Mike Cady
Rehearse Live, LLC

Michael Cady was Maple Street Guitar's bass specialist for 30 years. He has been teaching bass and guitar for over 30 years and performing for over 35 years.

He has been adding his expertise at camp not only on bass and guitar, but on quick arrangements and transpositions to help the students, ever since camp opened in 2005. During lunch at camp, Mike can often be found teaching kids yo-yo tricks.

Mike has studied under many teachers including Jim Woody, Lyn Deramus, David Fisher, Frank Carter, Rich Nanista, Michael Moore, Ted Howe, Mary Akerman, Sid Wolf, Jackie Pickett, and Don Strand. This variety of teachers has given him unusual insight into teaching techniques. He has taken what he considers to be the most effective methods of his various teachers and developed them into his own pedagogy.

A lover of "low and loud," in addition to his main instrument - the seven-string bass - he also plays the four-string electric bass, guitar, upright bass, tuba, and trombone.

In 2018 Mike purchased and renovated a building for an all-purpose music facility. That year, ARBC began what we all hope will be a long-term relationship by holding our camp in Rehearse Live. It is the best facility we have ever had to hold our camp, and we're delighted with Mike's successful new business!

Eskil Wetterqvist
eskilw.com

Eskil has been performing and recording since the age of 12, in the U.S. and abroad, with Mudcat, What the...?, Orange Hat, RainHouse, Big Sky, and David Ragsdale ( Violinist with Kansas ), among many others. In addition to drumming, he is a vocalist/multi-instrumentalist, and composer/arranger. He has been teaching for over 20 years, and has been a camp counselor for over 10 years.

He constantly pushes to further his performance, and teaching knowledge and skills, recently adding Congas, and Tablas to his percussive abilities. In 2019 he wrote, and scored the music for the musical, Second Chances, which culminated in 3 sold out performances at the University Of Florida, in Gainesville, FL.

"Every session at Atlanta Rock And Blues over the years has always been a new adventure, with a new set of experiences, challenges and triumphs. I never fail to get misty-eyed at certain points of all the Friday concerts!"

Jeep Hook
www.myspace.com/hookhouse

Born in the United Kingdom, Jeep Hook began his career as a touring musician for Talk Talk, the hugely successful 80’s band whose song "It’s My Life " was recently covered by Gwen Stefani of No Doubt and for Basia, the Polish Jazz singer signed to Columbia. Jeep was later signed to Virgin Records as part of the blue-eyed soul duo, Millions Like Us. Since then he has owned and operated successful recording studios in London, Los Angeles, and now in Atlanta with hookhouse studios.

Jeep has recorded and produced a wide variety of music including Hip Hop and Rap, Rock and R’n’B. He is also a talented songwriter, always willing to nurture emerging talent. We at camp know him as a dedicated teacher, committed to helping young musicians. Jeep brings his skills in songwriting and recording, as well as his creative musicianship in playing guitar, bass, keyboards and drums. Jeep masters the CDs of all camp concerts, which gives them a great professional polish.

Jeep is married and has a teenage son and a daughter Sophia Joi, born on the same day in 2006 he began teaching at camp! He has coached youth sports in DeKalb County for over ten years, and is well-known by several of our campers in that role.

Micki González
www.VoiceandPianobyMicki.com

Micki González is the owner/operator of the Atlanta Rock 'n Blues Camp. As the mom of a guitar student, she got to see first hand how the talented middle schoolers around her son struggled to find ways to learn to play as band musicians. She suggested a summer camp designed to teach performance skills, working with a band, and performing challenging repertoire, all within an intense but fun week of playing and singing. And so it was that the rock and blues camp was born in 2005. Over the years the teaching model has been shaped and honed by the performer/teachers on staff, and it now can boast of fielding the most polished and challenging performances - solely by the campers - at our famous Friday night show.

Micki has a B.M. and M.M. from Florida State University in Music History and Literature, and Theory. She studied voice, piano and choral conducting, and composition, along with performance practices from 1300 - present. She received a M.Div from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, studying voice, conducting and organ, and has had a long career in both traditional and contemporary church music. She is well-known in the Atlanta community for turning out solid students in both piano and voice, and maintains an online studio as well as one at Rehearse Live.

Richie Jones
www.richiejonesdrummer.com

Richie Jones is a hardworking musician dedicated to music through the art of drumming. At a young age, Richie was beating the stuffing out of his mother's couch pillows, which landed him in trouble many times. By the age of 12, he had become inspired by rock music, rhythm and blues, funk, reggae, and all things groove. His early musical influences provided him with a foundation to play creatively, dynamically, and with strong backing vocals and harmonies. In high school, Richie played tenor/baritone sax, the quads, and bass drum, as well as steel drums which broadened his musical landscape.

By the time Richie enrolled at Florida State University, he had been playing in bands touring the Southeast, and had experienced opening for Government Mule, The Derek Trucks Band, B.B. King, and Maceo Parker.

From the jam/funk driven grooves of Deep Blue Sun, the americana singer/songwriters Ralph Roddenbery, Caroline Aiken, Taylor Martin, or the slide screaming' roots of the Donna Hopkins Band, Richie has been establishing himself as a versatile and proficient musician in Atlanta's music community for the past 14 years.

Presently, Richie is fully dedicating his time and skills to session work, gigging and teaching. Whether in a club environment or on a festival stage, Richie is always ready to sit back and let the music take him. When not in the studio or touring, he teaches both children and adults the art and passion of playing drums and percussion. "Working at Rock and Blues camp has been an incredible experience. The environment is dedicated to creating a unique life long stage/performance experience. The kids love it, we love teaching them, and the end performance proves that hard work and passion will pay off 100%!"

