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"From the very
first time I picked up a guitar, I found it was the one
thing that brought me the most enjoyment; it brought me to
a place where I found the most happiness."
Caught smack
dab in the middle of a line of siblings (two older
sisters, a younger brother and a younger sister - who are
all musically inclined to play either guitar, piano, or
violin), J. Michael closed the door to his room to spend
hours listening to Garth Brooks and George Strait records.
He learned to play every note by ear until he got it
right. A self-taught guitar player, he honed in on
his musical craft as a picker and songwriter. As a
sophomore, J. Michael wrote his first song for his high
school sweetheart entitled As Close As They Come.
Today, J. Michael has developed a catalog of over 100
tunes, is an ASCAP writer and has recently established his
own publishing company Anozira Publishing (Arizona spelled
backwards).
J. Michael has
been recording his own music since the age of 17. He
played just about every bar and honky-tonk in Phoenix and
the surrounding area and made the move to Nashville in
1999. And then, by the grace of God, he met producer
and friend Blake Mevis (George Strait, Keith Whitley, Vern
Gosdin, Charley Pride).
"Meeting Blake
Mevis and having the opportunity to work with him is the
greatest gift - not only as to my career, but in my life.
He's a great producer and a great friend."
J Michael's
musical influences do not remain within one realm.
Growing up, he listened to The Beatles, James Taylor,
Garth Brooks, George Strait and Ronnie Milsap.
Today, his favorites include Incubus, Dave Matthew's Band,
Sublime and even Snoop Dog (occasionally).
"I've always
been a voracious music lover. I like a plethora of
music. Stylistically, my influences are pretty
contemporary."
In a genre
filled with acts making hit-driven music, this
Arizona-born artist instinctively adds an extra dimension
to his music. His musical talents as an artist are
diverse. As a songwriter, he tackles the limitless
extent of love and life. He is armed with boundless
enthusiasm and the talent to match. his live
performance is filled with emotion and high adrenaline.
This engaging young entertainer optimizes the cutting-edge
of country music and demonstrates his own version of this
brand of music that called his name.
"My feeling
about 'country' music is that it is a reflection of the
here and the now. Simply said, I think country music
conveys a message that speaks to every body about every
day people, every day life, and every aspect of it."
J. Michael is
visibly and comfortably a "spiritual" person and he shares
his faith in his music. He makes no exception to
offer that his family has been and is the most important
element of his life and that prayer and perseverance are
the most important things to remember to accomplish his
goals.
"I started
this endeavor because it was fun. most people do not
get this kind of chance. I am blessed and just want
to take it one day at a time."
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