The pursuit to greatness is a life long journey. Starting from birth one is bestowed, through the parents and life experiences, the tools to ascend the ladder of greatness and leave a timeless mark on the fabric of history. Such is the case with the artist known to many as simply… Shot Out… E. Toriono Newkirk (Shot Out) was born in Jacksonville, Florida. As a child, Tori (as referred to by family and friends) traveled with his stepfather, Wesley Phillips, Sr., of "The East Coast Horn Section" on the road and began his training in the music business. In 1978, his stepfather, was hired by The Jackson Five. The job, although only lasting for 4 1/2 years, left a profound impact of Shot Out’s stepfather from a career standpoint and would be the roots from which all of Shout Out’s musical creativity would spring fourth. In 1993, Shot Out began recording, entering, and winning a number of talent shows across his region of the country. He was inspired to release a Maxi single in 1998 to test his local market in "Filthy Nasty Florida" and also to get a response musically. The Maxi Single was entitled "Shot Out" and featured his first two songs, "Shot Out" and "It Is". After recording numerous songs, Shot Out submitted a demo to an Independent Canadian Label called Cyber Music. The A&R selected his Reggae influenced track "Bite the Bullet" which yielded over 30,000 units sold in Canada. Shot Out released his first album "Escaping the Crab Pot" in 1999, utilizing the marketing strategies which included CD's, t-shirts, bandannas, and other Shot Out paraphernalia. Through those marketing efforts, over 2,300 copies were sold Some of Shot Out’s accomplishments include opening shows, for big names such as: Notorious B.I.G, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Yung Joc, Chingy, Too Short, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, 69 Boyz, Mad Lion, Wu Tang Clan, Poison Clan, Bone Thugs in Harmony, Goodie Mob, Out Kast, Craig Mack, Juvenile, Cool Breeze, Urban Mystic, Ying Yang Twins, and D-Roc (of the Ying Yang Twins) and his group the Musicianz. In the spring of 2000, Shot Out began, recording his sophomore album "The Second Dozen," which sold 3,200 copies. He also recorded, pressed, and sold 1,500 copies of a compilation album in the spring of 2002 entitled "The Southern Hemisphere". For the year of 2004 Shot Out sold over 1,000 copies of his maxi single WHAT YOUR PIMPIN LIKE backed with his state anthem "Florida Star". In March 2005, he released his single BEEP BEEP BEEP feat. Atlanta’s own, Rasheeda that climbed the billboard charts, reaching number 35 on the charts and moved over 5,000 units between retail and the street sales. For Shot Out, networking and promoting are his talents and in the summer of 2006 Shot Out is used all of his marketing and promotional savvy in pushing his single GET IN, GET OUT, which he sold over 2,000 units and circulated them all over the streets of Florida and received respectable BDS spins independently. In fall 2006 he put his game face on and rolled into ‘07 with a new strategy “Nice Guys Finish Last” The street album hosted by DJ King Ron (a Hittmenn DJ) with 25 original tracks was released and banged out over 2,000 units in just a few weeks. Shot Out is not simply consumed with music, although it is his primary passion. Through his promotional company, Street Execs Shot Out was able to bring “big name” artist like MIMS to the city of Jacksonville in a time where no other promoter would have dared to do such a thing. Shot Out was in a head on collision that put everything on pause for a few months while he went thru treatment and rehab. Now he is back and in what many consider to be his greatest form yet, he’s preparing to release his sure fire hit single “U Don‘t Wanna See Me” and “I Promise” Feat. Ms.Tramanye. I guess it’s true, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, because Shot Out is hitting Duval County harder then he ever has and for Jacksonville’s biggest selling Independent artist, going into ‘08 it doesn’t look like a slow year in the slightest.