Rootdown
Encyclopedia
ROOTDOWN is a rock band with reggae and hip-hop undertones. Formed in 2007 by American Singer-Songwriter Paul Wright, the Oregon
-based group released their debut album ROOTDOWN EP in 2007. The band is best known for the song "Taking Over Me" from their second album "Summer of Love", which charted in the top fifteen of the Air 1
radio chart. ROOTDOWN also has other accomplishments from "Summer of Love" including rising to as high as number 6 on the iTunes
top reggae albums chart. They have shared the stage with such notable musicians as Pepper
, Tyrone Wells
, and many others.
They most recently showcased at the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) West Conference where they were booked by over 25 college campuses in the Western region. Rootdown tours primarily on the West coast, playing shows from San Diego to Seattle but most recently have branched out touring on the East Coast in the Spring of 2009 playing shows in Washington, DC down to Jacksonville, Florida
. In 2009, they have played at such campuses as Oregon State University
, Mount Hood Community College
, Corban College, CSU Monterey Bay, Northwest Christian University and Western Oregon University
.
They are releasing both of their EPs as one album in Japan in the Spring of 2010 under the record label Surf Rock International based out of Japan
and distributed by Pony Canyon
.
), Jackson Michelson (bass guitar
and vocals), Matt Salinas (guitar
) and Craig Paulsen (drums and percussion).
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
-based group released their debut album ROOTDOWN EP in 2007. The band is best known for the song "Taking Over Me" from their second album "Summer of Love", which charted in the top fifteen of the Air 1
Air 1
Air1 is a Christian music radio network in the United States, operated by the non-profit organization EMF Broadcasting. Air 1 is essentially a Top-40 station with Christian Music - so many of the rules that commercial Top-40 stations use for musical rotation apply.-History:In 1986, KLRD began...
radio chart. ROOTDOWN also has other accomplishments from "Summer of Love" including rising to as high as number 6 on the iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
top reggae albums chart. They have shared the stage with such notable musicians as Pepper
Pepper (band)
Pepper is a rock band originally from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The band's music is often classified as a combination of reggae, dub and rock. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Kaleo Wassman, vocalist/bassist Bret Bollinger, and drummer Yesod Williams...
, Tyrone Wells
Tyrone Wells
Tyrone Wells is a singer/songwriter in the folk-pop genre from Spokane, Washington. His songs have been featured in television shows Tyrone Wells is a singer/songwriter in the folk-pop genre from Spokane, Washington. His songs have been featured in television shows Tyrone Wells is a...
, and many others.
They most recently showcased at the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) West Conference where they were booked by over 25 college campuses in the Western region. Rootdown tours primarily on the West coast, playing shows from San Diego to Seattle but most recently have branched out touring on the East Coast in the Spring of 2009 playing shows in Washington, DC down to Jacksonville, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. In 2009, they have played at such campuses as Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
, Mount Hood Community College
Mount Hood Community College
Mt. Hood Community College is a public community college in Gresham, Oregon, United States, named after Mount Hood. Opened in 1966, MHCC enrolls nearly 26,000 students each year and offers classes at the main campus in Gresham, the MHCC Maywood Park Center, and evening education centers at area...
, Corban College, CSU Monterey Bay, Northwest Christian University and Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University is a public liberal arts college located in Monmouth, Oregon, United States. It was originally established in 1856 by Oregon pioneers as Monmouth University. Subsequent names include Oregon Normal School, Oregon College of Education, and Western Oregon State College...
.
They are releasing both of their EPs as one album in Japan in the Spring of 2010 under the record label Surf Rock International based out of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and distributed by Pony Canyon
Pony Canyon
is a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966 , which publishes music, DVD and VHS videos, movies and video games. It is a subsidiary of Japanese Media Group, Fujisankei Communications Group.-History:...
.
Composition
ROOTDOWN was formed in 2007, and currently consists of Paul Wright (vocals and acoustic guitarAcoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
), Jackson Michelson (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and vocals), Matt Salinas (guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
) and Craig Paulsen (drums and percussion).
Current members
- Paul Wright – vocals, acoustic guitar (2007–present)
- Jackson Michelson – bass, vocals (2008–present)
- Matt Salinas – electric guitar (2009–present)
- Craig Paulsen – drums, percussion (2007–present)
Guest musicians
- Tim Hemphill – trumpet, percussion (2007–present)
- Chris Rogers – saxophone (2009–present)
Past members
- Justin Fish – bass, vocals (2007)
- Jesiah Dzwonek – keyboard (2007–2008)
- Zane Fischer – guitar, vocals (2007–2008)
- Dylan Wages – bass (2008)
- Markos Photinos – drums (2008)
ROOTDOWN EP (2007)
- Real Love
- Don't Walk Away
- Pick Up Yourself
- Roots
Summer of Love (2009)
- Sweet Love
- Summertime In The City
- Taking Over Me
- Burrito Boy
- Baby Come Back
Tidal Wave (2011)
- Good Day
- Tidal Wave
- All I Wanna Do
- Golden
- You’re Mine
- Storm Warning
- Growing Up
- HB
- Karl Malone In a Cowboy Hat
- Weekend
External links
- Official band website
- Eugene WeeklyEugene WeeklyThe Eugene Weekly is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Eugene, Oregon. The paper, published every Thursday, has a circulation of 39,850. It publishes an annual "Best of Eugene" list, a restaurant guide , and special sections on festivals, music, wine, health, and travel....
: ROOTDOWN's "Summertime" - Corvallis Gazette Times: Courtyard Music Festival welcomes new students with music, eats
- The AdvocateThe AdvocateThe Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
: Rootdown rocks New Student Orientation - ThePier.org: ROOTDOWN Artist Interview