Southern Wayne junior Zack King: ‘Crazy’ about music and release of debut single

Last week was a pretty typical week for 17-year-old Zack King. He attended classes at Southern Wayne High School, worked his after-school job at Jones True Value Hardware, and participated in worship at Manley Grove Pentecostal Holiness Church. On second thought, there was one thing that separated last week from any other: King saw the release of his debut song, “Crazy,” on all music platforms, Wednesday, April 19. For the young singer/songwriter it was something he’d been working toward for years.

As a child, the Grantham native loved sports. He played baseball and was looking forward to starting football, when he was permanently sidelined by health issues. Hoping to help their son discover a new interest, Jeremy and Heather King bought him a guitar when he was 8 to 9 years old.

King took a few lessons from Jerry Strickland, whom he describes as “a phenomenal teacher,” but admits that he didn’t have the patience for such structured learning at such a young age. Instead, he turned to YouTube, where, he says, he learned to play by ear. He also started singing.

It was a natural progression for King to begin performing in public. “I started in church, playing at 9 years old, playing with Pastor Donald Massey [of Manley Grove Church]. He was a big part in what I call my career.

“I started out nervous,” he continues, “but, boy, [the congregation] ate it up. They loved it.” This gave King the confidence to continue performing, and about a year-and-a-half ago, he started singing and playing at Up North Pizzeria in Mount Olive.

He has now reached a point, he says, where he’s onstage most Friday and Saturday nights, and some Thursday nights, as well. In addition to Up North Pizzeria in Mount Olive, you can catch King at several Goldsboro locations — Up North Pizzeria, The Laughing Owl, Brisas and Vailhouse; in Newton Grove at Parkside Sports Grille; and in Pikeville at First Brew. He also works private events, like weddings, rehearsal dinners, and retirement parties.

King’s performances include covers, as well as his own songs. He admits that writing can be a tough process, but notes, “If my bearings are straight, and everything’s going like I want it to — I ’m putting down words, I’m putting down chords over words, I’m putting down a melody and it sounds good — it’s the funnest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

When describing the genres of music one can expect to hear from him, he quickly cites “country and Christian,” but adds, “I’ll do some older Elvis Presley stuff, southern rock. Stuff like The Band, Sam Cooke, The Beatles.”

When he’s not performing, King is constantly listening to music. Christian artists Lauren Daigle, Zach Williams and Building 429 are some of his favorites. When it comes to country, he likes Cody Johnson, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers.

Set to graduate in December, King foresees getting a full-time job locally (perhaps with the town of Mount Olive or something similar), while furthering his music career by continuing to write and release songs, post on social media and perform.

In addition to thanking his parents for their support, he credits several other people with helping him cultivate his musical talents: Strickland (who, besides providing guitar lessons, recorded King’s first single), Pastor Massey, and Southern Wayne choral director, Jason Cox. “He’s taught me a whole lot,” King says of Cox. “He’s just amazing at what he does.”

The ultimate credit, though, he gives to God. “I give God the glory for my talent, and my music will never be something that goes against what His will is for me,” King promises. “You’ll never hear me write a song that has a cuss word in it, you’ll never hear me write a song that has something to do with beer in it, because all of it’s based around God and it’s gonna stay that way.”

To keep up with King’s music, you can find him at: Zack King Music on Facebook, _zackkingg_ on Instagram, and Kingzack_5 on TikTok.