About Me
If you'd like to include one of my banners on your page,
just copy and paste the code below...
WOW WOW WOW that was truly awesome Michael, I have just spent the past hour listening to you sing and it was mind blowingly awesome...You have a truly wonderful gift with your voice... Roslyn Michael, Your music truly validates peaces of my soul... My loyalty to specific music "types" is nonexistent. However, your style is exquisite... your voice, beautifully resilient! Bravo! You have touched my world... thank you (: Samantha Michael! I love your voice! Beautiful! You have a true large and growing voice, there is no implosion, no collapse, the harmonics of your voice are large and increasing...it is like open arms. Sanda I still have tears in my eyes after listening to your interpretation of Hallelujah. Beata Dear Michael, After work today , I listened to your wonderful warming and comforting voice , your voice and the words of those songs felt like a caress taking me to a relaxing world of clouds where nothing else existed ..Only a cloud of a soft voice and mellow music reaching straight in my hearth !! Thank you Michael ,for inviting me to remember that love and romance still exist!I thought that I could have that feeling only when creating my recipes.!!But you brought me to a young age again !! I'm proud to be your friend... AngelaBewitching, caressing an ear, a romantic voice..... I repeatedly heard your songs... For me honour to become your friend Natalia Dear Michael! You make my day happy! Im just listening your music, close my eyes and enjoy it! Really makes me to cryin! Its so beautyfull... Your kind of music has no culture in my Country, and Im really sad about. Im wishin you all the best from my heart!I love you since today,and Ill be your fan! Monika wow..... amazing voice sent shivers through me ... ever time i listen to it. you have an amazing voice just touches one soul Debra You know,Michael,I truly like these rock-n-roll notes in your voice and how the jazz wonderful variations,music is put on it or better say-it happens to be excellent combination-so intelligent sounding,so sophisticated and so soft,like a blessing covering the whole soul..and you know what?-your music heals!!! i understand such things-it really aligns,as to say, the energy field! Vlada I LOVE your music and I think you are very very gorgeous. I love your version of Wicked Game. I love your voice and after hearing you sing it I felt so weak!! I played it over and over. I AM NOW YOUR BIGGEST FAN! Aimee Michael, I love it. I love that kind of music and you will go far. You say you were a crooner and if so just keep on. I love your voice and I don't understand why I have not heard about you before. You are wonderful in every way and I hope to hear more from you and your music. Jan Michael, you made me dream with fools rush in...A sad and tender song... Temi My dear Michael, I must confess that your voice and your music moved me so much, although my kind of music is much different...!! Xenia Your voice still touches me! Birdie Your voice is one of the most beautiful voices that I have ever heard - the pleasure is all mine and for this week you shall be playing at the Sydney Opera House on my profile. Tiki WOW What a voice you have. Its beautiful. I could listen to you all day. Absolutely amazing. Rachael I was browsing through my friends and came across your page. When I stopped and listened I was hypnotized by your alluring voice and your soulful style of music. I can say you have an incredible voice and I would like to come back again as a guest. Laurie ok this is like candy, R u the candy man or what? Your song by Sir Elton John..Right on David Bowies Heroes blows me out of the water,Smooth from Santana is amazing and Queens Somebody to love, Well Ill just smoke a cigg or cigar and pour me a drink!!!!!!!! You are killen me here. I think Suanne and I should come see you perform!!!! Im sticken to my story that you are like great sex or a great cup of coffee!!!! thats what I say and stand by that!!!! Thank you for letting me in your "secret space" Shari My heart just melts when I hear your voice. You could sing to me all day long! I loved all the songs! You have this very unique voice that totally relaxes me. Dusty You have a fantastic voice. It takes my breath away...Wow... Lissa Michael your voice is fabulous, i say before and tell you again and the music is bella. Mary Thank you for the sneak previews of your song's - I especially loved your version "Your song" This is one of my all time favourites and you give it justice. You really have such a smooth voice and I love listening to you - I find you relax me which is a good thing!! Your fan and supporter Donna Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I always love your music, makes me feel like dancing slow dance. i would love to use one of them as a bridal waltz....so romantic! thank you!! Can i have one word for you: "WOW!!!!" you have a smooth voice, and i like it...and you play jazz...and i love this kind of music and i' m very curious... especially about music... i love everythings give me good "vibrations" and your voice is one of that. daniele Dear Michael, Thank you so much for your songs. Since I downloaded them, can’t stop listening… I thought I knew these songs, but I stand corrected, you rediscover this beautiful music to me. Your voice is so powerful, a voice of an