A wise man once said, "Reality is what you can get away with.".And so it is. Armed with only a little mandolin, someone forgot to tell Roger Falter that the mandolin wasn't supposed to be a "full-on" permanent fixture in rock, funk, blues, groove, or whatever-else-kind-of-music that can be played. but, he's been getting away with this reality for years in various such musical projects on stages across Colorado .

Originally a guitar player, Roger was loaned a mandolin by a good friend many years ago. Its sweet contrast when blended in harmony with standard band instruments soon became the focal point in his musical direction. As co-founder of the band, Doubleshift, Roger "settled in" to working with serious musicians who wanted to push their limits. In this setting, a full blues-rock band (electric guitar, keyboards, horns, bass, drums.and mandolin) became the unlikely backdrop, and many original songs were crafted. After several successful years with the band, Roger moved on to even more varied musical horizons, honing his mandolin skills in diverse directions and continuing to prolifically write tunes.

Today, from his “homebase” in Bailey, Colorado (9000 ft. elevation), Roger maintains a busy, well-rounded playing schedule. Feeling equally at home on the large or small stage, Roger tailors each show to fit the venue:  as a solo act- Roger Falter’s Off-Road Mandolin Mayhem (mandolin, foot percussion, and vocals), as a duo- Roger Falter and Pat Travis (mandolin, guitar, and vocals), as a trio/quartet- Kicked To The Curb (mandolin, guitar, percussion, harmonica, vocals), or with a larger band- Impaired Judgement (“anything goes” with this bigger band). He also performs as featured mandolinist and vocalist with a variety of other acts on an “as available” basis for live and studio projects (such as with Joe Bye at the infamous Bucksnort Saloon, 3 Smiles High, etc.).

Roger was recently awarded the 2006 People’s Choice Award for Best Musician/Songwriter by The Fairplay Flume.

Playing the contemporary styles of music with which he has become identified- dynamic blends of rock, blues, reggae, groove and whatever sounds that may hit the melting pot- Roger has drawn comparisons to Sam Bush, John Hiatt, Steely Dan and Little Feat. As such, the instrumentation tends to be more progressive, dwelling largely in aural “landscapes” not stereotypically associated with the mandolin’s traditional sound… and, rewardingly, many new lovers of the mandolin have been “born” in diverse musical audiences.

On his latest CD, Memories Of A Fool, Roger wears many hats- writer, player, and producer. He is joined on the recording by some of the musicians with whom he currently performs in various projects: Casey Falter (lead acoustic guitar), Mark Strivings (alto sax), Steve Dronzek (bass), and Dean Oldencott (drums). This contagious collection of "off-road, powered-by-mandolin acoustifunk" displays a smorgasbord of musical treats, trimmed with dynamic vocals pondering the cosmic humor of life. It is currently receiving airplay on some college radio stations. The CD is available online at cdbaby.com and at rogerfalter.com, as well as at Roger's live shows and various merchant locations in Colorado .