Manuel Perkins Jr. - September 2025
Closing the month of September, we would like to turn the spotlight over to Manuel Perkins Jr. (@Mlperkinsjr) for our artist highlight. Manuel is a musician that hails from the ninth ward of New Orleans. He’s a talented tuba player that performs for multiple bands, such as the Soul Rebels, Kinfolk Brass Brand, and 21st Century Brass Band. Starting out, manual started playing music in 2007 and began professionally in 2010. In high school, he would play with some friends and decided to make a band while picking up local gigs. This would be the start of 21st century brass band.
Other opportunities opened for some of the band meets, which led them to go their separate ways, but they reunite from time to time. With kinfolk, he would first sub in for a bandmate 2015. Upon doing well on the gig, he was officially invited to the band a few months later. The soul rebels would be the last band he joined. He says that he’s always been a fan of them since the early 2000s and even before he decided he wanted to be a musician. He recalls listening to their music when he was younger via iHeartRadio, LimeWire, and other sources. In 2016 he was called to audition for the group and ended up making the cut after a few trials. Manuel says he is truly blessed to be able to be a part of this band as it has taken him too many different states and countries. He is proud to be able to continue his journey while pushing the success of the group. Manual is inspired by many people in his craft. Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, the Marsalis family, Howard Johnson, Marcus Miller, Anthony Lacen, Philip Frazier, and Kirk Joseph to name a few. He says that it’s difficult to answer because there are so many musicians in his field that have helped pave the way for the style that he plays. “Your inspiration is what molds you to have that sound as being an artist”.
There are two songs by the group “Heatwave” that explains Manuel as artist. Those being “Ain’t No Half-Steppin” and “ The Groove Line”. The first song explains that he needs to give it 100% every time he performs. That if he does not, he does not feel confident in what he has given. The latter is an explanation of the unison with his bandmates. When he’s locked in and in the groove with the band, nothing can deter him from providing a great experience for those listening. A few notable brands that he has worked with are Reebok, NFL, NBA, Nike , Jordan ,FanDuel, Gatorade and Starbucks. He has also worked with many other artists such as Katy Perry, Nas, Marilyn Manson, Curren$y, and Robin Thicke to name a few.
Going forward Manuel does think about to future, but he focuses on the present because he isn’t promised tomorrow. He wants to make sure that his family is secure with what he has provided and to establish his legacy for them going forward. If you are looking to reach out to Manuel personally his instagram and X account are the same. You can check out the Soul Rebels on instagram (@thesoulrebels) and thesoulrebels.com . You can also check out Kinfolk Brass Band on their website neworleanskinfolk.com and instagram (@kinfolkbrassbandnola). Lastly, 21st Century Brass Band can be reached on instagram (@21st_nola).
“Peace, love, and soul.” - Manuel Perkins Jr.