angel. Now, I can say I can hear an angel singing. Vesna thank you SO much for the new, old tune- a classic, and yes, a favorite. you have a knack for that. made me want to dance, a slow romantic dance. your voice was made for such a song. Stacy Dear Michael, I have been listening to your music, and I loved it! What a wonderful voice you have! Your voice is so pure and powerful that it invites us to a different world! Kimmie Thanks for making my day, I heard your tracks "hidden place"-site and I loved your versions of Wicked Game and You Got It, Your versions are even better then the originals - Cool! Motoko I really love your songs. It makes me love my husband a lot. I wake him up sometimes just for the kisses loool. Hanan I don't know what to make of "All the World' other than I really like it... And then come the incredibly distinctive (unusual) lead vocal(s). There's "hearing" and there's "listening" -- these vocals made me listen... is so damned interesting that the record becomes the musical equivalent of a page-turner. After listening to way too many records at garageBand.com, I'm considering your record to be one of my few rewards. Finally, a record I can give extra credit for originality. Russ Buchanan WOW WOW WOW Michael!!! Love the music. What a beautiful voice you have :) I could listen to you for hours! Niki Michael, How could anyone not like your singing? I think it's really perfect. Right now I'm listening to your version of "Wicked Game". Is there anything better in this world? Mimi Michael ~ thanks for doing "Wicked Games" - one of my favorites as well. You've mastered that song and made it your own! It's very difficult for me to really like a song and then hear someone else sing it and actually like the new version better. You're an absolute winner. Connie I just wanted to say that i loved your cover of Roy Orbison's You Got It, that you sent via the link a couple of days ago! it was brilliant! Kasey 'Under my skin' made the hairs at the back of my neck stand.. U have an awesome voice... and I'm not even a jazz fan!!! Nice Work!! Safina
Your version of UNDER MY SKIN should be in a movie. It's a great version of the song Dionne Lennon Review of "all the World" @ Garageband: The song seems to take off sideways and keeps going straight ahead, on its side, without a hint of imbalance. Great Vocals, As well as guitars and also fantastic songwriting. You should be a commercial success.
Haiko Garian: Songwriter "Canadian class and style descends on Melbourne. Michael Bell's uber hip sound will lead us into another dark and moody Winter this year, his music radiating from the all elusive inner-city laneway bars and clubs. With Bowie style and sounds, Canada never looked so good."
David Jamieson (Australian Regional Trade Commissioner USA/Music) "All the World".... Psychedelia is alive and well and living in 2007 The Dukes of the Stratoshpere caught lightning in a bottle almost 20 years ago when they released 25 O'clock. Well lightning has apparently struck twice. Here's another rband bringing back music from 40 years ago. Like the Dukes before them who couldn't completely diguise XTC, these guys are definitely not simply aping musical style like so many retro look bellbottoms for sale at Target. THese guys have lived through Peter Gabriel, Late 80s WInwood, and others in the clutch of danceable art rock. The song definitely relies on the groove laid down rather than any pop music convention. The vocals, while not entirely my cup of tea, are perfectly suited for hallucinagenic atmosphere developed here.THe lyric is in the grand tradition of pseudo-deep nonsense that is stock and trade of psychedelia. (Not exactly a putdown, I mean, Incense and Peppermint is pretty meaningless) They work well here, and, after all, lyrics aren't the main point. The acoustic guitar at the beginning seems a bit out of place, especially when the Cream- era Clapton guitar comes in. A very interesting and well done take on updating a style that's been done a lot although rarely with this kind of success. It really grew on me the more I listened to it, which I guess is the true measure of a song's value.
Mojo Philter (Musician) "All The World".... Psychodelica-icious! Dude, I MUST have this tune jammin' at my next house party! This is THE party tune: Blacklights, drinks, crazed friends, good times, and THIS SONG!!! But you probably want to hear what I think, eh? Really, there's no negative things I can think to say on this tune (and that in and of itself is indeed a rarity!). The vocals have a oh-so-cool Bowie feel, and I would give my left teste to sound like. Matter of fact, this track could easily be the lost "Spiders from Mars" b-side that the Bowie devotees never got to hear. The music is avant-garde and beyond easy classification. The plethora of instruments make this the kind of tune best enjoyed with headphones. "All the world," needs to hear this piece of absolute original perfectionl.
Pianocidal (Musician) "360 Look Around" I love it! The modes and wierd scales you use sets the melody of this song off totally. It was really really trippy. I love how the drummer changes his groove around the one minute mark, The chorus was irressistable. Great guitar solo and key changes. man! the vocalist on this track was just amazing. GREAT! Harmonies! Great LYrics, great everything. I love the influences i hear in this song....you guys are great!
