About Our Owner
JAKE “B Nimble” Rodriguez
Jake “B Nimble” Rodriguez is the owner of Takeoff Terminal Studios, and Urban Grooves Productions. And although he may be relatively new to the musically eclectic city of Austin, Texas, by no means is he new to the music “game.” Rodriguez has been in bands, recording pop stars, rock stars in recording studios, or performing for well over 30 years. Initially a trumpet player, who taught himself piano, he transitioned into a recording engineer, and later became a (Minnesota Music Award Winner, and Latin Grammy Award Nominated) music producer/arranger.
Juan Rene Rodriguez, better known as, Jake “B Nimble” Rodriguez, was born in East Chicago, IN. He discovered his love for music at an early age, by cleaning the house with his siblings, every weekend, while listening to The Jackson 5 and other Motown artists, blaring through the home stereo system.
While still in high school, Jake was part of a Gary, Indiana based band called, “Cruise Control.” The young bandmates would compete/win opening act slots for major concerts in and around Chicago for bands like, The SOS Band, Zapp, Deniece Williams, Kool and The Gang, and ConFunkShun.
In 1987, “Kulur Blynd” an “offshoot” band from “Cruise Control,” relocated to Minneapolis, in hopes of more opportunities to perform and record. But Rodriguez found himself back in Chicago three years later.
In 1990, he attended The Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, OH, and in 1991, Columbia College, in Chicago, IL, both for Recording Engineering. He then headed back to Minneapolis to put his newly learned skills to use. “It was while I was back in Minneapolis that things really started to take off for me,” says Jake.
In 2000, after a brief stint in A&R/Artist development for Sony/Epic Records, Jake began doing engineering and producing for OarFin Records (Angel Beach Studios) in Minneapolis. And in 2005, Jake formed Urban Grooves Productions (UGP), in conjunction with FS Studios/Records, in St. Paul, and A440 Studios, in Minneapolis. It was at these 2 studios that Rodriguez really perfected his vocal producing/arranging and music producing “chops” and was instrumental in securing three artists with publishing, development, and artist label deals.
In 2010, UGP, relocated to Austin, Texas. By 2012, UGP created, “Music Recording Production Technology” (MRPT). It started as an After-School program, with High School students. The students in the MRPT program were assigned to write, record, arrange and produce an original song (with Jake’s teaching, help, and tutelage). They also shot/edited a music video, uploaded it to YouTube and got over 25K views and over 1,000 digital downloads via iTunes and Amazon.
Since then, Rodriguez has implemented the MRPT program into 3 more schools in Austin, 2 in Round Rock, and 1 in Lockhart. This program is continuing to grow!
Contact us here for more information about this program (MRPT), or for a FREE demo at your school!!
UGP and Takeoff Terminal Studios (our new partner, as of 11/2018) has continued to record, produce, and develop songs for Austin-based and National recording artists.
UGP has expanded its sphere of operation and now offers artist consultation services, marketing, promotion, artist branding, podcasting, social media integration & upgrade, photography, music video, EPK, event planning/hosting, and many more different strategic ways to increase an artist’s online presence.
“We’re a lean, mean, dream team, dedicated to recording, producing, editing, and delivering top-notch musical and industtry products to a wide range of client,” stated Rodriguez.
To learn more, see our complete list under “SERVICES.”
