Michael Powers

Music was his destiny from the moment Michael Powers entered the world in 1952 in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father, James B. Murchison, was a merchant marine who sailed around the world before settling in Bayonne where he opened a local shop. Mr. Murchison divided his time between New Jersey and North Carolina working on tobacco fields in the summers. From early on, Michael would be familiar with the rural South, the blues, Gospel and segregation. He would always remember "Porch Blues"? men gathering nightly on their porches with their electric guitars and tiny amplifiers.

The Sunday Gospel, the preacher's rap, the choir of women going into trances were permanently etched in Michael's mind.

Watching Michael at age 7 walk around with a broom pretending it was a guitar when the Rock It Hour appeared on television, Doris Powers bought her son a guitar by cashing in a book of saving stamps. Soon after, a friend visited with a guitar and played a song. Michael rushed back to his room and played that exact tune. From then on, Doris was convinced that her son had a special talent and imposed a strict musical routine. Every day, Michael had to listen to records and play along with them. Doris' words 'Michael turn the record over" still echo in his ears. It would prove to be a strong influence as Doris' favorites included Muddy Waters, Lightnin' Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, Billie Holiday, and John Lee Hooker.

At 12 Michael Powers would run across the street from the family shop in New Jersey to see an entertainer that played weekly at Max's ? none other than the great Jimmy Reed. Jimmy Reed played harmonica and guitar, sang and stomped while his wife played tambourine and sang in harmony. Seeing Jimmy Reed was a true revelation and influence, quickly followed by the first US televised performance of the Beatles and the guitar wizardry of Jimi Hendrix, all of which had an impact on Michael's musical direction.

While in high school, Michael started his first band the RB ZigZags. He then joined for a brief spell the Ad Libs, who recorded the cult hit "Boy from New York City". The Ad Libs routinely toured with the top ten bands of the country and opened, among others, for the Everly Brothers, Kool & the Gang (then called the Soul Town Review), The Box Tops, and Richie Havens.

Upon settling back in New York in the 70s, Michael formed a new band, Moonbeam, and played the New York City club circuit during the heyday of the Blues Brothers, The Ritz, and the New York Dolls. The band, which would stay together for 13 years, toured all over the country and opened for such artists as James Brown, Bo Diddley, and the Ronettes. Michael also toured with James Cotton, sharing the stage with such icons as Chuck Berry, Johnny Winter, Robert Cray and John Lee Hooker.

After the Moonbeam's breakup, Michael Powers went solo taking his virtuosity and sound for both acoustic and electric guitar and writing powerful originals. In 2002, after many years and many gigs, Michael was ?rediscovered? one night in a New York City club by Andrew Mullhaupt of Baryon Records. The critically-acclaimed debut solo album, Onyx Root (2004 Baryon Records), received two blues music awards nominations in 2005 ? Best New Artist Debut and Contemporary Blues Album of the Year.

Influenced by the greatest bluesmen in history, Michael Powers is one of them with his own unique sound, style and soulful talent.