Today we’d like to introduce you to Sergio Ortiz. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Sergio Ortiz, better known as Sgt. Remo is a Mexican-American reggae artist known throughout the U.S. and Latin America for his powerful vocals and energetic performances. Remo was born in the border town of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and immigrated to the neighboring city of El Paso, TX, at a young age. He attended El Paso and graduated high school from Socorro High School before joining the U.S. Navy as an electrician. During high school, Remo loved reggae music and Jamaican culture. He began performing in the early 2000s, cutting his teeth as a vocalist with Brotherhood Sound System in New Mexico. The unlikely reggae artist emerged on the international reggae scene with his debut EP, Life is for Living, in 2012. Based out of San Antonio, Texas, since 2013, Sgt. Remo has emerged as one of the most prominent talents in the genre to come out of the state. In 2014, Sgt. Remo released his first full-length album, Give Thanks for Life, achieving his first international underground hit, Rastafari Way. The album was released on his label, Jah Yute Entertainment. It was recognized by New York’s AIRM’s Top 30 Independent Reggae Albums of 2014 and Denmark’s Reggae Moods Top 15 Roots & Culture Albums of the Year. Since his debut, he has released 3 more albums, 6 EPs, and many singles on his indie label. Sgt. Remo had a spectacular 2022, which saw the vinyl release of his album Jah Neva Leave, featuring reggae greats Lutan Fyah, Ranking Joe, and Chezidek. Sgt. Remo performed a demanding schedule with performances at the Dallas Reggae Festival, Reggae on the Guadalupe, Word, Sound & Power Festival (Minneapolis), and the San Antonio Coffee Festival. In 2023, Sgt. Remo performed over 40 dates, including the Austin Reggae Festival, Houston Reggae Festival, and a 10+ date summer tour in Mexico. The multi-talented artist is also the mastermind behind King Remo Sound System, San Antonio, TX’s first custom sound system. Remo operates Jah Yute Entertainment and Amaru Melchizedek Publishing, responsible for most of Sgt—Remo’s catalog, including the 4-album compilation series Reggae SoulJahs Worldwide (2011-2021). Remo is also a college professor at San Antonio College, teaching various topics in the college’s one-of-a-kind Music Business program. This year, Remo started San Antonio’s only reggae radio show on KSYM, Reggae Sessions Radio, filling a needed void in radio.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s never smooth when you decide to do something outside the box. When I decided to commit to music fully, I got a lot of negative responses from everyone, including my family. Nobody believed in it and thought I was wasting my time. It didn’t help that I am not of Caribbean descent. When I started making reggae music, I faced a lot of criticism. People said it’s not my culture and would question my commitment and motives. It was surprising to me at first because reggae music talked about poverty, struggle, and the many ills people experience worldwide. Growing up feeling helpless, living in poverty, in a single-parent home made me identify with the message of reggae music. I hadn’t found anything else that told my story like reggae did. Reggae has become a global genre, with artists creating reggae music in their language worldwide. It’s a little easier to be accepted as a reggae artist today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am very proud to be a professor in the music business program at San Antonio College. I honestly never imagined I would be teaching. After attending SAC and graduating from the same program, I was later contacted by the program director, Dr. Ruben Rodriguez, and invited to apply for an opening. I eventually got hired as an adjunct faculty member. The music business program is unique because there are only a handful of music business programs in the country and just a few in TX. Being in the classroom allows me to work with the industry’s future and share my experiences.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
My favorite book is Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford. Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sgt.remo/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sgtremomusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCarHRXc7YBCXRkZWLK7gvkg