Ben Farmer

Ben Farmer is an Atlanta-based guitarist/singer/songwriter. He was born in Decatur, GA where his love of music was fostered in marching band, church choir, and the garages of various friends' houses. He finished high school as drum major of the Decatur High School Marching Band and attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he graduated with a degree in guitar performance and songwriting.

Ben has been a part of music scenes all over the United States, from Boston to Nashville to San Francisco and Los Angeles. In 2004, he returned to Atlanta to build a music career out of his hometown. He has stayed busy since, working as both bandleader and sideman, a respected music teacher, and as a session guitarist, all the while further developing his unique voice as a writer and player.

George Martin
https://www.GeorgeMartini.com

George began study of the piano at age 5 with a retired faculty member from the Juilliard School of Music. Following a move to Atlanta George began studies with the highly respected piano instructor Dr Oliver Herbert during elementary, middle and high school.

At around age 14 George put together his first band that later developed into a versatile 5 piece band that replicated songs from emerging bands of the time like Emerson Lake and Palmer, Yes and Kansas as well as southern Rock and Roll such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman brothers band. His bands placed and won Battle of the Bands competition several years in a row at North Ga Fairgrounds.

Directly out of high school George went on the road with a band from Philadelphia, touring the Southeast playing top name clubs in Georgia, Nashville and Louisville. After a year of touring George decided to take his music to the next level with a degree in Piano performance from Ga State University. While studying more formal music at GSU, he also studied jazz improvisation with former faculty of the Berklee School of Music in Boston Mass - Ted Howe- an Atlanta Jazz icon as both performer and Instructor.

After college, George began working as music director for several showroom style entertainers, including as main keyboardist for The Ruperts Orchestra, consulted with REM keyboardist Peter Holsapple for REMs first major tour, and eventually became touring keyboardist for R&B Electra Asylum Peabo Bryson, recording and arranging synthesizers on two major albums: "Quiet Storm" and "Positive".

Today George performs solo for private events and local 4 and 5 star restaurants and music venues- and also teaches at several teaching studios here in Atlanta with an California based online school that takes students from around the world.

Neil Young

Neil Young is an Atlanta based guitarist, vocalist and singer-songwriter. Neil was born in Brookhaven, GA and has been playing guitar since he first discovered Willie Nelson at the age of 11. It was then when he began a long relationship with Atlanta Rock 'n Blues Camp, first honing his skills as a player and performer. From there he began instructing others at the age of 17 and continued to do so while studying Psychology at the University of London. While living in London, Neil played at various historic venues throughout the city and helped organize events in the local DIY music scene. Through the years he has amassed a considerable amount of experience playing blues, jazz, soul, rock, pop and indie rock.

Neil has played in many groups around Atlanta while also working sound and production for various local artists. He recently released his debut album. Currently, when not playing gigs, working sound, or in the studio, Neil can be found teaching guitar and bass at Rehearse Live in Doraville. Drawing inspiration from various sources, Neil hopes to continue to hone his craft, finding a unique voice through which to record, sing, and play guitar, while teaching to help others find a unique voice of their own.

Billy Thornton

Billy Thornton is a multi-instrumentalist who has resided in the Atlanta area since 2014. He grew up in Tifton, Georgia playing music with his father and brothers before he moved to Jacksonville, FL to study upright bass at the University of North Florida. He has been playing full time since 2000 in addition to periodically teaching on the college level at Jacksonville University in Florida and Georgia State University.

Billy plays upright bass, electric bass, guitar, and sings as part of his regular performance schedule. He also spends a fair amount of his down time working with middle school and high school stage bands through the Rialto Jazz for Kids program and as a part time employee of the Mount Vernon School.

Many of his former students are still playing and teaching in Florida and Georgia, and some of his former private students are currently enrolled in the music programs at Eastman School of Music, Berklee College of Music, and UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music.

As a performer, Billy is well versed in most styles of American and Western music styles including rock 'nroll, jazz, blues, country, reggae, and pop. He can also easily explain to an eager young learner how to convincingly play in many kinds of situations. Most importantly, Billy shows an easy respect for young people who are trying to learn music. Never condescending, he treats them as equals in the lifelong pursuit of music.

Adam Mesbahi

Adam's musical journey began in 3rd grade when he discovered the alto saxophone, a fascination that ignited a lifelong passion for music. From his earliest years, Adam immersed himself in a combination of concert, jazz, and honors bands throughout his K-12 education and into college.

Under the guidance of esteemed mentors like prestigious local tutor and jazz saxophonist Will Scruggs and GRAMMY® award-winning jazz saxophonist David Sánchez, Adam honed his craft, drawing inspiration from their expertise and wisdom.

Beyond the stage, Adam found joy in sharing his knowledge. His teaching journey started with tutoring math and reading at Kumon, later expanding to educating students at the Alliance Theatre on subjects like improv comedy and musical theatre.

Today, Adam composes, produces, and performs for both jazz and hip-hop horn sections at Georgia State University, the university he attends. In addition, Adam is part of both the jazz and classical programs at GSU, performing for Jazz Combos and the Georgia State Wind Orchestra. Adam plays alto saxophone, bass clarinet, and recorder, with a versatile understanding of other instruments as a result of his composition and theory studies.

photo credit: @sunspotshots on instagram