Like his song "Jack of All Trades" says, singer/songwriter Michael Gaither has done a bit of everything: journalist, corporate trainer, even joke writer for Jay Leno. All roads danced around - and eventually led back to - writing. And music. He favors songs with stories and tales of day-to-day life: Big cars. Bad drivers. A baby’s first steps. Dogs, horses, and mules. His debut CD, the 2006 release "Spotted Mule and Other Tales", is an Americana mix of folk, bluegrass, and a little gospel.
Michael’s song “Entertaining an Angel”, from that debut, was one of 20 winning entries in the Indie Artists Alliance "Songwriters and Storytellers" contest in May of 2007. "Good God Man How Big a Car Do You Need?", also from "Spotted Mule..", was featured on NPR's "Car Talk" with "Click 'n' Clack".
"Dogspeed", his 2009 follow up, is another Americana story collection. This time most of the songs are autobiographical and cover similar ground. “Dogs” is the animal motif this time around, as conveyed in "Roselle" the true story of a four-legged hero from 9-11. There are also stories of rock-concerts past, a nostalgic trip back to his father's career building county roads and state highways, and a bittersweetlook at a small farm town overrun with development. The humorous “bad driver, big cars” thread from the first record continues on “Dogspeed” with “Hang It Up”, a rant about cell phone abuse.
Besides performing his own material, Michael runs a monthly open mic and songwriter's night at the Wooden Nickel Bar and Grill in Watsonville and has promoted and played at small local festivals, including the annual "Vintner's Festival Weekend" at Roudon-Smith Winery in Scotts Valley and "November-fest" at Pacific Crest Apiaries in Watsonville, California.
Michael produces and hosts "Songs and Stories", a bi-monthly songwriting podcast which features stories behind his songs and interviews with other songwriters. (He also appreciates hearing other people's stories.) "Songs and Stories" can be heard on his web site at www.michaelgaither.com, in iTunes (it's a free subscription) and Friday evenings on Grateful Dread Radio, a Baltimore-based Internet station carried by the Live365 network.
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"Michael draws the audience into the music through his intelligent, sophisticated lyrics about common everyday subjects to which we can all relate. He sounds like Bob Dylan, if Dylan was born in Texas and moved to Santa Cruz".
(Ruby Slippers, KVMR-FM, Nevada City, CA)
"I have this CD ["Dogspeed"] and also "Spotted Mule...". I love the way Michael crafts his lyrics and speaks about everyday stuff that you wouldn't think to make into a song." (CD Baby customer)
"If you are looking to add some toe tappin’ music to your mule ride or porch sittin’, check out Michael’s CD’s. Shoot, play his songs for your mule. Your mule will thank you!" (Deb Kidwell, Lake Nowhere Mule and Donkey Farm, Martin TN)
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