Mike Roots Bio
Born Michael Killiany on March 1, 1969 in Winsted, CT, Mike
Roots took to music at an early age to find solace and comfort in a troubled
upbringing.
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".
For more information contact:
Star Recordings starrecordings@sbcglobal.net
Mike Roots mroots@optonline.net