Michelle Phelps is a songwriter specializing in contemporary country, folk, and variations inbetween. She showed an early passion for music, singing as soon as she could speak and demonstrating a remarkable aptitude for permanently memorizing countless songs. She often performed for the neighborhood kids, singing along to her favorite radio and LP tunes, using a fireplace tool as a microphone. Her love of music and singing, combined with her inherent gift for language, led naturally to songwriting.

Michelle's songs feature well-crafted lyrics, memorable melodies and hooks, and reflect her own unyielding self-reflection and efforts to distill meaning, truth, and feeling. She is currently recording her first 10-song demo CD, and is a member of West Coast Songwriters and TAXI. This California native is an emerging songwriting talent to watch.

Influences

Beatles, Gershwins, Ella Fitzgerald, Eagles, Bee Gees, Amy Grant, Dixie Chicks, Shawn Colvin, Alison Krauss, Patty Griffin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Top 40 and Country Radio

Bio

Songwriting is my greatest passion, and my guitar is my faithful songwriting partner. Most of my songs land very naturally in the Contemporary Country category, but I write whatever wants to be written. I am currently working on my first 10-song demo CD, and this year--2004--I have begun to pitch my songs to publishers.

I have been singing and writing since childhood. I've performed in many choirs over the years, as well as church and school plays, talent shows, open mics, private parties, and charity events. I wrote my first song in junior high school.

I studied guitar with well-known Bay Area guitar and songwriting teacher Cindy Lowe, who studied under Andres Segovia and Judy Collins, and who has recorded many albums of her own material. I have worked with voice coach Raz Kennedy, who has worked with Counting Crows, Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra, Todd Rundgren, and Kenny Loggins. I have also studied vocal performance at The Jazzschool in downtown Berkeley.

I am a member of West Coast Songwriter's Association and TAXI.