The Journey and the Creation

The Journey and Creation

Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, at 7 years old, Carl R. Kirkwood, Sr., aka TRUBLKNS, started out his musical journey lead singing for the Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the church was founded by his beloved Grandfather, the Reverend O.S. Jones. His beloved Grandmother, Inez U. Chew Kirkwood Jones was the First Lady and choir director.

While attending Greenwood Elementary School of KCMO, he learned to play the trumpet and saxophone. During his elementary years, he enrolled in the Zella May Moten Dance Studio where he learned to tap dance. His motivation for talking the lessons was to be surrounded by all the girls. However, Ms. Moten saw the natural talent in him, and he performed in several recitals.

As times went on, and more natural musica abilities that he was Blessed with came through more and more. In the 70’s, when he was just a teenager, he founded his own band,

“Saturn’s Black Mist”

Michael Wright aka Mickey t, on guitar; Darryl Washington aka Bo on bass; Big Tim Williams was on trombone; Thomas Dean on trumpet; Fred Bates on sax; and Carl rounding out and leading the group on drums.

All the members were teenagers and played in various night clubs in the Kansas City area. The guys worked hard, and Carl set up the gigs. Then came the challenge of convincing the parents to allow their teenage boys to be in the night clubs. So, negotiations began, and the parents agreed under the stipulation that they had to be present in order for the boys to play. That way they could keep a watchful eye on all of them and have a good show along with it.

The band covered songs by War, Jazz Crusaders, Sly & the Family Stones, even Hendrix, Grand Funk Railroad, Santana, Staple Singers; and many more. People loved the band, and they gained a following. Carl loved performing with the guys but found himself wanting to take his music career to another level.

In the 80’s, he made the decision to dismantle the band and go into a creation hibernation. Deep down he felt that to really embark on his musical journey, it was time to stop playing other people’s music and create his own unique style and sound.

So began TRUBLKNS…..

Things being what they were at the time, and life choices made, he found himself incarcerated. Even still, that did not stop his creativity. He will even tell you that his time spend incarcerated was a steppingstone in making a life change for the better.

He continued writing songs, participated in and lead programs, went out on speaking engagements, coached the softball team, organized events for the inmates, and made the decision that what got him there would never be a part of his life again and dedicated himself to mentoring others.

You see, he is a strong believer that people who truly want to change can.

From that point forward he has done just that. His music and poetry are his babies that he has molded to not just be for entertainment, but to send out a positive messages. He founded a non-for-profit mentoring organization, The Rejuvenating Visionites. The mission is to mentor and motivate individuals from a life of crime and violence. With one-on-one programs, group mentoring, and motivational speaking. Carl is touching lives and making a difference.

A lover of poetry and natural poet himself, song writing came natural to him. With the ups and downs he has faced, he has never given up on his music. When you hear his own unique blend of genres he has put together, you will know, it is undoubtedly……….

TRUBLKNS