Official Website: www.michaelpickett.com Solo Acoustic Singer Songwriter Guitarist, Harmonica Player 2x JUNO nominee Multi Award Winning Recording Artist Roots Delta Blues Americana Pickett embraces the Blues with style, substance and integrity. In the 70s, 80s, and 90s he established himself as a musically ground-breaking, electrifying singer/songwriter/harmonica player, leading seminal bands Whiskey Howl, Wooden Teeth, and the Michael Pickett Band. These bands pushed the envelope for Blues and funky Roots music. He provided the direction for all three projects, surrounding himself with the top musicians in the country. 1998 saw the release of his long anticipated and eagerly awaited debut CD, Blues Money. This all original recording was nominated for a JUNO and received the Jazz Report and Real Blues awards for 'Blues Album of the Year'. Michael was also presented with the coveted Maple Blues 'Blues With A Feeling Award' in recognition of his passion and lifetime commitment to the Blues. In 2000 he released his second CD Conversation With The Blues which earned another JUNO nomination and won the Indie Music Award for 'Blues Album of the Year'. Described by Billboard as "transcending the urban Blues idiom", it is an eclectic mix of ten originals comprised of Blues, R&B, Soul, Jazz, Delta, and Gospel. PICKETT RE-INVENTS HIMSELF It's worth mentioning here that Pickett laid down an acoustic guitar track on Blues Money... he hadn't taken his guitar out of the box for 20 years. He did the same on Conversation With The Blues. His focus was still on the band but he found himself steadily drawn back into the realm of acoustic Blues which was how it all began for him as a 13 year old discovering Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. In 2001, he immersed himself in the guitar and was soon practicing up to 14 hours a day. This musical transition transformed him into a formidable guitarist on the six-string and National Steel-Bodied Duolian. In the fall of 2002, leaving the band behind, he re-emerged revealing yet another layer of his seemingly endless reservoir of musical talents. With exceptional rack harmonica skills and powerful vocals, he delivers charismatic, compelling, and passionate performances that are charged with electricity, authenticity, and a unique style. He puts his own spin on obscure tunes of legendary icons such as Robert Johnson, Bukka White, Mississippi John Hurt, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee and showcases his own potent material. This songwriter has evolved into an eclectic and captivating storyteller through Delta Blues, Country, Folk, and Americana, revealing a profound understanding of where this music comes from and why it stands the test of time. As a solo acoustic artist touring North America, the UK, and Europe, in Blues, Folk, Jazz clubs, coffee houses, house concerts, theatres, and festivals - he receives standing ovations and calls for encores. He has hosted and participated in harmonica and acoustic guitar workshops and his presence in songwriting circles has proven to be extremely valuable because of his authentic representation/interpretation of acoustic Roots/Blues. -------- He has played and/or shared the stage with Big Mama Thornton . John Lee Hooker . James Cotton . Jeff Healey . Bo Diddley . Koko Taylor . Downchild Blues Band . John Hammond . Matt "Guitar" Murphy . Doug Kershaw . Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith . Snooky Pryor . Sunnyland Slim . Lazy Lester . Tom Rush . Josh White Jr . Rory Block . Matt Minglewood . T.Graham Brown . Kentucky Headhunters . Hubert Sumlin . Taj Mahal . Muddy Waters . Son Seals . Big Bill Morganfield . Robert Cray . Buddy Guy . Jon Cleary . Tea Party . Gary Nicholson . The Players . Fortunate Sons . Colin Linden . Brian Stoltz . George Porter Jr . Rev. Billy C Wirtz . The Nighthawks . Lee Oskar . Mark Hummell . Jerry Portnoy and more. In 1988, Michael's voice was chosen to be The Budman in an unprecedented seven year Budweiser 'Blues' campaign which aired nationwide on radio and tv. . A jingle career was born and Michael's voice/sings/harp were used in a vast number of commercials across Canada and into the US.