Michael Murch Powers's Page

BAND NAME: MICHAEL POWERS FREQUENCY
Weekly Friday Show: www.TerraBlues.com
BILLBOARD: "Michael Powers is the Future of the Blues"

BIO: MICHAEL POWERS lives in New York USA and he was taught the barre chording technique on guitar by the legendary Jimmy Reed. Michael Powers toured with the AdLibs, also as part of James Cotton's Band and he has opened for or performed with Johnny Winter, Pinetop Perkins, Popa Chubby, Hubert Sumlin, The Holmes Brothers, Buckwheat Zydeco and many more! Michael Powers performed at the 2005 and 2007 Memphis Blues Music Awards and was the Artist chosen to perform live on TV to promote the Awards, where he was nominated in five categories for his two (Baryon Records) CD's: "ONYX ROOT" and "PRODIGAL SON" (Red Eye Distributors / ASCAP). POWERS' annual Nov.-Thanksgiving night "Muddy Waters - Jimi Hendrix" Tribute is a must see! His write-ups span the globe, links below.

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Other Places you can Find Me:

www.MichaelPowers.com

http://www.facebook.com/powersblues

www.myspace.com/powersblues

www.zazzle.com/TopsyDurham

www.SonicBids.com/MichaelPowersFrequency

www.Twitter.com/MichaelPowersNY

www.ustream.tv/MichaelPowersNY

My first thought was "It sounds like Muddy Waters with Jimi Hendrix as his guitarist". Of course, there is a whole lot more to it and such simple comparisons don’t do justice, but this thinking not without merit. Onyx Root is a rare gem that stands out as one of the best blues albums I’ve heard in a very long time. Who is this guy? How come he is not a superstar? How can it be that someone so unbelievably good could be so close, yet so far away? Nowadays, when the market is flooded by weak, clichéd blues releases from even the most mediocre sideman, how can it be that a musician of such amazing skill can stay out of the limelight? Singer/songwriter and guitarist Michael Powers , not to be confused with the Seattle based guitarist by the same name, is a mainstay of New York City’s great blues club Terra Blues, where he is the Friday night house-band. He’s not exactly from out of nowhere, although fame has so far eluded him. In the early 1960’s Powers was the guitarist for the pop R&B group the Ad Libs, who had a hit with "(Do wah, doo wah diddy, he’s a) Boy from New York City". The Ad Libs were near famous and recorded some pretty cool stuff, which is still great when you hear it today. Ever since, Powers has been paying his dues and living the blues, literally and figuratively. No youngster, the affable Powers lost a leg to diabetes, had his share of hard times, and he lived to tell about it. He can sing the blues about all the reasons why he could have been, should have been and about the one that got away. This album is his best shot, and so far the stars are lining up just right.
Michael Powers is the real deal. Decades ago he should have been elevated to the stature bestowed on Buddy Guy , Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton, because he belongs in their ranking. He is a little late on the fame horizon, but even if this is the only record he will ever make, artistically and in sheer musical prowess Onyx Root is a masterpiece. It sounds and feels like it came from another time, yet totally fresh. Onyx Root should propel him to international fame if his management and upstart record label do their job right, as it is certainly the best blues album I’ve heard all year long. Every time I play one of Power’s songs on WKZE the phone lights up. Especially the real blues devotees are blown away and with good reason.

Powers is the only guitarist I’ve ever heard that truly reminded me of Jimi Hendrix. It’s not so much that Powers sounds like Hendrix, although he can when he wants to. It’s that he has the finesse, touch, magic, and the feeling the very musical essence that Jimi had. Powers made me feel like I was finally witnessing what I had missed before, not as a mere mimicker, but one who channels the beauty of Jimi Hendrix’s music into the deep blues. Michael Powers, an extraordinarily brilliant guitarist and soulful singer, is different, he took just the right stuff from Jimi and developed his own deep blues style.

This is as close to the perfect blues album I’ve ever heard, and certainly a modern classic. This is Michael Power’s Hoodoo Man. Everything is just right. It would not be a stretch to say that on many levels, especially production, Onyx Root is up a notch from the highly touted debuts by Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughn and even Joe Lewis Walker. Kudos to producers Steve Rosenthal and Jimi Zhivago, who understood this artist and captured him flawlessly. Frank Garfi at Studio 900 beautifully engineered the CD. Michael Powers is bold and this record is a triumph!
by: FRANK MATHEIS
Frank Matheis is an internationally published independent music writer and radio producer residing in Pawling, New York. He is host of the "Blues Show". He was formerly a contributing writer to Blues Access. Frank is also a performing blues musician. He reports to the Living Blues radio chart.
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MOJO - ONYX ROOT LISTED IN 2005 TOP TEN BEST BLUES ALBUMS
"... Powers brings a funky acoustic guitar and a voice magnificently riven and distressed. ...The inner power of Powers’ music is startlingly original."
Tony Russell

CLASSIC ROCK (UK)
"... On his first solo album (Michael) has managed to create that a rare beast: a blues album that doesn’t depend on endless guitar wankery."
Scott Rowley

TIME OUT NEW YORK
"The gritty soul on his new independent release, Onyx Root, is befitting a cat who apprenticed with James Cotton."

LIVING BLUES
"Powers’ singing and playing are gritty and convincing, making him a performer to watch and Onyx Root one of the year’s must-hear debuts."
Jim DeKoster

BLUES REVUE
"Powers is a precise guitarist. He doesn’t squander notes and he sounds like no one else. ONYX ROOT is sure to make a few Top Ten lists this year."
Jeff Calvin

BLUESWAX
"As Michael sings it in Successful Son, he is an overnight sensation... 20 years in the making. This is a good one (Onyx Root)."
Beardo

BLUESPEAK.COM
"This is the best blues album I’ve heard all year. It’s smartly conceived, deftly performed, carefully planned and is top quality in every way."
Brown Burnett

BLUES BYTES
"Onyx Root is a disc worth finding especially for those who say the blues has gotten boring. Powers’ music is anything but that."
Bill Mitchell

BLUESGUITARPLAYER.COM
"Powers is a purist. ... The kind that turns all of his diverse influences into pure" musical expression."
Dave Rubin

GUITAR WORLD ACOUSTIC
"That thick, layered vibe reverberates throughout the diverse, freewheeling Onyx Root - a record defined by Powers’ world-weary vocals, superb acoustic electric interplay and formidable rhythm support... A stylistic tour de force..."
Sean McDevitt

MUSICBOX-ONLINE.COM
"Powers dabbles in a little bit of everything (on Onyx Root) and each is delivered with absolute perfection."

THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH
"Breathe a sigh of relief. Meaty blues are here to stay. Michael Powers is the standard bearer." Scott Lake

BLUESRAG (BALTIMORE BLUES SOCIETY)
"Onyx Root is an extraordinary record. Can’t wait to see this guy play live." Bob Sekinger

BLUES MATTERS!
"Michael Powers is indeed a rare commodity in sounding so vital and fresh after making music for 40 years. Powers has an impressive musical range and versatility - a musician for all seasons."
Billy Hutchinson