Take The Wheel is an Aspen-based trio whose musical roots span almost every genre of modern popular music. From classic rock & roll to, country/western and funky R&B, TTW is fluent in a wide variety of musical styles.
Since 1999 Damian Smith, Michael Jude, & John Michel have been performing everything from club dates and theaters to festivals and private functions of every kind. They recently finished a successful 10-year stint performing Apres Ski regularly at Aspen Ski Co’s Cirque Bar & Grill in Snowmass Village.
Take The Wheel performs at more than 150 events a year throughout the Valley and all over the country. In 2006 they released their highly anticipated debut CD of original songs. The band can be configured in any fashion, from an acoustic trio to electric quartet or quintet.
Take The Wheel also has the unique pleasure of performing with music legend John Oates when Oates has time to pursue his solo interests outside of his busy schedule with the world famous Hall & Oates. TTW has performed on both of Oates’ solo efforts; most recently his critically acclaimed “1000 Miles of Life” with a host of world-class musicians.
Michael Jude
Michael Jude is a talented multi-instrumentalist
who provides bass guitar, vocals and strong writing
to Take the Wheel's musical palate. A natural and
effortless showman, he has an enormous and powerful
vocal range. His powerful bass lines complement
the band's soulful rhythm and biting rock 'n roll.
Jude has shared the stage with legendary talents,
including David Crosby, John Oates, Warren Haynes
of the Allman Brothers, Jimmy Ibbotson of the Nitty
Gritty Dirt Band, legendary blues artist Pinetop
Perkins and Steve Ferrone of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
After spending several years in New York City playing
jingles and sessions, and performing up and down
the east coast, Jude now resides in Colorado's beautiful
Roaring Fork Valley.
John
Michel Drummer, percussionist and vocalist John Michel,
is an accomplished musician who has toured and recorded
with many fine artists including Phoebe Snow, Phillip
Glass, Mike Love, Al and Matt Jardine of The Beach
Boys, Trevor Rabin, America, and most recently with
Mark Farner from Grand Funk Railroad, as well as
Billy Joel and John Oates. John has also played
live on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The
Regis Show. John's percussion, strong vocals and
drumset style brings a very organic groove to the
Trio's sound
Damian
Smith
Born in 1966 on the West Side of Chicago, IL., Damian
Smith began his career in music at a very early
age as the son of noted operatic baritone vocalist
Robert Smith, and was initially trained in voice
and music theory at his father's home studio. He
began his stage career appearing in many of his
father's musical theater productions at the age
of 12. After graduating Fenwick High School, Damian
went on to Northern Illinois University's music
program during which time he passed an audition
for the popular Caribbean Rock band Mr. Myers. After
spending 3 years on the road and producing a critically
acclaimed album with Mr. Myers, Damian moved on
and formed his own band, Funkhouse. Funkhouse was
an eight-piece R&B band that toured all over the
country for eight years. It was with Funkhouse that
Damian appeared on stage with such bands as The
Fabulous Thunderbirds, Steppenwolf, Sonia Dada,
Dread Zeppelin, The Freddy Jones Band, and The BoDeans.
Since moving to Aspen in 1996, Damian has appeared
on CD projects with John Oates (of Hall & Oates),
and has recently completed a solo CD entitled "Altitunes"
with Richard Hathaway of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Damian has appeared on stage in Aspen with the likes
of Jimmy Ibotson (also from the Dirt Band), John
Oates, Jeff Pevar (of CPR), and Steve Ferrone (of
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers).
