Collective Soul is an American rock band from Stockbridge, Georgia. They have built their popularity with alternative rock and radio rock.
Prior to forming Collective Soul, Ed Roland studied writing and songwriting at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Ed started working for "Real 2 Reel Studios" (owned by Will Turpin's father) in Stockbridge from the 1980s until the early 1990s. Ed worked in the field of production and technology for artists local Atlanta. He also recorded his own demos and a solo album, "Ed-E Roland", in 1991.