands permeating that horn section sound, it was only natural for Ivan to find a brass instrument, which included the trumpet and start blowing away! Certainly, this allowed his range for music to widen, becoming a huge fan of Wynton Marasalis. Ivan’s happy-go-lucky attitude, love for everything, and free personality would come to a revelation the day he picked up the bass guitar. Inspirations of famous bass players such as Victor Wooten, Bootsy Collins, Marcus Miller, and Flea, would trigger fulfillment to his newfound craze. Ivan explains, “There is an underlying swagger when it comes to playing the bass…you feel the beat, do it lower, go deeper, and bass-ically carry the band! Haha.” Approaching the New Year, Ivan’s direction has turned to songwriting, and producing for publishing team The Factoree. He aims to create inspiring, mainstream tracks focused on the listener’s emotions and current setting. These incredible compilations can be heard while Ivan rocks the bass guitar at Molly Malones LA on January 27, 2011. According to Ivan, his ultimate dream is quite simple, “I will use my musical talents to forever perform with my brothers (band members), which will then most likely save the world and end hunger…sounds simple enough.”

MATA - GUITAR

One quote can best describe lead guitarist Taumata “Mata” Grey, “My guitar is not a thing…it is an extension of myself…it is who I am.” At a young age Mata picked up the guitar, and never let it down. His colorful personality, and vibrant passion for life speaks through every strum both on and off stage. Unquestionably, this eagerness originates from his father Jerome Grey, the greatest influence in Mata’s life. His father has been one of the most well known singer/songwriter, musicians in Samoa for the past 50 years. So naturally, growing up in a household full of instruments with a father who encouraged listening to all types of genres shaped Mata’s broad sense for music. Enjoying and mimicking favorite musicians such as Van Morrison, Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Jim Croce, George Clinton, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, The Who, ACDC, Van Halen, Led Zepplin, The Carpenters, and more, has allowed him to gain extensive knowledge and awareness about his instrument. This knowledge would be refined after achieving a Bachelor of Music: Guitar Performance at University of California Irvine’s Claire Trevor School of Arts. It was from there in which he brought together and formed the band you see today.

Mata’s skills as a musician don’t end with his guitar. Providing the harmony to Jay R’s lead makes for a clean, complimenting sound. This seems to add an amazing element, not only when writing and recording with publishing team The Factoree, but during live on-stage performances. You can catch this remarkable duo and backup band members during their live showcase at Molly Malones LA on January 27th, 2011.

Besides Mata’s aspirations to play all over the country, he dreams to one day follow his father’s footsteps, and perform for tens of thousands of people throughout the South Pacific. He hopes to take these performance proceeds, and provide schools and students with music programs and the necessary tools to further their ambitions. “Charity is a supreme virtue, and the great channel through which God has passed on to mankind. It is the virtue that unites men and inspires their noblest efforts.”

ROME - Drummer

When most people are occupied with the hustle and bustle of today’s society, Jerome “Rome” Taito’s life can be summed up into three simple categories; God, Family, and Music. Rome is the band’s pure musical talent and quiet force that lies behind the loud beat. This is fitting, due to the fact that his humble demeanor off-stage needs no introduction as to when he is twirling sticks and beating those drums on-stage. Rome’s musical aspirations, and fascination with the drums began in church at the age of 7. Upon entering high school he joined the prestigious drumline, there attributing most of his “chops” to drum instructor Chris Romanowski. During Rome’s enrollment to University of California Irvine, his personal selection of music expanded into a hodge-podge of classical, country, pop, and alternative. Combining this with a long time love for gospel gives Rome an edge, he explains, “You can hear gospel in almost all music that is out today. I believe my gospel influence along with a variety of music gives me an upper hand in the creative process…it gives an extra added ingredient…” Favorite drummers include Aaron Spears, Tony Royster Jr., Eric “Booty” Greene, Steve Gadd, and Dave Weckl. Rome is currently in the process of moving to Los Angeles where he plans to create and produce music full-time with publishing team, The Factoree. This couldn’t fit into his repertoire more perfectly as to the fact already mentioned, “Rome is the band’s pure musical talent.”  This will be evident at Molly Malones LA on January 27th, where he will not only be drumming, but singing, playing the guitar, and booty grooving! Aside from performing, Rome looks to integrate music into every aspect of his life, as he eloquently states, “I aspire to be the best person that I can be. And through the medium of music, I know this is possible. I want to create emotion using the universal language that is music. Music knows no boundaries, political views, or color lines. It is the best way to reach people and move their souls.” Rome’s dream is to one day provide for his entire family, and be a positive influence on the younger generation by doing the one thing that he loves, music.

Singles

 * 2010 Fly
 * 2011 Alcoholic
 * 2011 Wade In Your Water
 * 2012 No Other Love

Tours

 * New Zealand
 * Australia
 * Japan
 * U.K
 * Guam
 * U.S.

Past & Upcoming Performances

APRIL MAY
 * Apr 12 - FRI - Kauai
 * Apr 13 - SAT - Oahu
 * Apr 14 - SUN - Maui
 * Apr 19 - FRI - Las Vegas
 * Apr 26 - FRI - Oahu UH
 * Apr 27 - SAT - Big Island
 * Apr 29 - MON - Osaka, Japan
 * May 1 - WED - Japan
 * May 3 - FRI - Japan
 * May 17 - SAT - Hawaii
 * May 24 - FRI - Sidney Australia
 * May 25 - SAT - Brisbane Australia
 * May 28 - TUE - NZ
 * May 29 - WED - NZ
 * May 30 - THU - NZ
 * May 31 - FRI - NZ

JUNE
 * Jun 1 - SAT - W. Samoa (Independence Day)
 * Jun 15 - SUN - Guam
 * Jun 28 - SAT - Alaska

JULY
 * Jul 1 - MON Kauai
 * Jul 6 - SAT Oahu

Konvict Muzik
Common Kings is signed by Record Label Konvict Muzik. In 2003, Melvin Brown, former manager of icon artist Akon, became the founder & CEO of the label. Konvict Muzik is a record label with the idea of creating and launching international icons. Since Konvict Muzik began operations they have been responsible for launching the careers of other successful international acts like T-Pain, and Lady Gaga. Melvin Brown began his career in media after graduating Duke University and moving to Orlando Florida to work as an assistant to his first cousin and power music manager Johnny Wright. It was there he “learned the ropes” of the entertainment business by working on projects for international superstars like The Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Brittany Spears, Boys II Men and more.