Michael Dean Church was born in a part of our country where hard work is just a part of everyday life. Welch, WV isn’t glamorous. Dreams there are filled with the day to day struggle of working coalminers trying to survive. The work is dark, dirty and dangerous; but it binds the community together like no other profession.
Families gather in small churches each Sunday where music becomes a food for their souls. Almost every family has at least one guitar player or banjo picker representing their family. Some family’s have those that can sing. You learn to appreciate your neighbor, developing the skills of respect and concern when you grow up there. All of this becomes a part of who you are.
On any given day, something could happen in a coal mine that would change your life forever. Church’s father was injured in a mining accident, while Church was just a toddler. Unable to continue mining, Church’s father worked at the mine as security. By the time Church was twelve, the local mines began to close, leaving his family no choice but to relocate to where work was available.
They packed-up the family, and headed for Rome, Georgia where Michael Dean Church found himself in a whole new environment. Here the mountains didn’t block the radio waves. All types of music eagerly flowed into the Church’s home: country, blues, pop, R&B, and Gospel. Michael Dean Church soaked-up what he heard, singing to the radio, noticing, not just the rhythm and beat, but also the emotions that the singers expressed when they sang a lyric. He developed the ability to interpret the emotion of a song vocally, while still a young teenager.
Michael Dean Church further explored his new found singing abilities in high school by joining the choir. He over came his self-conscious fears and near shy tendencies. In speaking about his first experience in front of an audience Church stated, “My knees were knocking, and I was terrified. But once I realized that I could effect people and make them happy, then, I was hooked.â€
After graduating from high-school, Michael Dean Church began testing the waters by performing in the night clubs around Rome, GA. He developed a strong following of fans. After constantly hearing the words “you should move to Nashville†from fans, family, and friends… Church decided it was time to follow the advice and move to Nashville.
But Nashville can be a tuff town to navigate. Breaking into the inter circle of influential industry professionals takes an extreme level of talent… just to get noticed. Trusting in his faith, Michael Dean Church knew that the right people would be there at the right time. After hours of singing demos, developing his song writing skills, and meeting with industry notables, fate shined down on Michael Dean Church. It was a sit down meeting arranged by Michael’s Long time friend and mentor Steven Sharp, That introduced him to Legendary Producers Russ Zavitson and Tony Haselden, they immediately took notice of Michael’s talent and potential. and the three of them immediately went to work searching for the perfect songs, that would both complement and showcase Church’s Unique vocal range and style. Many months and hundreds of Songs later, Michael Dean Church is now armed, not only with faith and the determination to succeed, but also the talent and grit to move forward. This is a project worthy of attention.
