Max Sedgley was brought up appreciating groove music from all over the globe. Whether from his father's old-school R&B and funk collection or the reggae brought into the house by his Jamaican mother, the result was an upbringing steeped in rhythm and soul. Max made it clear that he was going to be a drummer from an early age, banging on pots and pans as a toddler and his first drum kit a few years later. A music teacher in school introduced him to percussion great James Blades, with whom he studied throughout the '80s. Sedgley went on to study music at university in Edinburgh, learning Mozart during the day and immersing himself in the hip-hop/drum'n'bass music of the mid-'90s at night. His debut single, "Happy," was released in 2001, introduced to the British listening public as ITV's football theme song a few years later. The single became a smash hit, selling more than 250,000 copies and reaching number 30 on the national singles charts. With undeniable momentum behind him, Sedgley negotiated a deal with Sunday Best Records for his debut release. The record, entitled From the Roots to the Shoots, hit shelves on July 17, 2006. Featuring such singles as "Slowly," "The Devil Inside," and his anthem, "Happy," Sedgley's debut began to make waves throughout and outside his native U.K. Max Sedgley tours solo as a DJ and with his five-piece band, Max Sedgley & the Shoots. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez