When one first meets Michael Rosen, there is this WALL of energy and positivity …that just EMANATES from him. After having been in a band with him for a number of years, I can genuinely say…He LOVES his work.
To say that he is a Renaissance man…is really an understatement. He plays Drums, Harmonica, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards and Sings…records, engineers, mixes…and just as a little side hustle…is a published photographer. His parents, both originally from the Ukraine.. emigrated to Montreal… on the heels of the ‘Pogrom, Jewish genocide. Dinah Steinberg and Moe Rosen…met and were married…in a place where they were safe and could raise a family…Once settled, Moe got into the clothes business. The Rosen kids grew up in an nice upper middle class neighborhood….but interestingly, there were no other musicians in Michael’s family, except him.
One afternoon when Michael was 13 years old, Michael’s brother Ira came home with 1 and a half drumsticks…and turned on the radio and started drumming out a beat on the arm of a chair. Michael was FASCINATED by how much fun that looked like. Soon after, he found his way into percussion in high school concert band… and at 13 into a neighbor’s band (who he is STILL best friends with, 56 years later). One day, Michael just walked down the street and knocked on the door and said…”I heard you’ve got a band together…do you need a drummer?” They called themselves ‘THE WEEDS” (having nothing to do with Pot, ironically) and played The Beach Boys and Beatles…at the local frat house parties, by 16 years old they were the hottest band in town!
This began Michael’s much varied interest in different styles of music. He can play rock and roll …he also plays classical percussion and dips into the blues ...which he got into years go…while still in Montreal. Seeking more gigs, prompted a quick stop in Toronto, which wasn’t QUITE warm enough… and then eventually to Los Angeles to seek his fortune…with about 600 bucks in his pocket.
I get the impression that the Los Angeles music scene, never had a chance against Michael Rosen’s endless enthusiasm for playing, writing music and recording. He played in a lot of rock and roll and New Wave bands…at Madame Wong's and the Troubadour , just to name a few. Along the way he continued to Mix and engineer for various artists…including recording and playing for quite a few big bands. Starting around 1988 or so…Michael played and recorded with the big bands of Joe May, and Ernie Marchain , Woody James, Kevin L. Hiatt, and Bob Couto…to this day he still plays with quite a few of those bands! Jazz and Big band drumming…is a really specialty area…and luckily for The Outrageous8…he really grooves in those styles.
Around about 2004, Michael found himself planning a trip to Europe and Israel and eventually Paris. I quote him when I say…he got out of the train in Paris…and exclaimed…I LOVE IT HERE.
A couple of weeks of jazz drumming in the local places in Paris…and a two year turn as vocalist and guitar player for an American jazz group there…about bring us up to where I encountered Michael, playing for an 18 piece big band.. It’s an unusual thing, subbing as a female vocalist with an 18 piece big band.
A sure 50 percent of the people resent (this includes men and women) would be very happy if the band ONLY played instrumentals…everyone else is on the fence.
Not Michael…a big smile and all around comments of encouragement are sown as Michael finishes a rehearsal or gig. That same incredibly positive attitude and unbelievable storehouse of energy is always evident with Michael.
Because he LOVES his job.
Interview and article by Angela O’Neill