Hello, my name is Mike, and I’m a songwriter.
Got a new "Gretchin" or "Trick Pony" style song: "A Hard Man is Good to Find". Hey- I'm just sayin it like it is...enjoy!
I started writing songs in high school by rewriting the words to many of the hits of the day, usually in a vein attempt to get the babe. I think my voice was changing right about then, which didn't help.
My horn improvs got respectable in a college top 40 band, partly because of more attitude, partly because now there were more people in the audience. I’ll never forget blasting out Phil Collins’ “I Cannot Believe It’s True”- a stupendous horn song. Can't sing and play horn so...I wrote songs....
Fast forward to about 7 years ago, I started songwriting in earnest. When you wake up at 2 am with a melody so loud in your head that your hair hums, what do you do? You get up and let it out, or not sleep any more that night.
When you’re driving I-65 to Birmingham and miss three exits because you’re leaving song-snippet voicemails to yourself just to capture them, what do you do? Find the first rest area and tap it out on the laptop.
When a chord and melody progression comes to mind that sends shivers down your spine, what do you do? You plug in the computer and map it out.
Joining NSAI a few years back has been a real good thing for me. EVERY time I talk to a Pro- whether Ralph Murphy, Marc Alan Barnette, Barbara Cloyd, Hugh Prestwood, or Angela Kaset to name a few, I get more focused, more aware, and more devoted.
I’m blessed. I’m afflicted. I’m alive.
My name is Mike, and I’m a songwriter.
All The Best,
Michael Johnson
NSAI/ASCAP
mejohnso2010@yahoo.com
No band- I'm a songwriter. I write country/Pop/Rock songs for some of the greatest singers of all time (they just don't know it): Daughtry, Tim McGraw, Rob Thomas, Faith Hill, Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Mongomery Gentry, Trace Adkins, Toby Keith, Gretchin Wilson, Pink, Big n Rich, Rascal Flatts, Lisa Mowry, Craig Morgan, to name only a very few.
No live stuff...that's for all you artists out there...
I like pretty much all music, except for most hip hop- though there are some great songs there too.
For a majority of it, I use only a Yamaha DGX 205 keyboard for the music and sounds, and a Tascam Portable 8 track dig. mixer/recorder/burner. I record tracks into Cakewalk on a laptop, then to the 8 track as needed. Since I don't play keyboard (only trumpet), this helps-because I can record at a much slower tempo to Cakewalk, then at normal tempo to the 8 track.
"WALK IN THE LIGHT" AND "DADDY WHY?" HIT #1 IN COUNTRY AND COUNTRY POP CHARTS!!
"THANKS #3" WINS SONG CONTEST: On June 10, Thanks #3 was chosen "Best Song" in Detroit's "NASCAR Idol" Song Contest on WDFN Radio Detroit. Actually got airtime!
ASCAP's Ralph Murphy listened to Thanks #3 and said "GREAT SONG"!