Jaime Michaels Biography (short)
Jaime Michaels is a Santa Fe, New Mexico-based contemporary folk-Americana
Accompanying himself on his wonderfully worn Taylor guitar, Michaels performs his own songs and choice covers around the U.S. and in Europe -- playing house concerts, festivals, and venues large and small. His 12th studio album, How To Shine, was released worldwide on the Italian label Appaloosa Records on April 22, 2023.
Jaime Michaels Biography (long)
Jaime Michaels is a Santa Fe, New Mexico-based contemporary folk-Americana
Accompanying himself on his wonderfully worn Taylor guitar, Michaels performs his own songs and choice covers around the U.S. and in Europe -- playing house concerts, festivals, and venues large and small. His 12th studio album, How To Shine, was released worldwide on the Italian label Appaloosa Records on April 22, 2023.
Music has always been a part of his life – whether it was singing church hymns in Latin, his parents playing an old upright piano in the parlor, or his Uncle Joe teaching him his first chords on an old guitar that he left him when he entered the army. Inspired by his all-time musical hero Tom Rush, who Michaels views as a genius at finding songs that speak universally, he embarked on his musical journey with solo gigs in the coffeehouses of Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, followed by several years in an acoustic trio (Beckett) that opened shows for Livingston Taylor, Doc Watson, Dave Van Ronk, Earl Scruggs, and Jonathan Edwards, among others.
The 1980s found Michaels living in the South Carolina low country, spreading his rock and roll wings as lead singer for cult rockers The Truly Dangerous Swamp Band – with whom he spent eight years crisscrossing the country playing colleges and bars and opening shows for such notable artists as Little Feat, Delbert McClinton and Bonnie Raitt. Having tired of the rock and roll road life, he returned to his first love, acoustic music.
After moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1997, Jaime Michaels began to seriously
Although most of Michaels’ recordings feature his own original compositions, Unknown Blessings is comprised of primarily cover tunes written by artists with whom he shares a love of the late-night song circles at the Kerrville Folk Festival, the renowned songwriters’ festival in the Texas Hill Country. He donates all the monies from the sale of that album to the Kerrville Folk Music Foundation, earmarked for its teen music camp. Michaels has also graced the festival’s main stage, and most recently was a judge for the prestigious Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition. Michaels has performed at the Tucson Folk Festival, the Minnesota Folk Festival, and as part of the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival’s Emerging Artists Showcase. Committed to using his music to help others, he has appeared in numerous benefit concerts over the years.
In 2020, the global pandemic struck just as Jaime Michaels was heading to Italy for a tour in support of Appaloosa Records release, If You Fall. During the intervening years, he performed various concerts online – including his ongoing series called Like the Tune? Feed a Kid!, in which he sings songs by some of his favorite songwriters and encourages listeners to donate to Chef Jose Andrus’ World Central Kitchen that helps feed people in need around the globe.
Michaels has continued writing new songs; his most recent endeavor is a re-recording of “In My Home,” a co-write with Austin songwriter Jeff Talmadge, about the strange times that we find ourselves in. A global undertaking, once again helmed by producer Jono Manson, it features musicians and vocalists from the U.S., Italy, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The recording is part of an Italian project called Shaidia. Co -produced by Appaloosa Records and Centro Astalli, a Jesuit foundation in Rome, the project aims to raise funds to aid immigrant refugees.
Next up in Jaime Michaels’ ongoing musical adventures is a tour of Italy in support
SOME KIND WORDS
“What are you looking for? Whispers of your youth? A honky-tonk groove? Practical philosophy for a satisfied mind? You'll find that and more on Jaime Michaels' album How to Shine, all delivered with his crisp, sweet vocals and multi-flavored arrangements.”
Marilyn Rea Beyer, Host of The Midnight Special, WFMT, Chicago
"Much like the folkier side of Paul Simon, who seems a clear mentor, Michaels’ lyrical skills allow him to be reflective and wry in his crafty word-play...The tunes throughout are always clever, mostly upbeat, but never sappy -- wine sipping rather than beer drinking music.”
Roots Music Report
"Jaime Michaels' songs are as elusive as smoke and mirrors...His voice raspy with sadness and longing, Michaels pens contemporary tunes where love shines from within like a falling star..."
Sing Out!
"He writes songs with special meanings...with a sense of purpose, a sense of belief that music is as critical to life as breathing itself.”
Wanda Adams Fischer/WAMC
“Michaels watches the side currents of life, not the hurtlingly frantic noise and images…far more the missed opportunities, the mistakes, the wrinkles in the heart. We may be living through the 21st century, but work like his takes us back to a Mayberry that's a lot scruffier around the edges, an indeterminate era when our fantasies about such things danced a little differently.”
