7th Day Buskers
Busking is a European term for performing on city streets, subways and at outdoor markets for tips. The 7th Day Buskers came together when Shawn P. Rohlf opened up his banjo case at the Hillcrest Farmers Market in San Diego on Sunday mornings and started busking. One-by-one a collection of the best musicians in San Diego joined him, forming one hot band having a helluva good time.
Since 2001 the Buskers have released 5 full length albums, received numerous San Diego Music Award nominations; including winning "Best Americana Band" in 2004, featured as an on-stage band in Lambs Players Theater musical production of "Cotton Patch Gospel, the house band for 6 installments of "Oh Berkley, Where Hart Thou" with popular San Diego folk duo Berkley Hart and have performed the Summer Pops weekend series with the legendary Marvin Hamlisch and the San Diego Symphony.
On January 1st, 2016 they retired their post as house band at the Hillcrest Farmer's market after a total of 18 years of playing there every Sunday morning. They still continue to perform in venues all over San Diego!
John-Michael Brooks 1991 - 2018
It is with great sadness and shock that I must announce that my dear friend and fellow Busker, John-Michael Brooks passed away unexpectedly after he had just turned 27 years old.
I am at a loss for words. He was a little brother to me.
John-Michael had a big heart, with a musical ear and talent that was nothing short of genius.
Having to inform the rest of the band was extremely hard. Many tears have been shed and a lot of disbelief of such an untimely departure. He will be missed beyond measure.
We decided to go ahead and play our previously scheduled show at the Whistle Stop on the following Saturday...because that is all we know.
We are musicians.
Music is how we mourn, how we understand, how we communicate, how we cope, how we love, how we grieve, how we celebrate and how we heal.
This is exactly how John-Michael lived and what we believe he would’ve wanted us to do. And as painful as his loss is to all of us, this is how we honored his short but beautiful life.
It turned out to be a huge "Celebration of Life," with a house full of fans, friends, family and students of John-Michael's all coming out to pay their respects.
We dedicated our performance to this brilliant young man, to whom I have had the extreme honor of becoming friends with and sharing some truly mind blowing musical moments that I will cherish forever.
I know for certain that he was there with us.