Wakey!Wakey!
Encyclopedia
Wakey!Wakey! is an Alternate Indie Rock/Pop group fronted by Michael Grubbs and based in Brooklyn, New York. Michael Grubbs is also known for his role as "Grubbs" on One Tree Hill
, where the band's music has been featured. They reached critical acclaim with their 2010 release, Everything I Wish I'd Said the Last Time I Saw You which reached No. 1 on the Billboard
's Heatseakers Chart
.
, Virginia
and began his career as a musician at the age of 5, taking lessons from his mother, a long time piano and choir instructor. Earlier influences included the church music he was forced to practice as rudiments, as well as classical composers such as Brahms, Bach, and Beethoven. As a teenager, Michael discovered the song books of the likes of Billy Joel
, Elton John
, and Led Zeppelin
as a more culturally relevant counter balance to his classical canon.
Following a few early ventures into performance, Grubbs spent time with two touring musicals - Brigadoon
and Camelot
- standing out both for his technical ability as well as his exceptional aesthetic.
Grubbs came to New York City
in 1998 and soon came to be an understudy of the notable Lach
, one of the main proponents and founding fathers of the Anti-folk
movement in New York's Lower East Side
, from whom he learned to channel energy and inspiration from what he characterized as a repressed background into a style of music that was more accessible to today's audience. As an active member this movement he came up alongside the likes of Regina Spektor
and Moldy Peaches.
His greatest musical break came from meeting Mark Schwahn
, critically acclaimed head writer
and executive producer
of The CW Network's drama series, One Tree Hill
. After being introduced to Schwahn and playing for him at an open mic in New York City, Grubb's song War Sweater, the title track from his War Sweater EP, was featured on the finale of One Tree Hill's sixth season. Following that placement, Schwahn offered to give Grubbs cameos on the show to promote a new record including performances of his songs Brooklyn, Light Outside, and Almost Everything.
Wakey!Wakey! has been signed since 2007 to The Family Records, a Manhattan based independent record label, under which they've released their full-length debut album Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said the Last Time I Saw You....
Wakey!Wakey! Wednesdays
The War Sweater EP
Brooklyn/Manhattan
Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said The Last Time I Saw You... (Also see title of season 7 finale episode on One Tree Hill
)
Dance So Good/Great Lake Love
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
, where the band's music has been featured. They reached critical acclaim with their 2010 release, Everything I Wish I'd Said the Last Time I Saw You which reached No. 1 on the Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
's Heatseakers Chart
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
.
History
Michael Grubbs was born and raised in RichmondRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and began his career as a musician at the age of 5, taking lessons from his mother, a long time piano and choir instructor. Earlier influences included the church music he was forced to practice as rudiments, as well as classical composers such as Brahms, Bach, and Beethoven. As a teenager, Michael discovered the song books of the likes of Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, and Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
as a more culturally relevant counter balance to his classical canon.
Following a few early ventures into performance, Grubbs spent time with two touring musicals - Brigadoon
Brigadoon
Brigadoon is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. Songs from the musical, such as "Almost Like Being in Love" have become standards....
and Camelot
Camelot (musical)
Camelot is a musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe . It is based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the T. H. White tetralogy novel The Once and Future King....
- standing out both for his technical ability as well as his exceptional aesthetic.
Grubbs came to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1998 and soon came to be an understudy of the notable Lach
Lach
Lach is a musician associated with the anti-folk movement. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was trained as a classical pianist from an early age only to abandon it once he heard The Sex Pistols, The Jam and The Clash for the first time. Realizing he was a songwriter, Lach backtracked and explored...
, one of the main proponents and founding fathers of the Anti-folk
Anti-folk
Anti-folk is a music genre that takes the earnestness of politically charged 1960s folk music and subverts it. The defining characteristics of this anti-folk are difficult to identify, as they vary from one artist to the next...
movement in New York's Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
, from whom he learned to channel energy and inspiration from what he characterized as a repressed background into a style of music that was more accessible to today's audience. As an active member this movement he came up alongside the likes of Regina Spektor
Regina Spektor
Regina Ilyinichna Spektor is a Russian American singer-songwriter and pianist. Her music is associated with the anti-folk scene centered in New York City's East Village.-Early life:...
and Moldy Peaches.
His greatest musical break came from meeting Mark Schwahn
Mark Schwahn
Mark Schwahn is an American screenwriter, director and producer. He is best known as creator, head writer and executive producer of The CW Network drama series One Tree Hill.-Career:...
, critically acclaimed head writer
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
and executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
of The CW Network's drama series, One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
. After being introduced to Schwahn and playing for him at an open mic in New York City, Grubb's song War Sweater, the title track from his War Sweater EP, was featured on the finale of One Tree Hill's sixth season. Following that placement, Schwahn offered to give Grubbs cameos on the show to promote a new record including performances of his songs Brooklyn, Light Outside, and Almost Everything.
Wakey!Wakey! has been signed since 2007 to The Family Records, a Manhattan based independent record label, under which they've released their full-length debut album Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said the Last Time I Saw You....
Discography
Silent as a MovieWakey!Wakey! Wednesdays
The War Sweater EP
Brooklyn/Manhattan
Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said The Last Time I Saw You... (Also see title of season 7 finale episode on One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
)
Dance So Good/Great Lake Love