Rod Foster & Company

Rodney Foster Jr. is a Columbia, SC based musician and the leader of Rod Foster & Company. As a son of musicians and singers, he began playing bass at the age of 12. He studied and grew in the craft while playing at his home church, Bethlehem Baptist Church - College Place. After that, his interests grew beyond Gospel to different genres such as Jazz, R&B, and Rock. He has been playing professionally across the state and regionally for over 15 years, and serves as backing musician for many Columbia based bands. He is a graduate of Winthrop University and Southern Wesleyan University. He is currently the musical director of the house band at Chayz Lounge and has directed for many local and national artists and productions. Rodney currently serves on the advisory board for the Cola Jazz Foundation and as the Musical Director for South Carolina ETV’s television series Solbird Sessions. He is also a business education teacher in Richland School District 2.

The band  features the talents of keyboardist/ producer Antonio McKie and drummer/producer Rich Williams. 

Antonio McKie II is a multi-faceted musician born in New Jersey, where he first discovered his love for music. Recognizing his early aptitude in music and on piano, his parents enrolled him at the Calderone School of Music. Raised in the church and immersed in gospel music throughout his childhood, Antonio developed a strong musical foundation that continues to influence his sound today.

At age 13, he relocated with his parents to South Carolina, where his musical growth accelerated. By 14, he was playing well by ear and serving as a musician at his late father’s church. His passion led him to share and develop his gift at multiple churches throughout Columbia, SC, creating opportunities to refine his skills and versatility, which he continues to demonstrate today as a keyboardist for Brookland Baptist Church.

As an emerging music enthusiast, Antonio began to broaden his repertoire in 2014 to include R&B, Jazz, Hip Hop, Funk, Fusion and other genres. Primarily performing in the Columbia area, he began to shape and elevate his influence which evolved into music arranging, producing, and composing. His production credits include co-producing Apollo winner, Brittany Turnipseed’s The Intro – Focused EP and producing TiffanyJ’s Solbird Sessions Live album. He also frequently serves as TiffanyJ’s musical director and currently is the music producer for her latest public media television series, Solbird Sessions at South Carolina ETV.

Antonio is the resident keyboardist for Rod Foster and Company at Chayz Lounge and performs regularly with Cottontown Soul Society, Undaground Station, S’way and the Apostrophe, GALÁN, TiffanyJ and No Space Gang, and Happy Accidents.  In addition, he has musically contributed to recordings for many of these artists and other regional projects. Inspired by musicians both locally and globally, Antonio McKie II continues to refine his God-given talents while expanding his impact across diverse musical environments, both live and in the studio.

Rich Williams is a dynamic drummer, producer, and engineer with 20 years of experience in music, media, and ministry. Inspired by the legendary James “J Dilla” Yancey, Rich commands the stage with energy while performing with No Space Gang, Undagraound Station, Rod Foster & Company and Happy Accidents. 

As a producer, Rich has developed and arranged full-band productions across multiple genres, overseeing the creative process from concept through final mix. His expertise includes building polished studio arrangements as well as adapting songs for live performance—ensuring clarity, energy, and consistency in real-world venues. 

In live settings, Rich has created custom arrangements for bands and solo artists, incorporating stems, click tracks, transitions, and live playback systems to enhance performances without sacrificing musical authenticity. Rich excels in music production, editing, mixing, and sound design, with a detail-oriented approach and a passion for delivering high-quality audio experiences—on stage and in the studio. 

NOTABLE GIGS: Rod Foster & Company currently serves as the house band at Chayz Lounge. The band has been a featured act at the following festivals: 2020 SC Jazz Festival, 2021 ColaJazz Fest headlined by Wynton Marsalis,  2022 ColaJazz Fest headlined by Aimee Nolte and Carl Allen, 2023 Jubilee Festival, 2023 Meeting Street Fest (with Mel'isa Morgan), 2025 Hilton Head Jazz Festival, and the 2024 and 2025 Myrtle Beach Jazz Festival. 

Rod Foster & Company has also backed countless regional and national acts, including Brittany Turnipseed, TiffanyJ, Tweet, Mike Phillips, Chante Cann, JWhite, Willie Bradley, Marcus Adams, Jeff Bradshaw, Adam Hawley, Jason Jackson, Jubu, Martha High, Althea Rene, Janette Harris, Marqueal Jordan, Melba Moore,  Kim Scott, Jackiem Joyner, Lin Roundtree, S.O.A.R T.C Carson, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Paula Atherton, Hank Bilal, David Glymph, D.S Wilson, and the following South Carolina Ballet productions: Motown, Studio 54 and Elvis.