Jeff Root / The Root Cellar

*** A software engineer by trade, Jeff has been active at various levels in the greater Boston music scene since 1978, performing with acts as varied as J. Geils, Edgar Winter, Johnny A, NRBQ, Mission Of Burma, Human Sexual Response, Rick Berlin and The Real Kids. *** Jeff's first collaborated with the legendary Martin Olson, comedy writer of Rocko's Modern Life, SpongeBob and Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular fame, on four albums in the mid-70's: "Idiot's Delight" (1974) , touted by Sir George Martin as: "the best home-recorded disc I have ever heard", also stating that: "It's a pity there is an ocean between us". Being the provincially-minded neophytes that they were, neither Jeff nor Martin gleaned that it would be a good idea to arrange a meeting with the great man and fly over to England. "Bound for Hell" (1975) "Brain Damage" (1976) "Miss America" (1977) *** In 1978, Jeff started the Boston-based band Hot Dates with collaborator Rob Millett and Grant Clark, Sam Simcoe and Mitch Kary, which became a local favorite and placed fifth in the 1979 WBCN Rumble at the Rat. Jeff initially conceived Hot Dates as a musical comedy revue. Collaborating with acclaimed, surreal comedian Steven Wright, Jeff and Hot Dates first performed at an Inman Square club which later became the Ding Ho Comedy Club. Hot Dates had one local hit with the Root-Millett penned, "Tune Into Me". Hot Dates later released a self-titled LP recorded on the Boston Skyline label, owned/operated by Wayne Wadhams of Fifth Estate and Candid Camera theme song fame. *** After Hot Dates ran its course, Jeff formed a partnership with award-winning Rob Carlson of Barker Gang / Dell Smart fame to form Einstein which released "Black & White" in 1986. *** Jeff then 'retired from the music biz' for 12 years to pursue his passion for software development and to raise a family of three (Zachary, Adrienne and Rebecca) with his lovely wife Diane, only recording sporadically with his family in his basement studio. *** In 1998, Jeff recorded his first solo album, "The Spirit Of '67", which features drummers Kim Miller and Tom Ruckey, guitarist John Vedoe, bassists Kris Lucander and Zack Root, reed player Zack Chadwick, and his daughters Adrienne Root and Rebecca Root as well as the wonderful engineering of John Little. *** Jeff and drummer Kim Miller released the quirky "Ordinary Guise" in November of 2001, which received many glowing reviews and became a popular internet hit with the songs, "21'st Century Girl", "Dirty Money" and "Ordinary Girl". *** In 2004, Jeff released "Angst Cretin", which featured the drumming of Kim Miller as well as the talents of Rob Carlson, Rob Millett, Sam Simcoe, Kris Lucander, Tom Ruckey, Zack Root and David Schlier. *** In 2006 Jeff released "Kerouac King Kong" which features the imaginary hits, 'My Mary Magdalene Lady', 'Kerouac King King' and 'FUBAR'. *** Jeff just finished "Toadstool of the Realm" and has been eagerly pursuing audio production work and film/tv song placements. *** In his Root Cellar studio, Jeff also has also produced albums for Mark Fisher, Lee Villeneuve, Nate Smith, Marty Nestor, G.S. Picard, Karl Sharicz, Ashbrook Haynes, Reuban Bellingham and many others. *** The graphics for all of Jeff's albums as well as the albums of many of Jeff's audio production clientele were designed and created by his lovely wife, Diane. *** Jeff's music might best be described as a highly imaginative and idiosyncratic blend of captivating pop melodies, rock-tinged social commentary and fun, inspired by the work of sixties groups like The Beatles, The Kinks and The Lovin' Spoonful with a little Beck, Cake, and Chuck Berry mixed in. *** Jeff's plans to produce one album of his own music each year as he continues to enjoy the comraderie and inspiration of fellow musical conspirators and wild-eyed dreamers.