Mike Rogers-vocals, songwriting, guitar, bass, programmed drums, sax, keys........
Heather Brooks-vocals, songwriting, keys, programmed drums........
Additional musicians on "Date": David Johnson-bass/keys, Darrell Nutt-drums, Ray Nesbit-guitar
Influences
Thank you to all our fellow musicians and teachers:
Steve Matthews (Mike's first band director, he played all the instruments and was amazing at all of them!) Darrell Nutt, David Johnson, Ray Nesbit, Prince, DAG, Erykah Badu, Meshell Ndege Ocello, Sting, David Sanborn, Slash, Charlie Parker, Michael Jackson, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Roy Hargrove, Jaco Pastorious, Marvin Gaye, The Black Crowes, Seal, Jill Scott, Lenny Kravitz, Al Green, Soulive, Weather Report, Steely Dan, The Shins, Stevie Wonder, Jeff Buckley, Chis Whitley, Sly and the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, The Police, Jamiroquai, Maroon 5, Mysticism, Endless Universal Inspiration
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Soul=inward, quiet, contentment, desire for peace--------Funk=outward, loud, unbridled expression of freedom-------Unity=undivided, unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting----------
Soul Funk Unity is Mike Rogers and Heather Brooks. It is the label they use to express what their music is. It is also the story of two people on a musical and spiritual quest to understand their eccentricities, strengths and weaknesses. The music and lyrics represent their love for spiritual themes, vivacious funk grooves and catchy soulful vocals.
Mike is from a quiet town in New Mexico called Lovington and moved to Naples, Florida at the age of 8. He began playing alto saxophone at the age of 10 and by 11 also began playing the guitar and bass, expanding his abilities to become a true multi instrumentalist. Mike has fronted 3 bands and released 4 albums to date. Throughout his career he has rocked many houses and toured extensively throughout the southeast and northeast as well as overseas. He now lives in Naples, Florida and is working on a new album of original material as well as performing with Soul Funk Unity, Modulation & Phoenix Block.
Heather Brooks grew up climbing trees, reading books and listening to her parents' records in the small town of Moore Haven, Florida. In between headphone sessions with Steely Dan, Prince, Yes and Al Jarreau, she played piano for her church and fought with her two sisters. Moving to the 'big city' of Fort Myers when she was 14 of course, changed everything, and boys took up the time that ruminations on God and music didn't fill. After a brief spell of undedicated college enrollment, she waitressed and began writing particles of progressions on the piano about real-life stories and imagined endings. It was after a month long cross-country road trip with her best friend and a dense breakup that Heather decided to go back on her idea of music as an escape and pursue songwriting with the dedication and recklessness it deserves.............. There's always more to every story and hopefully you're interested enough to learn the next chapter through our music.
Hey Mike.......Great to have met you this trip down!! Thank you soooo much for allowing me to sit in!! It was a blast and hopefully good for ya'll too!! Hopefully be back at some point in July before the BIG move!! See you soon! Harry
Hey Mike & Heather.....I'm going to be back in beautiful Fort Myers beach again this coming Monday June 1st-Tuesday the 16th!!! Can't wait! If you wanna get together and share some soul and music, that would be awesome!! My cell is 207-776-3294, I'll be arriving late Monday afternoon. Hope to see you all soon! Best always, Harry
I hope you feel better Ekim Sregor and get all of the sick out of you! Music heals - so listen to something that makes you want to feel better... maybe some early Dee Snyder and Twisted Sister or Frank Zappa auditioning drummers with the Black Page in 1979... and I'm spent! Click.
hey Mike......just wanted to check in! Say hi! Hope you and Heather all are well and REALLY lookin' forward to making some serious funk & soul with you guys!! I downloaded a bunch of your tunes......man...... VERY creative my friend!! Blessings to all, Harry
