Danny Michel: Difference between revisions
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== Biography == |
== Biography == |
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Danny Michel was born in 1970 close to the "[[Smiles n' Chuckles]]" chocolate factory in [[Kitchener-Waterloo]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]. (The family name "Michel" is often mistaken for being of French ethnicity, but is actually German). |
Danny Michel was born in 1970 close to the "[[Smiles n' Chuckles]]" chocolate factory in [[Kitchener-Waterloo]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]. (The family name "Michel" is often mistaken for being of French ethnicity, but is actually German). |
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At age 16 or 17 Danny played his in his first band, opening for punk outfit [[D.O.A.]] |
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Michel became a member of [[The Rhinos]] in 1988. Members included [[Rob Carli]], [[Darren Iles]], [[Mike Blanchard]], [[Syd Hovinga]], and [[Steve Kendall]]. The band released a trio of albums on [[Kinetic Records]]. Michel went solo in 1995.[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wzfqxqwkldde~T1] |
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By 1995, Danny was opening for acts that included [[The Beat Farmers]] and [[Jonathan Richman]]. During this period he also spent some time with R.E.M., a cover band whose initials stood for Regurgitated Eighties Music. He also performed as a duo in Ontario with [[Paul MacLeod]] and established "Danny Michel & the Collectables". |
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His 1997 debut CD, Before the World Was Round, was a critical and popular success. Canada's Radio Sonic, broadcast by the [[CBC Radio|CBC]], ranked it among that year's Top Ten releases. Michel reaped similar success with his second effort, Clear. Subsequent tours broadened his fan base. One took him to Whitehorse in the Yukon, and around the whole country. Another sent him to Europe playing guitar with [[Gwen Swick]], a folk-rock artist. |
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In the late 1990s, he moved to Ottawa, where he developed a loyal following with a weekly show at the Manx Pub on Elgin St. At the same time, he began to amass an extensive repertoire of original tunes, and briefly joined local power-pop band Starling in 1999. He soon switched from his position as the band's bassist to guitarist and, not long after, the group inked a contract with Time Bomb Recordings, a California label. Despite the increased demands on his time, Michel forged ahead with another solo album, Fibsville, which was issued toward the end of 1999. Critics again welcomed his music, often zeroing in on his flair for lyrics. Not long after, Time Bomb issued Starling's first album, Sustainer. Michel left Starling in 2000. |
In the late 1990s, he moved to Ottawa, where he developed a loyal following with a weekly show at the Manx Pub on Elgin St. At the same time, he began to amass an extensive repertoire of original tunes, and briefly joined local power-pop band Starling in 1999. He soon switched from his position as the band's bassist to guitarist and, not long after, the group inked a contract with Time Bomb Recordings, a California label. Despite the increased demands on his time, Michel forged ahead with another solo album, Fibsville, which was issued toward the end of 1999. Critics again welcomed his music, often zeroing in on his flair for lyrics. Not long after, Time Bomb issued Starling's first album, Sustainer. Michel left Starling in 2000. |
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Revision as of 15:32, 28 December 2009
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Danny Michel is a singer-songwriter from Kitchener, Ontario.
Biography
Danny Michel was born in 1970 close to the "Smiles n' Chuckles" chocolate factory in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. (The family name "Michel" is often mistaken for being of French ethnicity, but is actually German).
In the late 1990s, he moved to Ottawa, where he developed a loyal following with a weekly show at the Manx Pub on Elgin St. At the same time, he began to amass an extensive repertoire of original tunes, and briefly joined local power-pop band Starling in 1999. He soon switched from his position as the band's bassist to guitarist and, not long after, the group inked a contract with Time Bomb Recordings, a California label. Despite the increased demands on his time, Michel forged ahead with another solo album, Fibsville, which was issued toward the end of 1999. Critics again welcomed his music, often zeroing in on his flair for lyrics. Not long after, Time Bomb issued Starling's first album, Sustainer. Michel left Starling in 2000.
In 2001 Danny released "In the Belly of a Whale".
In 2003 Danny signed a record deal with MapleMusicRecordings/Universal Canada & releases "Tales from the Invisible Man" & "Valhalla"
In 2004, Michel was nominated for Best New Artist at the Juno Awards following the release of his album Tales from the Invisible Man the previous year. The award went to Michael Bublé
As a songwriter, he has released eight albums, including an album devoted to covers of David Bowie songs. His albums have often been recorded in a home-studio with him performing most, if not all, instruments. Best known for his creative solo shows he often loops live samples of his guitar and other instruments to create a richly layered performance—something he's been doing since the early 90s and is doing less of lately due to the guitar loop craze. He is a unique & talented guitarist and songwriter who is universally lauded for his lyrics, having been compared to Elvis Costello and received accolades from renowned Canadian author Timothy Findley. In 2004/2005 Danny took a break for a while but continued doing a lot of studio work, producing & playing guitar in Sarah Harmer's band.
He’s opened for various artists, including Frank Black, Daniel Lanois, and Jonathan Richman.
In 2007, legendary Texan rocker Alejandro Escovedo mentioned his love of Danny's records in U.S. Harp Magazine.
In 2008 Danny went completely independent again, releasing his own albums and managing his own career. During this time he's done intensive solo touring, composed music for TV & Film, been invited on 3 Vinyl Cafe tours as musical guest by Stuart McLean, released a DVD double CD set that was nominated for another Juno award, hosted his own show on CBC radio called "Under the Covers". And released his latest album, Feather, Fur & Fin, on March 26, 2008.
In addition to recording and producing his own material, he also shares his production skills with other talent and is quickly making a name for himself as a producer and mixer. Recently working on projects with Damhnait Doyle, Ayla Brook, Dog Bus, AA Sound System, Leeroy Stagger, James Moors and more
Discography
- Clear (1998)
- Fibsville (1999)
- In the Belly of a Whale (2001)
- Tales From the Invisible Man (2003)
- Loving the Alien (2004)
- Valhalla (2006)
- Welcome Home (2007)
- Feather, Fur & Fin (2008)
References