My Fucking Story
When I was 5 I thought all music way “gay” except Michael Jackson and George Michael… ironic, huh? I was a weird kid, and a geek – only liked science. Well here’s how I wound up not only loving music, but becoming a musician who totally ebraces his artistic, gayish side…
Gangsta Rap hooked me when my cousins showed me at 8 yrs old – loved it, but was scared to “be” that guy. Too violent, plus I hated calling other black people “nigga,” never fully understood that
Mom then FORCED me to play music at age 11, so I chose clarinet because I was (and am) a geek, but also clarinet was took no “effort” to carry around. I loathed the idea of playing it at first.
At age 12 I joined to a “Gifted and Talented Education” program, which basically means I moved to an all white classroom. This kid named Andy saw I was lonely, walked right up to me and asked, “do you like rock”? I said “No, there’s not enough bass.” He said “Yeah there is, come over after school and I’ll show you some rock.” I went over and he showed me Red Hot Chili Peppers featuring Flea on bass, and I became hooked on rock. Andy and I became best friends.
In fact Andy played electric guitar, and had a hot chick friend who played drums in has “band”. They needed a bassist so I looked for a teacher and found Mike Kelly, who was not only blind, he was the best bassist I ever saw. Its ironic that I’m loosing my vision and I’m scared I won’t pass my next driving test.
I leaned all the tricks from Mike: slapping, tapping, finger funk, he showed me Victor Wooten… It was a magical. I joined Andy’s band, we had 3 rehearsals and I stopped returning his calls. He was kinda bossy but I still love that kid…
I met two new friends who were great songwriters, and I hadn’t yet written a song at that point, so I backed them up – played bass for one of them and drums for the other (I had no money for a kit at the time but one of them had one). In fact THEY didn’t like each other, but they BOTH inspired me to write my 1st song. However, my songs were different…
You see, they were both “folk” songwriters, and don’t get me wrong I love the melody, storytelling, lyrics and poetic justice of folk. I was bored with the same old folk song – and plus just look at me, I don’t fit that bill. I’m no folk singer, I got a funky hair style, I love funky music and I wear funky shirts.
I always wanted there to be more groove in a “good” song, but not so much groove that it overshadows the song. Groove ain’t the focus, this ain’t R&B, but I was also frustrated with the lack of funk in my favorite songwriter’s fingers. Its like, “Eeyaah! Love your lyrics sir, but my head ain’t bobbin’ one bit, and that makes my neck stiff! But again, this ain’t funk! I sang in a “funk” band and that was borrring. I mean, I’m related to Larry Graham of Sly and The Family Stone, so no disrespect! I just need so more “song” in funk music and more “funk” in singer/songwriter music.
There’s no title for what I do, but someone once told me “You’re like Victor Wooten sitting on a stool and singing us a song!” I’ll take it. Its lonely out there as a “Funk” singer songwriter and its weird being on the cutting edge of style, but More and more people are catching on: Chris Tucker, Bernie Sanders and Yo-yo Ma have all had me open for them in some capacity. You can’t put me in a box, and therefore I attract a diverse array of fans and big artists who are helping support me so that’s a positive! Lol I call it Brian Rogers Neighborhood.
“Brian Rogers Music” is truly a fresh sound that I dreamed up y’all, and that’s my fucking story 🙂 . Basically I’m living my dream, and while its tough to break through, its working because I like it and nobody can stop it from happening. I hope you’ll join me on this uphill battle, because when we win, there’s no better feeling, or sound. As a part of “Brian Rogers Neighborhood,” you make the dream, and the new sound, all possible 🙂
Please take a moment to listen to “Dreaming Seed”, which kicked all this shit all off and features my signature sound and literally my immediate Neighborhood adding flavor: my friends are some of the best damn musicians on Earth y’all, I’m lucky they believe in the mission! Even those two guys who don’t like each other! lol
Thanks for being a listener and making our new sound, my dream, a reality.
-Brian
