I have been playing harmonica since I was seven years old learning on legendary Detroit stages from the best. I picked up guitar at nine years old and have been mentored by rock n roll hall of Fame inductee Billy Davis.
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Biography
Michael is 17 years old and is a public school student. He has been playing harmonica on stage since he was 7 years old and guitar for the past seven years. Michael also plays trumpet in his high school band and guitar in the jazz bad. He performs regularly on harmonica, guitar and vocals with legendary three time hall of famer Billy Davis and ‘The Billy Davis Rhythm Machine Band’. He can also be seen at many other metro Detroit jams and gigs.
Michael has performed at many charitable, community, and civic events. Select events include:
- The Mack Alive Festival
- The St. Clair Shores Festival
- Ferndale Blues Festival
- Detroit Entertainers & Musicians Children’s Festival
- The International Seasonal Concert for Matrix Human Services
- No Better Blues Fundraisers 2018 & 2019
- ‘Make Music Detroit’ at Detroit Institute of Arts
- Ralston Blues Festival
- The Jackie Wilson Tribute Concert 2018
- Detroit A Go Go 2018
- WHFR FM Radiothon Fundraiser 2018
- Doo Wop Concert
- Northshore Theater MA, 2018
- Ann Arbor Monroe Street Concert 2019
- State Fairgrounds Development Coalition 2019
- ‘Salute to Soldiers’ 2019
- Westland Blues Festival 2019
- ‘Woodstock in the D Revival’, August 2019
- Detroit Black Music Awards, August 2019
- Jackie Wilson Offspring of Legends and New Upcoming Talent’, Feb. 2020
- Detroit Mother’s Day Online Concert 2020
- Hug Detroit Day Online Concert 2020
- Sterlingfest, Sterling Hts., MI, 2022
- Heatstock Festival, Fostoria, MI, 2022
- 15th Annual Detroit Black Music Awards 2023
- Performed on two stages at the King Biscuit Festival in AR, 2023
In addition to recording on several of Billy Davis’ albums, Michael has recorded tracks with other artists including: Brenda Taylor, Thelma Stubbs, Muruga Booker, Peter Madcat Ruth, Tony P Funk Thomas, John Saughter, Dale Robertson, and Paul Vendetti. With the encouragement of Billy Davis, Michael released his first eleven track CD entitled “Mighty Michael” in April 2018 which includes one of his original songs. In 2020 he completed his second CD, “Caught In The Moment”, which includes original tracks by Michael and Billy Davis, and two original tracks written exclusively by Michael. In 2024 Michael recorded a third CD of all original music entitled, “First Day of School”.
Michael is featured in the 2018 award winning Detroit music documentary Paradise Boogie “highlighting the alliance of a veteran hall of famer musician and a 10 year old harp player, honoring the past, present and future of the Detroit blues” with music mentor Billy Davis. Michael has been interviewed on several radio shows as well as interviewed and cited in several national blues/music magazines. Michael has a role in the 2024 television series Higher and Higher revealing the life of legendary entertainer Jackie Wilson.
Awards and Nominations:
- Detroit Music Award Nomination 2018, Best Blues Instrumentalist category
- Detroit Black Music Award Nomination 2018, Best Blues Instrumentalist category.
- Certificate of Recognition from the Wayne County Commission, Achievement in the Music Industry 2018
- Certificate ofRecognition from the Wayne County Commission, Best New Music Artist, 2018
- Special Tribute from the State of Michigan, Best New Music Artist, 2018
- Special Tribute from the State of Michigan, Achievements in the Music Industry, 2018.
- Fast Freddy Detroit Award, 2018
- Detroit Black Music Award Winner in the Blues Category, Charles H. Wright Museum, August 4, 2019
- Award of Appreciation from Brenda Wilson and Thelma Stubbs Mitchell for participation in the ‘Jackie Wilson Offspring ofLegends and Upcoming Talent, February 2020
- Hug Detroit Day Spirit Award 2021
- International Blues Foundation Challenge Youth Showcase with International Crossroads Project band, Memphis, Jan. 2023
- NITA Icon Award in music industry, August, 2023
- Pinetop Perkins Master Class Youth Scholar, Clarksdale, MS, June 2022, 2023, 2024
- Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica (SPAH) Youth Scholar, Tulsa, OK, Aug. 2019, (2021 online), 2022.
- Appointed to the Board of Directors, Rosebush Youth Committee, of the international Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica (SPAH) 2023.
Gallery
Music Styles: Blues, Motown, Country, Classic Rock.
Event Types: Studio and Live Events