Chris Mathien (Musician)
The Early Days 1961-1973
I was born in Etobicoke Toronto Canada. Raised by my father and grandparents, I was a bit "outside" from the word go and my love for singing, and the attention it brought, gave me many new ideas. It seemed, I was a singer and promoter from the time I came into this world. By the age of 8, I'd organized and promoted my first "backyard" showcase, writing the scripts, arranging the songs and starring in the big finale. The 5th Dimension never sounded so "white". I learned a valuable lesson when selling tickets in the neighbourhood; this wasn't going to be easy! I was teaching myself piano and singing Andy Williams tunes, and I knew that music was going to be a big part of my life. My vocal solos with the Grade 3 choir, convinced me that other people thought I had something going on too.....
The First Bands 1973- 1977
By the time I was in the 5th grade, I had a great love of pop music and wouldn't sleep until I had my own band. Looking a few grades ahead, I found some "older" musicians and I was off. "Future Shock" did the local grade school curcuit singing "School's Out" and jamming "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". It wouldn't be "unheard" of to see my bassist turn his amp off and faux some moves and bass runs because he didn't know how to play, or for me to have the lyrics taped to my mic stand. Nothing would stop me. Our drummer had his driver's license and kids were "eating us up!" My first taste of screaming groupies and being paid to play and I was hooked....
Strobic Axe 1978-1980
The result of auditioning a new drummer, I was asked to join Strobic Axe in the summer of 1978. The band of Al Stangl , John Crown , Rick Kemp and myself, went onto release an independent LP " Hor Einmal Zu! ", tour Ontario Canada and gather up a solid following. Our promotional efforts culmulated in our yearly outdoor concert drawing thousands. As an original high-school band, (the youngest member of the band was 14) we enjoyed unlikely success packing venues where ever we played. Needless to say, our youthful egos got in the way, and the band "imploded". To this day, Strobic Axe enjoys regional cult status and our web presence continues to receive visitors and downloads daily. After the band broke up, Al went on to sign a deal with Capitol Records and continues to write, record and release. Rick made his way in and out of cover bands and John now operates a recording studio and continues his playing, writing and arranging. Me, I was into David Bowie and dressing up. Yet, while maintaining a "punk rock" outlook, I discovered my love of jazz music and played electric and acoustic bass in a number of combos over my teen years, got my union card, and eventually traveled to Vancouver to place 1 in the Canadian Stage Band Nationals performing Dixieland music and showfully spinning my "upright" bass. My career as a jazz performer employs me to this day....
Bruce Street 1980-1983
While I was performing with Strobic Axe, I met Martin Gallop . (Ironically we'd crossed paths years early while I was auditioning drummers for my earlier bands.) This time we were to join forces as "Bruce Street", a progressive acoustic guitar and harmony duo with originals and an original way of performing covers. "They're great at what they're doing, I just don't know WHAT they're doing?" became our moniker. We enjoyed great success busking across Canada, as well as packed performances at venues like the legendary "Free Times Cafe" in Toronto. Our claim to fame was gathering "record crowds" at the corner of Dundas and Yonge in the days when few street performers existed. But, longing for a band, I said goodbye to Bruce Street, and Martin and I went our own ways. Martin left for Europe never to return and once settled in Germany, he continued performing. 3 records and a European tour later, Martin is currently mixing his 4th release. Bruce Street, above all things, taught me to listen closely to the other musicians and ultimately how to perform solo, just me and my acoustic guitar....
Eye Eye 1983-1985
While performing solo in a coffee shop in my home town, I was "discovered" by guitarist Andy Ryan. I was asked to replace the singer for the then popular "Trixie Goes Hollywood", one of the country's most successful club acts. Enlisted for my ability to sing Bowie, Andy and I quickly realized there was a bigger project abrew and " Eye Eye " was born. Enlisting some of Toronto's hottest session players, we recorded "Hollywood Girls", a track that would go on to capture 1st place in the 1984 Q107 Homegrown search, Canada's top musical talent search, and be released by RCA Records. Personal and artistic differences prevailed and I left the band. Andy went on with a new vocalist and I was once more looking for the "spotlight" on my own. Attention from the labels convinced me to take some time off to begin writing and recording as many songs as I could...
Changes All Bowie 1985-1987
Though I wrote and "demo"ed a great number of tunes, I still ached for the stage. Convinced by a 'big city" agent, that the money would be made performing David Bowie covers, I conceived of and produced the mini rock opera "ChangesAllBowie"; a 7 costume, 22 track, "histography" and vocal extravaganza complete with dancers, sets and lighting effects. Singing live to pre-recorded studio tracks, I led the audience through a musical time line of Bowie's music, fashions and social statements. Years in the making, the act would have a short A-circuit club life, ultimately purging me of the need to ever be someone else again. It was just the therapy I needed. It was time to get back to my roots and discover who I really was as an artist and promoter. I also got married and began to help raise my children...
