'Explosive' voice, soft heart: Knoxville singer Alonzo Rodgers remembered for his soul

Though he wasn't always the one in the spotlight, Alonzo Rodgers was a crucial part of Knoxville's music scene, lending his soulful voice — and his entire soul, for that matter — to other artists in the Good Guy Collective.

But those who knew him best know the term "good guy" underplays the gracious spirit of Rodgers, who also went by Zo and Max, a shortened version of his middle name.

Rodgers died over the weekend after someone shot into a Park City home the night before Thanksgiving. Police have not announced any arrests. He was just 30 years old.

Rodgers' voice was his main instrument, although he started on drums in the church. His father is a pastor and singer himself, and was an inspiration for Rodgers to pursue music.

'My talents come from God, regardless'

Rodgers was a member of church and school choirs from elementary school through high school, according to an October conversation on The Builder's Block podcast.

Though he was two years younger, Xzavian Wrushen grew up alongside Rodgers in the church. The two were pictured side-by-side in baby photos, and Wrushen's mother used to watch Rodgers before her own son was born.

Rodgers was, in many ways, like his older brother.

Neither one considered themselves a fighter, but something about Rodgers' presence always made Wrushen feel safe in any situation.

"He has a very protective spirit," Wrushen said, and a giving spirit, too. He recalled the time Rodgers received his first bass guitar from a church member.

Wrushen also plays bass but didn't have a case when it came time for one of his first gigs. Rodgers quietly went to the corner, emptied his brand-new case and gave it to Wrushen to keep for good.

"I literally still use that same bass case today," Wrushen said. "My bass is sitting in that case right now. That's how his whole life has been; if you need something, it's yours."

The two started playing together in a gospel group called Peaceful Harmony after Rodgers graduated from Austin-East Magnet High School, according to the podcast.

"Not everybody wants to hear that (gospel) message all the time," he said in the interview. "It's a beautiful message. I love gospel. I'm not ashamed of where I come from. My roots are firm in the church."

With business in mind, the members of Peaceful Harmony formed an R&B group called Collizjion.

"I feel like the same effect comes from music, whether it's gospel or R&B," Rodgers said. "You've got a feeling, you've got a vibe. It makes you want to get up and dance and shout. ... My talents come from God, regardless. He loves me, he knows my plan and he knows what he has for me ...

"I feel like I'm on the right path."

Food for the soulful singer

Just like Rodgers' father helped lead him to music, his mother shared another passion with her son: food. Aj Branner, who lived with Rodgers for a brief time, said she was known for her baking skills.

Rodgers, however, had more of a passion for barbecue. Branner said he experimented with his own sauces and even incorporated "barbecue chicken" in social media and video game handles.

He was smoking a turkey the night he was killed, Branner said.

"When I say I have never tasted ribs that just slid off the bone — it was so good," Wrushen said. "He had two kinds of baked beans. They were delicious, and his greens was fire. He even did macaroni and cheese, and it was so good. I was so proud of him."

While Rodgers' most recent job was selling cell phones, Branner said, Wrushen recalls him working at a barbecue restaurant in Oak Ridge for a while after the owner took him under his wing.

Rodgers loved inviting friends over when it came time to grill. When Wrushen showed up for a plate, he could spend hours catching up with his lifelong friend.

The 'king of the background'

Many people who consider each other friends today would have never met without Rodgers. He was like glue and always pushed people to reach their full potential.

"This guy was a king of the background," Wrushen said. "And that's not just in music. Every aspect of his life, he's a very supporting person."

In Rodgers' mind, his role in music was to help elevate other people's work.

"I just love being able to tag along," he said in the podcast interview. "It's your track, and I'm just here to help out in any capacity I can."

Still, his voice was "explosive," Wrushen said.

"He has a very trained sound, so he can sing some nice crooning, romantic-sounding things," he said. "But he can also turn up the heat and growl, man. He can throw it at you. And it really sounds like fire."

Wrushen connected Rodgers with the Good Guy Collective after realizing he could no longer fully commit to the group.

That's when Rodgers was introduced to group member Joseph Woods, also known as Black Atticus, who described Rodgers' voice as "'Hamilton' quality.'"

"He liked the vibe, the camaraderie that comes with music," Wrushen said about Rodgers. "This dude loves community. That's what he found with the Good Guy Collective."

The Good Guy Collective was featured in Knox News' "Black in Business" project, which included a story on Knoxville's hip-hop scene. Knox News photographed Rodgers performing at The Birdhouse and The Pilot Light, alongside fellow members Jarius Bush and Colby Earles, who perform under the names J.Bu$h, and Mr. Kobayashi.

"Seeing and hearing him perform live was so captivating," Earles told Knox News. "He was almost too humble for his talent. ... What also hurts is that we were trying to figure ways to help him create more material because his voice needed to be heard."

Family, friends and fun always a focus

Just like he could change his voice while singing, Rodgers could alter his sound for a good laugh.

"Anybody who knows him for-real-for-real knows he is the king of imitating people," Wrushen said. "He was a jokester."

He had a solid impression of President Barack Obama, but his renditions of friends' voices are what garnered the most laughs.

To this day, those in his friend group don't imitate each other. Instead, they imitate Rodgers' imitations. He was that good.

He also tried his best to imitate the positive qualities of movie characters, Wrushen said, often comparing situations in life to scenes in a film. One of his favorite genres was organized crime movies, not for the criminal acts but for the strong familial bonds they portrayed.

Rodgers found family in friendships but always wanted a large family of his own, Wrushen said.

"This dude was a babysitter when we was children," he said. "All the kids at church were babysat by him. He was in middle school changing diapers and watching kids."

'It's all love'

Like many people, Wrushen said, Rodgers aspired to be wealthy — not for personal gain but to provide for a family down the road.

His goal was to be the chef of his own restaurant, according to Branner, who had conversations with Rodgers about being the manager.

"Just in general, he was the best friend a guy could have," Branner said. "He was a light in a world of darkness."

And even in dark times, Rodgers found a way to share his favorite catch phrase: "It's all love."

As friends and family mourn a life cut short, love and laughter is what they remember most.

A celebration of life is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday at Overcoming Believers Church, with the family receiving friends for one hour prior.

Angela Dennis contributed to this report.

Ryan Wilusz: Knoxville's downtown explorer and urban reporter
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville remembers Alonzo Rodgers for his 'explosive' voice and soul