Ed Roland
Encyclopedia
Edgar Eugene Roland III was born August 3, 1963 in Stockbridge, Georgia. He is an American
musician
and vocalist of the alternative rock
band Collective Soul
. He is the primary songwriter
and also contributes guitars, keyboards, producing, and engineering.
at Berklee College of Music
in Boston
for one year. He was the lead engineer
and producer
at Real 2 Reel Studios in Stockbridge, Georgia
for eight years. In 1985, he was in a band called The Eddie Band and another during the late 1980s and early 1990s called Marching Two-Step, which also included future producer and music executive Matt Serletic
, future executive Michelle Rhea Caplinger and longtime Collective Soul drummer Shane Evans. Roland released an indie
album called Ed-E Roland in 1991. The album was meant to showcase his abilities to compose, record, and produce his own original music.
Ed changed the name of his band to Collective Soul with hopes of finding success in the music business. Not finding success, however, Roland became frustrated and almost gave up on the music industry. He had been active in the local Georgia
music scene since the early 1980s. Despite the initial rejections, Collective Soul independently released Hints, Allegations & Things Left Unsaid
in 1993 on a label called Rising Storm. It was a compilation of some of Roland's songwriting demos created when he worked at Real 2 Reel Studios.
This collection eventually caught the attention of a college radio station in Orlando, Florida. Several other college radio stations began to play "Shine"
and it became an underground hit. The popularity of the song and band was convincing enough that Atlantic Records
signed Collective Soul in 1993 to a long term major label contract. "Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid" was re-released worldwide in early 1994. The band experienced a sudden rise from obscurity to fame.
During his time with Collective Soul, Roland has become a skilled writer and vocalist known for composing popular catchy songs. His versatility in the studio made him a respected musician. Collective Soul experienced high levels of mainstream success with numerous hits and gold
/platinum
selling albums, on which Roland is often the primary producer. He led the band through many tours and various high profile performances including Woodstock 1994 and Woodstock 1999
.
Ed's brother Dean is also a member of the band. Their father was a Southern Baptist
minister which influenced their spiritual background; however, Ed has cited that Collective Soul is not a Christian rock band. He is known for his moves on stage often swinging his mic stand and dancing across the stage.
Roland is currently working on a new act called The Sweet Tea Project.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and vocalist of the alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Collective Soul
Collective Soul
Collective Soul is an American rock band originally formed in Stockbridge, Georgia. Collective Soul broke into mainstream popularity with their first hit single, "Shine", which came from their debut album Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, released in 1993...
. He is the primary songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and also contributes guitars, keyboards, producing, and engineering.
Biography
After finishing high school, Roland studied songwriting and guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
at Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
for one year. He was the lead engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
at Real 2 Reel Studios in Stockbridge, Georgia
Stockbridge, Georgia
Stockbridge is a city in Henry County, Georgia, United States with a population of 25,636 as of the 2010 census. It is the hometown of the multi-platinum selling alternative rock/post-grunge band Collective Soul and home to one of the youngest starting pitchers ever to play for the Atlanta Braves,...
for eight years. In 1985, he was in a band called The Eddie Band and another during the late 1980s and early 1990s called Marching Two-Step, which also included future producer and music executive Matt Serletic
Matt Serletic
Matt Serletic is a record producer who has worked with several popular bands and artists for Atlantic Records, including Collective Soul, Matchbox Twenty, Blessid Union of Souls, Edwin McCain, Stacie Orrico, Taylor Hicks, Rob Thomas, and singer/songwriter Angie Aparo. Serletic will be working with...
, future executive Michelle Rhea Caplinger and longtime Collective Soul drummer Shane Evans. Roland released an indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
album called Ed-E Roland in 1991. The album was meant to showcase his abilities to compose, record, and produce his own original music.
Ed changed the name of his band to Collective Soul with hopes of finding success in the music business. Not finding success, however, Roland became frustrated and almost gave up on the music industry. He had been active in the local Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
music scene since the early 1980s. Despite the initial rejections, Collective Soul independently released Hints, Allegations & Things Left Unsaid
Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid
Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid is the debut album of Atlanta rock band Collective Soul. It was originally released as a demo on a small indie label in Atlanta called Rising Storm Records. However, the track "Shine" attracted attention to the band thanks to college radio...
in 1993 on a label called Rising Storm. It was a compilation of some of Roland's songwriting demos created when he worked at Real 2 Reel Studios.
This collection eventually caught the attention of a college radio station in Orlando, Florida. Several other college radio stations began to play "Shine"
Shine (Collective Soul song)
"Shine" is a song by American post-grunge band Collective Soul. It served as the lead single from their 1993 debut album Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid. "Shine" would remain the band's most well known song and a hallmark of 1990s alternative rock. It became the #1 Album Rock Song of...
and it became an underground hit. The popularity of the song and band was convincing enough that Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
signed Collective Soul in 1993 to a long term major label contract. "Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid" was re-released worldwide in early 1994. The band experienced a sudden rise from obscurity to fame.
During his time with Collective Soul, Roland has become a skilled writer and vocalist known for composing popular catchy songs. His versatility in the studio made him a respected musician. Collective Soul experienced high levels of mainstream success with numerous hits and gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
/platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
selling albums, on which Roland is often the primary producer. He led the band through many tours and various high profile performances including Woodstock 1994 and Woodstock 1999
Woodstock 1999
Woodstock 1999, also called Woodstock 99, performed July 22–25, 1999, was the second large-scale music festival that attempted to emulate the original Woodstock Festival of 1969. Like the previous Woodstock festivals it was performed in upstate New York, this time in Rome, New York, around 200...
.
Ed's brother Dean is also a member of the band. Their father was a Southern Baptist
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
minister which influenced their spiritual background; however, Ed has cited that Collective Soul is not a Christian rock band. He is known for his moves on stage often swinging his mic stand and dancing across the stage.
Roland is currently working on a new act called The Sweet Tea Project.