The Revolving Bands 1988-1994
I returned to my home town to discover an almost non-existent music scene. needing a band, I called on my old friend and ex-Strobic Axe drummer John Crown to lay some beats. An extremely talented musician, John opted to play guitar, and instead, introduced me to a young teenage "drummer" Greg Wells , to take his place behind the skins. A new friend Tony Benn played the bass and sang back up, and we began tackling the most challenging of covers, interspaced with my new original songs, many which were co-written with poet, performer and political satirist Rob Wipond . (Rob continues to write and of late his "perspectives" can be read in MAD Magazine, McLean's and a number of alternative tabloids.)The band stayed close to home and we packed the local clubs. I was quick to discover Greg was able to play every instrument with great ease and panache, and we began recording together, (some of these recordings can be heard on "The Lost Cassettes" CD) eventually winning a National F.A.C.T.O.R. New Talent Award, landing us at the legendary Metalwork Studios. Though our efforts were fruitful, Greg had bigger plans and once old enough, left the country to tour the world with the likes of Kim Mitchell and KD Lang. (Greg's career continues to thrive, living in LA and working with the likes of Elton John, Jon Bon Jovi and Celine Dion. Still a good friend, he continues to lend a producer's ear to my material.) While I was growing my original set-list, I'd decided to learn a thing or two about the music industry and how it worked. I opened a small nightclub featuring local entertainers, produced the area's first homegrown records, published a monthly entertainment tabloid " The Wire ", managed and booked some bands and became a festival organizer and promoter. I was making my way through the biz, working with the Canadian industry's "cream" and buying favour as a local "media mogel" and music journalist/photographer , contacts and skills that would come in handy some day. I've been granted exclusive interviews with hundreds of musicans from Gene Simmons of KISS to Sarah McLachlan and was able to "pick their brains" on how to make it and survive in the music business.
NumberOneWorld 1996-present
While still heavily involved in the "business", I continued to write and record. I took a local band out on weekends playing clubs and opening for some of Canada's most successful rock acts, the Tea Party and the Barenaked Ladies to name only two of dozens. I decided to call my new act NumberOneWorld, after jotting down on a piece of paper the most powerful words I could think of and mixing them up. NOW was an obvious anagram for a number of reasons, and while the band met with limited club success, our recordings online began to gather attention. A recording of " Inside My Room " was to go 1 on the glam charts at mp3.com and place in the top 5 @ garageband.com. In total the band was to see thousands of online visits and downloads. We released the CD "Eclipsed" which featured producer Chris Snell (Adrian Belew, Gabriel Reeves) on "Just Let It Be". Stifled by the recording limitations of a live band, I re-discovered computer sequencing and software, and my music was never to be the same again. And though I teamed up again with Bruce Street's Martin Gallop to record "Trudeau Park" (which hit the top 20 folk charts @ mp3.com), a new flavour of rock arrangement was being produced in my studio. My love of jazz and progressive pop glam was being "played" out in a new way, as I uitilized samples and exotic loops to create my new sound. I released a CD a year and I'm currently writing my 5th as NumberOneWorld, for release in 2007. With a new music publisher to shop my "creations" I look forward to a fruitful year....
Current Distractions
Never one to sit around, I have had a number of projects on the go, both musically and corporately, over the past few years. My continued love of jazz music lived on with live performances fronting " Felix & the Swing Cats " a happening Canadian jazz/dance combo. My need for the bright lights was satisfied by performances with " Canuck; the Ultimate Tribute to Canadian Rock "; performing the hits of many of my friends, and folks I've met and worked with over the years. In the winter of 2004, Alex Stangl (Strobic Axe) and I teamed up again to record and rearrange a number of the songs we'd recorded decades ago. After a few sessions, and some glowing feedback from friends, we finished 11 songs and called our collaboration " NOW & The-N ". The first single " 12:34 " has been sitting comfortably in the top 100 on the songplanet.com DJ charts for over 2 years. For the most part, I've left the "business" of music behind and maintain my path as a performer and media owner. After closing the Wire magazine at the end of a 13 year run, I founded the KnowAboutNetwork a growing network of online magazines and city directories operated by independent web publishers. KAN currently has web presence in 6 countries and is growing daily. I've recently moved to Melbourne Australia where I have launched KnowAbout Melbourne and look forward to promoting the local arts and business community. Most recently I've joined BroadBand a corporate showband performing at both private and public events throughout Australia. As of late, I've decided to go back out on the road with a new record of contempory pop and jazz standards and launch from my new base in Australia with a view to tour and promote myself through Australia, Asia and eastern Europe...
to be continued...
