Tony Kinsey. Photo from Facebook

Musician Tony Kinsey gave a motivational speech at Neuse Regional Public Libraries on April 1, 2023. Kinsey, who has been performing for over two decades, has a passion for positive music that inspires and motivates people. He believes that music can make a positive impact on people's lives and inspire them to make positive changes.

Kinsey's journey to becoming a musician began when he wrote some songs for a college classmate. He eventually opened for famous artists such as Tupac and Queen Latifah, but turned down record deals because he did not want to produce music that did not align with his values.

"I have songs called 'God does live,' so it would be hard for me to present myself and just push myself into that type of music, so I declined it and I started my own," Kinsey said.

In addition to performing music, Kinsey has also worked as a licensed cosmetologist and has used his skills to give back to the community. For years, he performed at the East Lake Juvenile Detention Center in downtown LA, where he saw firsthand the struggles that many young people face. He and his team would bring snacks to the kids and encourage them to make positive choices.

"I had to tell a few of the kids, 'You don't belong here. You're following the wrong path and the wrong people, and that's what led you here,'" Kinsey said. "But there were also kids who I could see were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I tried to encourage them to make better choices."

Kinsey's positive message has resonated with many people, including a young woman he met at a food shop in LA. The woman, who had seen Kinsey perform at the detention center when she was 15, told him that he had saved her life by encouraging her to make better choices. She is now in a nursing program and doing well.

Kinsey hopes that his music and his message will continue to inspire people to make positive changes in their lives. He believes that everyone has the power to make a difference, no matter what their background or circumstances may be.

"I work nights and also take care of my dad. He doesn't want to go to a convalescent home, which I don't blame him. And doctors give him about a year to live, so it's a lot of back and forth, you know, taking care of him as well," Kinsey said. "But these kids are imperative as well. I want to inspire them to make positive choices and believe in themselves. That's what motivates me every day."