Maroon 5 keyboardist
Jesse Carmichael was born on April 2, 1979, in Boulder, CO. His family relocated to Los Angeles and
Carmichael, initially a guitarist, began playing music with some junior-high friends, singer/guitarist
Adam Levine and bassist
Mickey Madden, under the influence of groups like
Nirvana and
Pearl Jam. After the final 1994 addition of
Ryan Dusick on drums, the alternative pop/rock band
Kara's Flowers were born. The quartet scored a record deal with Reprise, released a mediocre album, and was released from its contract all in a matter of years. Following the termination of its deal, the band went on hiatus and
Carmichael headed to New York with
Levine to attend Five Towns College on Long Island. While there, the guys were exposed to a whole new music scene and absorbed new influences like hip-hop, soul, gospel, and R&B. Not only did the two friends gain a fresh perspective on songwriting at school, but
Carmichael also started playing the keyboards. They only lasted a semester before dropping out and heading back to California rejuvenated and inspired to add a new groove-based element to their band's rock template.
Carmichael and
Levine hooked back up with the rest of the
Kara's Flowers guys, and songs were quickly written that were directly inspired by
Levine's recently failed relationship. After adding in new guitarist
James Valentine -- effectively moving
Carmichael over to keyboards -- and scoring a new deal with Octone Records, the newly christened
Maroon 5 were officially up and running; their debut album, the aptly titled
Songs About Jane, was soon completed. Released in June 2002, the album sold steadily over the next couple of years and was certified platinum by 2004.
Maroon 5 scored several hit singles, won two Grammy Awards, and toured constantly in support of it. ~ Corey Apar