From his first incarnation as a Retro-Soul cover act in 2002, Groove Duke has always placed his emphasis on high-energy showmanship; a soulful, singing, dancing, manic figure blazing onto the stage in a way that belies his 250-pound frame. Reorganizing in 2008, Groove Duke embraced change and grew, augmenting his cover set with original songs. His first single, Stick Boy, was Internet radio show Talent Cast's song of the week, and his soon-to-be-released album was entirely fan funded. The band's sound has been compared to Tower of Power, Steely Dan, Van Morrison, Otis Redding, and James Brown.