Mark Tucker - FAME
"Jaime Michaels writes songs that follow the lives of ancestors and neighbors in tales told with the graceful edge of a master storyteller”
Danny McCloskey - the AlternateRoot.com
"An evening listening to Jaime Michaels is like spending an evening in Neverland. You get experience forgotten wonder, joy, and romance for romance's sake, without the cares of the world weighing you down. Jaime is a masterful singer/songwriter!"
Michael Downie / Room With A View Concerts
"Jaime is truly an inspiring artist. He has been creating great art for a while now, having amassed a 10-CD catalogue at this point. He's gained recognition nationally and is widely regarded as a songwriter's songwriter. And, it's funny that just this year he earned an "Emerging Artist" showcase at Falcon Ridge. I'd call it a Lifetime Achievement award, instead. But either definition would be misleading. Jaime is a vital, alive, creative, artist who is as sharp, in touch, poignant and timely as anyone. He's simply an artist committed to growing who is on the journey with a mission to seek, learn and connect with art. Thanks for helping to make sure that his music is heard!"
Erik Balkey / Hudson Harding Music
"Unknown Blessings is a heartelt love letter to the artists and songs that have come to define the Kerrville Folk Festival. These 14 finely wrought tunes, two of which Michaels co-wrote , are a reminder that evenin this age of hipster groove-folk and layer cake production, in the end, it's all about the song"
April Reese - indie journalist
"It's astounding the things you can pick up sitting around the campfire at the Kerrville Folk Extraviganza. Jaime Michaels has assembled a collection of some of the finest songwriters on the folk music carousel for Unknown Blessings including this gem ("dirty wine") penned by Michaels and Annie Wenz. This isn't 'train spotter' folk music folks. Dirty Wine is a crafty blend of folk, jazz and shuffling blues with hints of Chet Atkins, Wes Montgomery and Lionel Hampton. Tasty!"
theAlternateRoot.com
"Jaime's "Unknown Blessings" contains many sweet surprises. Whether he's covering another's song or one of his own, Jaime brings energy and joy to the music. Blessings, indeed."
Wanda Adams Fisher" - WAMC/NY
"When booking Four Friends Acoustic Music Series, I look for the songwriter's songwriter. Jaime Michaels fits that description and fulfilled my expectations with zest, soulful, heart-bending lyrics, and clean expertise in the guitar department. His humor suited the audience, and kept everyone engaged and delighted with his fine storytelling ability. He brought a good group of fans out to our beautiful warm venue in Thousand Oaks, California.
I look forward to seeing him perform again.....anywhere, anytime."
Marilyn Babcock / Four Friends Acoustic Music Series
“Looks like the muse has found a home.”
Caroline Aiken
"...romance, longing, catchy tunes, lovely melodies, blues . . . and twists in perspectives, all wrapped in finely crafted stanzas. The lyrics stand alone as pure poetry...this thoughtful artist will make you think, ponder, and wonder - right along with him.”
Dirty Linen Magazine
...Jaime Michaels' songs are as elusive as smoke and mirrors...His voice raspy with sadness and longing, Michaels pens contemporary tunes where love shines from within like a falling star...
Sing Out!
"Energetic and fun, Jaime captivated us with his guitar work and stage presence, with lyrics both self-deprecating and from the heart. He made an instant connection with the audience … a real delight!"
Muse-ical House Concerts – Dallas, TX
“Jaime's beautiful songs, strong but mellow vocals and lovely guitar work made for a fine, audience pleasing performance. Most notable is Jaime's ability to connect personally with his listeners. His engaging stage presence and wonderful, varied material kept the audience completely involved and entertained. We hope to have him back again!”
Alexa McDonald – Granite Peak Folk Sessions
"…(Michaels) melts into his music rich instrumentations, influences from all of the last century and creates…music that could very well suit teenagers as well as adults. Although the term has been over used, this is truly 'new folk'...Michaels is expanding the limits of the genre and is surely an artist to follow."
FAME
". . . each of the albums cuts sparkle like precious gems in the nighttime desert sky. . . a masterful understatement from a singer-songwriter who knows the value of space and subtle shadings."
taylorguitars.com
“Equal parts wit and wisdom . . .”
Performing Songwriter Magazine
“. . . Jaime Michaels’ use of language is uncommonly exquisite. His songs and writing have the hand rubbed luster of universally personal feelings. When they touch you, you feel as if you’ve held them before, then you wonder if you really have.”
Two Louie’s Magazine