Copyright 2008 Crossover. All rights reserved.
| Lead Guitar, Sax |
Music has always had a major impact on Michelle's life.
She picked up the guitar at the age of 12, and influenced
heavily by the Beatles, spent endless hours in front of the
record player teaching herself to play. In high school, she
traded her clarinet for a tenor sax and soon proved herself
more than capable to be the guitarist in the Stage Band.
"My high school band director bought a wah pedal just so
we could play The Theme from Shaft," she reflected. "In
1970, girls just weren't known for playing guitar."
Michelle continued to play in "garage bands" until after
graduation when she auditioned for a locally popular
band, "The Better Half". "I was teaching guitar at a local
music store when one of my young students had Rocky
Rowe call to inquire about finding a "male" guitarist for his
band. Of course I shot back, 'Does the guitarist have to be
male?' Rocky, now her husband, admits, " At that time I'd
never thought about a girl playing guitar." The rest is
history!
Two years later, Michelle and Rocky married and spent
the next 9 years on the road playing resorts, hotels and
clubs across the country. Their band, Montage, also
played Resort International in Atlantic City and made an
appearance on the Easter Seals Telethon representing
Resorts International.
In 1985, two years after the birth of their son, Aaron, the
Rowes accepted a 5 year house gig as a duo in
Huntington, W.Va. There they co-wrote 'The Best is Yet to
Come,' which was adopted as the city theme song and
suddenly found themselves in the political spotlight with
interviews on television and radio. At the same time
Michelle released a record regionally and their 6 piece
band performed in concert with Kathy Matea, Earl Thomas
Conley, Shelley West, Ricky Scaggs, Bill Crash Craddock
and Cal Smith. They also performed several times at the
Governor's Mansion in Charleston, W.Va., at political fund
raisers for the governor, and at the grand opening of
Interstate 64. "How many bands can claim they opened
an interstate?" Michelle quipped. The Rowes have also
co-written jingles for Holiday Inn and the Tara Plantation
Dinner House in Moberly, MO.
In 1993 Michelle and Rocky moved to Medina, Ohio
where they provided the music for and emceed the local
Miss America Pageant. Michelle also acted as a judge for
the Our Little Miss Ohio Pageant in Cuyahoga County.
In 1996 Rocky and Michelle moved to Lake Saint Louis,
MO. As a duo and with other players, they continued to
perform at local events until forming Crossover in 2004.
In 2003 Michelle sang "The Star Spangled Banner" at a
Rascal's (AAA baseball) game in the TR Huges Ballpark in
O'Fallon, MO. I n 2005 Michelle wrote, directed and
produced a 4th of July Program and a Christmas Program
for her church where she is a member of the Praise Band.
She continues to participate in special programs.
Michelle plays; lead guitar, bass guitar, tenor sax, alto
sax, soprano sax, flute, and keyboards.
She is married to Rocky, the bassist/drummer in
Crossover. They have one son, Aaron, and a four-legged
child - a mini schnauzer - named Jazz.
Instruments:
2004 Fender Strat
1972 Gibson Les Paul Custom
Marshall 150 watt amp
Selmer Mark VI Tenor Saxophone
Selmer Alto Saxophone
Selmer Artist Soprano Saxophone
Gemeinhardt Flute
Favorite Artists: Carlos Santana, Eagles, Don Henley,
Doobie Brothers, Gary Morris, Martina McBride, Luther
Vandross, Phillips, Craig & Dean, Transiberian Orchestra
She picked up the guitar at the age of 12, and influenced
heavily by the Beatles, spent endless hours in front of the
record player teaching herself to play. In high school, she
traded her clarinet for a tenor sax and soon proved herself
more than capable to be the guitarist in the Stage Band.
"My high school band director bought a wah pedal just so
we could play The Theme from Shaft," she reflected. "In
1970, girls just weren't known for playing guitar."
Michelle continued to play in "garage bands" until after
graduation when she auditioned for a locally popular
band, "The Better Half". "I was teaching guitar at a local
music store when one of my young students had Rocky
Rowe call to inquire about finding a "male" guitarist for his
band. Of course I shot back, 'Does the guitarist have to be
male?' Rocky, now her husband, admits, " At that time I'd
never thought about a girl playing guitar." The rest is
history!
Two years later, Michelle and Rocky married and spent
the next 9 years on the road playing resorts, hotels and
clubs across the country. Their band, Montage, also
played Resort International in Atlantic City and made an
appearance on the Easter Seals Telethon representing
Resorts International.
In 1985, two years after the birth of their son, Aaron, the
Rowes accepted a 5 year house gig as a duo in
Huntington, W.Va. There they co-wrote 'The Best is Yet to
Come,' which was adopted as the city theme song and
suddenly found themselves in the political spotlight with
interviews on television and radio. At the same time
Michelle released a record regionally and their 6 piece
band performed in concert with Kathy Matea, Earl Thomas
Conley, Shelley West, Ricky Scaggs, Bill Crash Craddock
and Cal Smith. They also performed several times at the
Governor's Mansion in Charleston, W.Va., at political fund
raisers for the governor, and at the grand opening of
Interstate 64. "How many bands can claim they opened
an interstate?" Michelle quipped. The Rowes have also
co-written jingles for Holiday Inn and the Tara Plantation
Dinner House in Moberly, MO.
In 1993 Michelle and Rocky moved to Medina, Ohio
where they provided the music for and emceed the local
Miss America Pageant. Michelle also acted as a judge for
the Our Little Miss Ohio Pageant in Cuyahoga County.
In 1996 Rocky and Michelle moved to Lake Saint Louis,
MO. As a duo and with other players, they continued to
perform at local events until forming Crossover in 2004.
In 2003 Michelle sang "The Star Spangled Banner" at a
Rascal's (AAA baseball) game in the TR Huges Ballpark in
O'Fallon, MO. I n 2005 Michelle wrote, directed and
produced a 4th of July Program and a Christmas Program
for her church where she is a member of the Praise Band.
She continues to participate in special programs.
Michelle plays; lead guitar, bass guitar, tenor sax, alto
sax, soprano sax, flute, and keyboards.
She is married to Rocky, the bassist/drummer in
Crossover. They have one son, Aaron, and a four-legged
child - a mini schnauzer - named Jazz.
Instruments:
2004 Fender Strat
1972 Gibson Les Paul Custom
Marshall 150 watt amp
Selmer Mark VI Tenor Saxophone
Selmer Alto Saxophone
Selmer Artist Soprano Saxophone
Gemeinhardt Flute
Favorite Artists: Carlos Santana, Eagles, Don Henley,
Doobie Brothers, Gary Morris, Martina McBride, Luther
Vandross, Phillips, Craig & Dean, Transiberian Orchestra
