Michael William Harrison

Band History

Michael William Harrison is now in his sixth year as a folksinger of American, Irish and Scottish folksongs. Michael cut his music teeth in Detroit some time back as a singing drummer working with folk music icon, Michael Smith ("The Dutchman"). The mid-seventies demise of many of the folk music rooms left him in search of a new direction and in 1977 he headed for Texas.

In 1998, after several years in and out of country-rock bands, Michael decided to follow his heart and return to folk music as a solo performer. "It was about that time that I saw Riverdance," he said, "and was simply moved. As a kid growing up in Detroit, individual heritage was not something we carried around; but, it was understood in my family that we were Irish and English and I now know that my great-grandmother came from Dunmore in County Galway. Riverdance brought my Irish spirit rushing to the surface and I wanted to embrace the heritage. Since I was just starting out as a solo folksinger, singing some Irish folksongs was a logical avenue, besides - I can't dance a lick."

Michael can be found performing at pubs, festivals, coffeehouses and house concerts from Dallas/Fort Worth across Texas and the U.S. A few years back Michael co-produced "Into The West: Celts In Texas", - a musical look at the trail connecting Celtic folksongs to Texas; and he was also chosen to perform on a special Kerrville Folk Festival radio documentary series presented by Austin's NPR affiliate KUT.

Information from the artist's site

Members

• Michael William Harrison guitar, lead vocals, vocals

Sound Description

Folksongs of Ireland, Scotland and America