Award winning singer, songwriter and harmonica player Michael Tracey is a quickly rising star on the Northwest contemporary blues and R&B landscape. Michael found his first harmonica at age 12. Once he picked it up, he couldn't put it down. He taught himself to play harmonica and sing listening to locally broadcast blues programs on public radio. In 2007, Michael was crowned champion of the Northwest Harmonica Championships held in Veneta Oregon. Later that year, he was a featured performer at the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival as part of the annual Harmonica Blow-Off. Performing there with the house band, Michael wowed the audience with his unique and powerful vocal and harmonica prowess. In 2008, Michael formed his own band, Michael Tracey & the Hi-Tones made up of an all star cast of players. The band recently released their debut album entitled, Got To Get Away. Michael entered one of the songs on this album in the Willamette Valley Music Festivals annual New Singer/Songwriter Contest and was awarded first place. Although Michael is an accomplished songwriter and harmonica player, he has also earned the reputation for having a powerful and soulful vocal style all his own. In 2009, Michael received an honor which he has said is more precious to him than any other he's ever received when he was voted Best Male Blues Vocalist at The Rainy Day Blues Society's annual "Rooster Awards" held in Eugene. His band also picked up the award for Best Contemporary Blues Band, and his Saxophone player, the very talented Paul Biondi, won the award for Best Instrumentalist. Michael Tracey is a rare, deep, and unique talent on the Northwest Blues Scene. He looks forward to seeing where his musical passions take him as he continues to work towards refining all aspects of his craft and defining the blues in his own unique way.