Rod McGaha, born Roderick McGaha in 1961 in Chicago, is an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, and vocalist. His interest in jazz was initiated by his father’s Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong records. During high school, McGaha studied guitar and trumpet, eventually selecting the latter as his primary instrument. Influenced by funk artists such as Parliament, James Brown, and Kool & the Gang, McGaha began his professional career with Gene Chandler before studying at Northeastern University and DePaul University. In 1989, he was discovered by Clark Terry, who became his mentor. Since the early 1990s, McGaha has worked as a Nashville-based session musician for artists including Kenny Rogers, BeBe and CeCe Winans, The O’Jays, Take 6, and Lou Rawls. His solo discography includes the albums The Servant (1997) and Preacherman (1999). McGaha’s honors include the Maynard Ferguson Award, the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, and the Outstanding Trumpet Soloist Award.
