MACON, Ga. — If music feeds the soul, Mike Clark Jr. cooks a feast in the studio.
Like Otis Redding, the Allman Brothers and countless other household names, Clark is making his mark in Macon.
He said he grew up in East Macon. He attended Bernd Elementary, Appling Middle and played football for Northeast High.
It was at a football game where Clark's managers, also from Macon, Ray Wilson and Snape "Wordlaw" Hughes, and producer, Deonta "Kardy" Gibson, heard him singing on the sidelines.
"Shocked! Because of the soul in his voice!" Gibson said about the first time he heard Clark sing.
"A shock at first because he's so young," Wilson said.
Clark's only 19-years-old, but his voice struck a chord with his team. He said his goal is to have a connection with those who hear his music.
"You gotta have something that the people can relate to," he said.
He says lyrics from his latest single-- Auntie's Outside-- embody that goal. He says his unreleased track, "Real Men," holds meaning too.
"It comes from a background of me having a hard-working daddy in my life," Clark said. "Sometimes, my dad ain't get no sleep trying to work so much. I ain't never seen my dad cry. He's such a hard-working man, he deserves everything coming his way."
In addition to his father's success, Clark hopes he gets to earn Grammy awards as a Southern Soul and R&B artist.
"We actually went viral on TikTok," Kardy said. "We did Muni Long's song. She actually shared it on her story on Instagram."
In the rise to stardom, the Macon natives hold onto their roots tightly.
"I think we're just another step in the legacy that Middle Georgia and Macon has," Wilson said. "We talk about the Allman Brothers, Little Richard, Otis Redding, so it's all about taking these steps, and Mike is a big step."
Clark said he expected to play football in college after high school, but things took a turn after he went viral on TikTok.
"I've never seen myself doing anything big like this before," he said. "Having someone like Otis Redding from the city, just motivtiaonal."
Millions of views and thousands of followers later, Clark and his team say they're still in shock even after signing to Atlanta-based record label, ColliPark Music.
"We've been doing this a very long time, and to see this knowing that 20 years in, we're just now knocking at the door too!" Kardy said.
"It's in the blood," Mike said.
His latest album is coming up in July; Mike's next show in Central Georgia is at Lake Tobesofkee on Father's Day.
You can listen to his music below: