jnj: Please tell me how you teamed up and formed Groove Stu?
Groove Stu: The Groove Stu story begins with a phone call. Bassist Myron Missouri contacted keyboardist/vocalist Omar Sharif saying he wanted to start a band that encompassed many different styles of music. After the direction of that vision was decided they started recruiting members that they thought would work well for the sound they envisioned. Missouri recruited guitarist/vocalist Tony Love, Sharif recruited keyboardist Ramel Nicholson. Rapper Jerrod Simpson was recruited through a mutual friend. While playing a local night club vocalist Tiffany Countess asked could she sit in with the band and was immediately brought into the fold. We have had several drummers before settling on drummer Earl Campbell. Background vocalist Jerrita Davis, and percussionist Antiwan Decatur round out the line up.


jnj: What does your band's name Groove Stu mean?
Groove Stu: We choose the name Groove Stu because we thought it best described our sound. We look at it like a musical stew. Each member brings a special ingredient to the table. That why we are able to do so many types of music, our influences vary from member to member. We think that's the secret to the versatility. We do not try and stifle anyone's flavor, instead we try to learn from it.


jnj: How would you describe your music?
Groove Stu: The music is very hard to describe because it varies so much. We just like to say it's soul music because that's where it comes from. When you listen to Groove Stu you get a mixture R&B, reggae, hip hop, and jazz.


jnj: What is it like to work in a nine piece band? I imagine it a little difficult at times to find a compromise with so much people involved.
Groove Stu: Actually it's really easy because we all work very well together, everyone's input is vital to how the music comes across. We have a lot of trust in each others abilities and we think it comes across in the music. We all see things pretty much the same way, and our bond goes much deeper than the music.


jnj: In the information, your manager Demitri McDaniel has sent me, it says that you also "make it a point to stay involved in strengthening and uplifting our community". Please tell me more about it.
Groove Stu: We regularly donate our time to causes that help people. We think it's important that people who don't normally get a chance to experience live music get a chance to see what it's all about. A lot of the music of today is computer generated, and the youth of today don't know how to play instruments. It gives us great pleasure to share our gifts with anyone who is interested.


jnj: Your album Authentic 4.10 Sessions is very versatile music wise. Don't you think that this may be a little bit confusing for some radio stations or magazines who like to pigeonhole music?
Groove Stu: Yeah we agree it can be confusing to those that have to put a label on things, but the sound of our music is who we are. Also we make our music for everyone to enjoy from small kids to the elderly. Our project has something for everyone. Our hope was that our music in some way would be a staple in the different genres. For the hip hop stations there is something for them, R&B stations we have something for you, reggae stations we have you covered, and so on. We really dread labels because they are so limiting. We don't ever want to be confined to one style of music. In our eyes that is a handicap.


jnj: Right now you're an independent act. Would it be an option for you to sign with a major label or do you think it's better to have full control about your music?
Groove Stu: We wouldn't mind signing to a major if they saw our vision, and wanted to do a fair deal. Our artistic integrity is extremely important to us. We want to be able to control how our music is presented to the masses. We want our music to stand or fall on it's own, not because we were force to do something we didn't want to do.


jnj: What do you think of the internet as medium to bring your music to the people, to promote it and to sell it online?
Groove Stu: The internet is a blessing for the independent artist. We have reached so many people across the world with the touch of a button. There are people in countries across the globe we have never visited, that love Groove Stu's music. That's very exciting.


jnj: Who are the artists that have influenced you the most and with whom of today's music scene would you like to work together?
Groove Stu: Our influences span a wide range of artists. Some of the artist that have influenced us include Sly & the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Chaka Khan, Mint Condition, and Prince. Some of today's artists we are digging and would like to work with include Jill Scott, the Roots, Faith Evans, and No Doubt to name a few.