Michael Grubbs performed in bar bands and musical theater productions before launching Wakey!Wakey!, a pop/rock group that put his piano background and vocal skills to good use. Grubbs' childhood had been filled with piano lessons -- his mother, a longtime piano teacher, made sure her children practiced the instrument daily -- and he built Wakey!Wakey!'s sound upon the influences of Billy Joel, Elton John, George Gershwin, and other ivory-pounding songwriters. Signing with Family Records, his group released several buzzworthy recordings before piquing the curiosity of Mark Sch...