I have been playing music since the early age of three.  I hardly remember but my mother told me that she recalls me figuring out melodies on the piano at this early age.  I started in on piano lessons at around 12, but that only lasted about two years.  In sixth grade I joined the middle school band, and ended up playing the clarinet. (My parents wouldn’t let me play drums.) I did rather well, always being first chair, and competing in ISMAA competitions.  During the eighth grade I discovered a classical guitar in my basement with only two strings that had probably been on it for twenty years. I bought strings, however I purchased standard acoustic strings and put them on a classical guitar. I then discovered a book with basic chords and I began teaching myself simple songs. I went on to use The Beatles and other popular bands to learn tunes to add to my arsenal of songs.  I tried to take lessons from my church’s youth pastor, but after two lessons, he said that I had already exceeded his musical knowledge.  To this day I have not stopped playing, and have also picked up the drum set, bass guitar, mixing on turntables, and hand drums such as djembe and darbuka. 

During my stay attending BSU in Muncie, I performed with a rock/soul group MSG (Melmak Shire Groove), performed weekly as a DJ at Doc’s music hall, and played at many benefit concerts and charities for organizations such as NORML and cancer awareness.  Eventually I moved back to Ft. Wayne and formed the funk/soul group Action Jaxson.  This group lasted a year and a half, performing at Students For A Free Tibet benefit, on The Night Shift at Snickers comedy club, opened for two national acts at the Three Rivers Festival, and played in about every bar in town. We were nominated for best funk group and also best new band in the local Whammy awards in 2007, and also performed at the award ceremony.  My projects currently include an acoustic hip-hop trio, San Seishin, and most recently the Grateful Groove!  I look forward to this new musical journey and what joy we can bring to the ears and souls of other people.     PEACE AND LOVE!!

~Mike Rodgers