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After graduating from
Oliver Wolcott Technical High School in 1987
with a state certificate in Drafting, Mike
attended Hartford State Technical College in
Hartford, CT for two years where he enrolled
in the pre-technology programme and then
into Civil Engineering Technology. At the
age of nineteen, he began what would become
a nearly sixteen year stint in the field of
drafting and design.
Throughout childhood
and adolescence, the soothing sounds of his
dad's old 7" records (from the 1950's)
as well as tunes emanating from the radio
were a means of escape and enjoyment. In
fact it was not uncommon for young Michael
to be heard singing or humming a favourite
song on his way home from school or to the
market- sometimes to the amusement of his
friends.
After a couple of years
of writing lyrics and humming melodies, Mike
approached his friend Tommy (at the time a
beginning guitarist) with the idea of
starting a band.
Soon, a garage rock band named "Floor
Three" was formed with Mike on vocals.
At the age of nineteen, he decided to try
and learn how to play guitar and indeed took
numerous lessons, later trying his hand at
bass guitar and West African drumming (the
latter under the tutelage of Guinean master
drummer and dancer Abdoulaye Sylla).
On a early summer afternoon in 1989 during a
softball practice on a field in Torrington,
CT when a teammate invited Mike to come to
his church to check out their young people's
group. Open to the idea, if a bit hesitant,
he decided to give it a try. What he was to
experience would change his life forever.
Mike discovered the unconditional love of
Almighty GOD (Yahweh) in the Person of Jesus
Christ (Yeshua) and learned the personal
meaning of His crucifixion and resurrection.
After a few months of observing, learning
and asking questions, in late fall of 1989
Mike received Christ into his heart and was
born again and baptised. Through this
life-altering experience, his sense of
self-worth, direction and values began to
change. He gradually found healing for his
depressed and angry state- and music would
factor largely into this healing and growing
process.
From the time he was a teen, Mike had
developed an affinity for reggae music. In
1994, Mike formed a group called the Iron
Mangoes which comprised of members of
various cultural backgrounds and age groups.
Their sound was a mixture of roots reggae,
funk, rock, folk, Afro-Cuban and jazz
styles. With the formation of the Mangoes,
Mike later thought it might be fun for the
members to have nicknames- hence the name
"Mike Roots". "Roots"
was chosen because Mike brought a reggae
influence into the group (among others), he
mostly played bass guitar at the point (part
of the musical roots- along with the drum)
and because his inspiration was rooted in
his Christian faith.
The Iron Mangoes cut a couple of locally
released singles before disbanding in late
1995.
In the summer of 1996, Mike met Aire' Duarte
(aka Akcent Da Just Poet) who was a
co-worker, though each worked in different
departments. In late 1997, Mike and Aire'
formed Open Mind Productions as a means of
blessing people with righteous lyrics as
ambassadors of Christ. With the use of
electric bass guitar, a drum machine and a
couple of effects pedals, the pair began
co-writing songs such as the stripped down
funk, hip-hop and dancehall tracks "The
Scripture" and "Time To
Repent".
"Keepin' It Real
(With GOD)", "Lake Of Fire"
and "Hold On" were written in the
winter of 2000 as part of a new project. The
result was a natural evolution to Roots
& Akcent- a duo whose sound would be
based in reggae. Meeting up with producer
and engineer Winston Spence, the duo brought
him a tape of rough acoustic versions of a
few of their songs. They settled on
"Keepin' It Real (With GOD)" and
"Lake Of Fire" as selections to be
included on a CD single which would also
include dub versions of each. The
"Keepin' It Real" CD was released
in the summer of 2001.
After meeting a couple of years earlier,
Roots was approached by friend and roots
reggae gospel artist Wayne Stoddart with an
offer to assist in recording some
compositions he had penned, Working at Nyah
Productions in Bronx, NY along with
owner/engineer Bunny Jeffrey and engineer
Noel "Jacko" Jackson, the results
of these sessions include songs such as
"Two Roads", "Send Up"
and "Hard Times- the latter with music
recorded and produced in Jamaica featuring
Dean Fraser on saxophone along with other
top musicians.
In late 2003, Roots was introduced to and
later began collaborating with Jah Servant,
an artist, producer and
multi-instrumentalist working out of his
Servant's Quarter's Studio located at that
time in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Their
first venture was a tune called "Fight
Against", composed and voiced on Jah
Servant's "Freedom" riddim.
Numerous other tracks were to follow,
including "Gospel Fire" and
"Feed The Children"- both included
on 2004's "Unity Riddim Sessions Vol.
1".
Now available is the
debut solo album from Mike Roots, titled
"Freedom & Struggle". The disc
contains 13 tracks and features a number of
special guests including Wayne Stoddart,
Dwight Schroeter and Leary Marshall. The
uplifting single "Hard Times" even
features some lovely sax work from the
legendary Dean Fraser. Most of the tracks
were a collaborative effort between Mike
Roots and Jah Servant, (who played most of
the instruments and handled the majority of
production). In similar fashion, Stoddart
produced and created a few of the rhythm
tracks as well.
Describing the title, Mike Roots says
"The freedom is in that found in
Yeshua, the Saviour, while the struggle is
in the spiritual battle and dealing with
things such as poverty, wickedness,
infirmities and temptation. When I look at
world around me (and myself too) I see some
set free, some captive and all
struggling in one way or another. When I
speak of struggle, I mean the battle to
live righteous in a fallen world and with a
flawed self. The title of this album wasn't
chosen until after the songs were written
and recorded and I stepped back to look at
what they were saying as a whole. The songs
are definitely personal, yet I feel they're
not just for me." Containing mostly
roots reggae material, "Freedom &
Struggle" also includes a couple of
disco (extended) mixes, an acoustic
"unplugged" tune and more.
While the songs on the album are personal
reflections, Mike Roots displays the ability
to continue in the tradition of classic
roots reggae by communicating a message that
speaks to the common man. Whether it's in
the organ-drenched gospel reggae mover
"Send Up", the deeper roots of
"Come Unity", the intensity
of "Gospel Fire" and "Two Roads"
or the sweet rub-a-dub vibes of
"Feed The Children" and
"Fight Against", there is an
undeniable musical appeal and relevance in
the album "Freedom &
Struggle." From a production
standpoint, there are no recycled (or
remade) rhythms here though you may well
here a hint of familiarity in some of them.
The artistry and production skills of Jah
Servant are a highlight throughout
"Freedom & Struggle" and prove
to be the ideal compliment to the
songwriting and singing of Mike Roots.
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