What does the pathway to success look like? Following in the footsteps of many who have gone before him, singer/songwriter Michael Scarlett is on the path that he hopes will lead him to success as a recording artist.In 2000, Scarlett was featured in Belmont University’s Pop/Rock Showcase, a rare opportunity for a freshman. Each year, Belmont University hosts five showcase concerts that feature artists from the school in the Gospel, Pop/Rock, Country, Writer, and Other categories. To be chosen, each artist must first submit an audition tape. Then, from the audition tapes, industry professionals select eight artists for a live audition. A separate panel of industry professionals watches the live audition and selects four artists for the showcase. Scarlett’s inclusion in the showcase fueled the flame to his already big dreams of music fame.Hailing from Joshua, Texas, a town 30 miles south of Fort Worth, Scarlett has been singing since he was a child. However, it wasn’t until he was 15 that he was encouraged to pursue music. Michael’s first performance came when he sang “Another Time, Another Place†with his mother at their church. The pastor liked it so much, they were asked to sing it two more times that day. Later on, Scarlett joined his first group called Three, comprised of Scarlett and two of his friends. Three performed R & B, Christian, and Pop accapella music. Their performance of the national anthem at a high school pep rally turned a loud crowd silent from the first note to the last note. Once the anthem was finished, the silent crowd erupted in a loud ovation. This was Scarlett’s first taste of success.In high school, Michael teamed up with a group named Seal’d and performed with them on all of their praise and worship music. In September 1999, Michael performed with Seal’d at a memorial service for the victims of the shootings at Wedgewood Baptist Church. There were services for three days. The night Seal’d performed, noted Christian youth speaker and radio show host Dawson McAllister spoke.Throughout his short career, Michael has enjoyed the people who have come into his life through music. One person that he learned a lot from was Motown bassist, Ron Brown, who produced Michael’s first recording session. Brown has recorded with Barry White, Stevie Wonder, the Beach Boys, the Jackson 5, ect. According to Michael, “I don’t think there’s anybody he hasn’t played with.â€In the summer of 2000 Scarlett recorded his first promotional CD called The Project CD, this independently recorded CD, was released in the fall of 2000. During that same summer, Brown passed along his experiences to Scarlett. The influence of Brown on Michael’s music is evident in the change of the young singer’s Pop oriented sound to a stronger R & B feel.Michael’s music has been influenced by a variety of different styles of music as well as a variety of different artists. First, as a child, he was only allowed to listen to Christian music. The first CD Michael ever bought was a Steven Curtis Chapman album. Not surprisingly, Chapman continues to be a major influence on the young singer’s music. “Every song he writes seems like it has a different story behind it,†Michael exclaims, “ and really touches your heart.†Around his eighth grade year, Michael received a Take 6 album for Christmas, and, for the first time, found a love for R & B music. Brian Mc Knight is another R & B artist that has influenced Scarlett’s music. Michael says that he “especially loves his musical content, the way he writes music. I think he’s a genius in the musicly!†Mc Knight’s influence is clearly heard in Michael’s voice. In fact, it was during the recording of The Project CD that a producer gave him the nickname “McWhite.†It only takes one listen to understand why this nickname fits Michael so well.Finally in 2001, a big year for Scarlett's career, he teamed up with Mike Berens, formerly of the group 4AM and now producer with Hollywood Studios. Together they expierimented with music and out of that great expierience they built a long lasting relationship and still today they constantly exchange sounds to help each others career. In that same year Scarlett was offered a contract, while singing in a group called 3WG, with Popcorn Music, an artist development company based in Hollywood. Scarlett was leary at first about signing a contract until he discovered who his producer would be, David Thomas. The significance was that Dave, as Scarlett calls him, is apart of the very group that Michael was awe struck over. TAKE 6!This blend of influences and experiences is what makes Michael’s music unique. “What I like about music,†Michael says, “ is having the ability to express yourself. To be able to do whatever you want to do. It allows you to speak your mind and tell what you are really thinking.†Learning from the variety of music around him, Michael forges ahead along the pathway to success combining the sounds of Christian pop and R & B in his own unique style.
