Michael Warren

Strumming for hope, happiness
By Shawn Ryan

Star Features Editor
Published: March 30, 2006
Michael Warren has heard it before. Many times. "Why aren't you a rapper?"

As if a black musician cannot do anything except rap (or perhaps jazz, if he's an instrumentalist). But Warren, who was raised in Hoover, is more along the lines of singer/songwriters such as John Mayer, Tracy Chapman and James Taylor, one of his influences.

Warren takes all the comments in stride.

"People that hear my music first before they have seen me are amazed that I sing the music that I do instead of rap," he says by e-mail from Germany, where he's performing for American soldiers on a bill with Master P and Lil Romeo. "I think that where I was born shaped the things and the feel of my music. I am a very happy and hopeful person and I think that you will hear and feel that in my music."

Actually born in Mississippi, Warren and his family moved to the Birmingham suburb when he was young. With a largely white population, Hoover wasn't as much into rap as alternative and classic rock, so Warren grew up listening to Chapman and Taylor but also blues artists such as Bonnie Raitt, reggae star Bob Marley, soul singer Al Green and R&B groups such as Boyz II Men and Earth, Wind & Fire.

All of those influences show up on his self-titled debut CD, released last August. A blend that would sound right at place on any alternative-rock radio station, the CD has helped Warren build a buzz outside Birmingham.

"Since we have released my album, we have definitely started a buzz throughout the music industry," he says. "We have a plan and it is working. We have radio stations playing us and we are touring as much as we can. We want to do all that we can on our own and keep building our product and making more fans."

Being from Birmingham might seem like a detriment to any widely focused music career, but Warren says the opposite is true. American Idol has brought Birmingham to the forefront with winner Ruben Studdard, runner-up Bo Bice and this season's Taylor Hicks.

"People now think of Birmingham as a music city," Warren says. "American Idol proved that Alabama has just as much talent as any other place - Anniston Star

Reviews and comments

Performance Date: April 5, 2006
The show with Michael went great. We were very pleased with the outcome and as always enjoyed having Michael on campus again. We look forward on bringing him back again in the near future. Thanks for getting in back with me on this and look forward to talking to you soon.
Taryn Jacobus, GA for Student Development, Union College, KY

Performance Date: April 20, 2006
Michael was amazing. Had a great turnout. Best Coffeehouse turnout next to Rob Blackledge this semester. This is my last performance under Coffeehouse so thanks again for everything and drop me a line next time you are in town.
Mike "Vuji" Vujovich, Coffeehouse Coordinator for ACBU, Bradley University - Peoria, IL

Performance Date: April 19, 2006
Michaels performance was great. he was a pleasure to work with and the show was great. he showed up early, was totally cooperative, played for over an hour, and was really laid back and chill the whole time. A great guy, and a pleasure to listen to, watch, and work with.
Todd Jarzenski, CPB Entertainment Coordinator, University of Indianapolis, IN

Performance Date: November 9, 2005
Michael was wonderful! What a personable and talented young man! He and Kevin were a huge hit – the crowd loved them. We’re looking forward to John Rush in a couple of weeks – he’s got a tough act to follow! Many thanks on your assistance! I’m glad we were FINALLY able to work together!
Mary Weishapple, Programs, University of Wisconsin - Fond Du Lac in Fond Du Lac, WI

Performance Date: November 10, 2005
All went really well. I remember we had some apprehensions at first but it all came together. The ladies loved Michael and want him back soon. I too was impressed with him professional, yet fun loving approche to the event and will keep him in mind for future events.
Krissie Harris, Coord. of Student Activities, Oakton Community College, IL

Performance Date: September 21, 2005
The Michael Warren concert was a big hit with our students. He brought a great amount of energy to the event. Several students commented on how much they enjoyed his music. One song was received with so much enthusiasm that he received a standing ovation! I found Michael to be very easy to work with and it was a pleasure meeting him.
Scott A. Reynolds, Assistant Director Student Involvement & Leadership, Eastern Kentucky University

The Michael Warren show went really good. The audience really enjoyed the show and most of them stuck around to pick up a CD. Michael himself was very easy to work with. His show was very entertaining and I’d love to see him perform again!
James Contratto – Asst. Dir. of University Center Programs, Western Carolina University - Student Activities Organizers

After continued effort I managed to find Michael Warren, another Birmingham product
with more than a few friends. Warren's MySpace page bore a laundry list of gigs which was
encouraging. The MySpace player started with Dance (demo) and before I finished listening
I was a fan. Warren is the sound I expected when I first came to Ronny Drew's page, as he
combines catchy hooks with feel good progressions not only in Dance but also in Whenever
which was the second song of Warren's I heard. After listening to Pry and Blankets,
Warren's final two cuts, I was faced with a difficult decision: How do I honor this music? The
difficulty lie in selecting what category to award and then, after having decided to award
'Best Track' which track to then honor. Despite the difficulty of the choice it didn't take me
long to determine that Dance was going to be my choice because of its infectious nature
and potential for mainstream appeal. Don't bring any problems...let the music take you far
away from here, I wanna get closer to you, I just wanna be so near, no phone calls, no due
dates is one of the many examples I could cite of lyrical content that is uplifting, a quality
which we have been deprived of by the contemporary music industry. It is not hard to
imagine Warren succeeding because his music is functional in a way that the music of many
modern artists is not, and that is in its capacity to generate positive emotion.

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