Grooveland

Grooveland is a concept. Simply put, the band explores the branches that make up the rock and roll tree. Blues, jazz, classic rock and country all appear on a Grooveland set list.

Started by drummer Michael Miller, Grooveland began with encouragement from Atlanta guitar legend Barry Richman in 2001.

Sam Hudson had been performing in various acoustic and band settings in the Atlanta area over the past 20 years. He was first smitten by rock and roll while surfing on his FM radio in the late 60’s, landing on a non-commercial station in Atlanta that played the then other-worldly sounds of Jimi Hendrix, Spirit and the Allman Brothers. Attending college in Macon, Sam got a birds-eye view of the burgeoning southern rock scene as the Allmans, Elvin Bishop, Bonnie Bramlett and others often road tested their material in the college’s concert hall. After graduation, he was part of a country-rock project that included Atlanta WSB’s Radio’s traffic reporter, Captain Herb Emery, and Travis Tritt bassist Jon Bonnett. Other sporadic part-time projects followed until Sam began studying with Atlanta guitar legend Barry Richman. Barry recommended him for a slot in Grooveland, and the rest, they say.

Jim Keisel Born in Wyandotte, Michigan and hung around with local bands Mitch Ryder, Ted Nugent, Bob Seger and MC5. Then started playing acoustic with songs from Peter, Paul and Mary, Chad Mitchell Trio and Bob Dylan. Joined the service in 1975 and played bass for a Michigan band called Rosewood. Auditioned for DMA, who managed Aerosmith and Ted Nugent playing rock and roll. Married for 25 years, with three sons, then moved to Atlanta and started playing blues, sitting in with Snake Doctor and hitting open mic nights. Joined the Dixie Flyers for 2 years and played with Chicago Joe and Larry Griifith, Blues Devils and Kathy Carllile. Played at Fat Matt’s, Daddy D’s, Jackal’s, Pipers, The Lazy Dog, The Zoo, The Tavern, The Last Great Watering Hole and The Four Winds. Also belongs to a doo-wop group, Butch and the Teardrops, and has three cd’s out.

Katie McKemie

Vocals

Katie is a Georgia-born, Kentucky transplant who recently added her vocal stylings to the Grooveland mix. At the tender age of 21 Katie is the youngest (by far) member of the band. She comes from Cynthiana, Kentucky whose claim to fame is the county fair scene in the Blues Brothers 2000 movie. She started her on her musical career at the tender age of 7 with piano lessons (against her will!) and moved on to classical guitar lessons (which she hated) before giving up on musical instruments. Katie then took two years of vocal lessons before getting kicked for talking too much! After a short stint with the now defunct Lexington, Kentucky band Bucko. For the past three years she has been attending Emory University as a Film and English major. At Katie's first show with Grooveland a club patron dubbed Katie 'The Little Girl with the Big Voice'.

“and on Drums” Michael Lee Miller Michael, like most musicians, began in the 7th grade playing drums in the school’s marching band. By high school, rock and roll had taken the place of the school band and he was busy building a strong reputation playing in bands around music-rich Austin, Texas. After going off to the University of Houston Michael hooked up with a sax player that had been touring Europe with Paul Anka. He spent his college years playing with jazz musicians in Houston. Michael says the experience is one of the most memorable of his career, hooking up with such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Jane Forrester and the one and only Buddy Rich. Then, off to Atlanta and a career in the real world. Now an established, successful businessman and with the encouragement and invaluable advice from Barry Richman, Michael is back. He has worked hard and with the support of his love, Karen White, has been accepted into the local music community. Grooveland is Michael’s concept forming a band of great musicians featuring “Friends of Grooveland”, some of the best and most respected musicians in Atlanta and the United States. Michael is taking the roots of American music, the blues, and following the branches that lead to Rock and Roll, Country and Jazz.

Grooveland plays bars, private engagements and concerts. It is what the band lives for. The special moments happen when our friends, who just happen to be among Atlanta's finest musicians, get up to jam.

Allman Bros., Susan Tedeshi, Barry Richman, NRBQ.

Sam Hudson- Guitar and Vocals

Jim Keisel- Bass and Vocals

Katie McKemie-Vocals

Michael Miller- Drums and vocals