The Maxx doesn’t study soul music, they live it. Since their Atlanta beginnings in 1980, founding members Rod
Whittaker (bass/keyboards/vocals), Leroy “Roc” Lovelace (sax/vocals), and Steven Rollins (guitar) embarked on a journey of incorporating the high energy choreography and musical precision of the soul and funk legends who raised them. Since then, The Maxx picked up fiery vocalist Rainy Middleton along with Dwight Smith (drums), Andre Bernard (trombone/keyboards/vocals) and Menes Ray (trumpet/vocals). The group honed their live stage presence while performing over 125 days out of the year with personalized set lists for conventions, corporate events, and festivals. All of this culminated with their latest six song EP that brings the stage to the studio.

In the making of their EP, The Maxx employed a member of their extended family in The Soul of John Black.The former Fishbone member and Miles Davis percussionist was behind most of the EP’s writing and production. “We have a personal relationship with him for years, he used to be a part of the band. It only made sense to have him on board as a principal writer and producer,” says Whittaker. The Soul of John Black also adds vocals on the bluesy “Love Is Gonna Get Ya” and the bouncy, funk track, “Rock With You.”

Shown on their EP and almost four decades as a band, The