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In a musical career that has spanned more than three decades, singer/songwriter and award winning recording artist, Michael Pickett, embraces the blues with style, substance and musical integrity. In the 70s and 80s he established himself as a musically ground-breaking, electrifying singer/songwriter/harmonica player, leading seminal bands Whiskey Howl, Wooden Teeth, and The Michael Pickett Band. Musically profound, they pushed the envelope for blues and funky roots music. His career has included extensive recording, film, radio, and television credits including a seven year national radio and TV Budweiser “blues” campaign which featured Michael’s distinctive voice. He has shared the stage with John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, John Hammond, Sunnyland Slim, James Cotton, Tom Rush, T Graham Brown, Jeff Healey, Matt Minglewood, The Kentucky Headhunters and has opened for Taj Mahal, Muddy Waters, Son Seals, James Cotton, and most recently Buddy Guy at venues ranging from Massey Hall to New York's Village Gate.
Conversation With The Blues, released independently in 2000, earned Michael a JUNO Award nomination and won the Canadian Indie Music Award for Blues Album of the Year. This extraordinary recording, described by Billboard as “transcend[ing] the urban blues idiom with gospel, rural blues, and even classical musical touches” is an eclectic mix of ten original compositions comprised of blues, r&b, soul, jazz, delta, and gospel. In addition, "Night Comes" is a deliciously intimate ballad recorded live in the studio. "Mother Earth", an exquisite chestnut was also recorded live in the studio and given the big band treatment with backup singers, horns and the definitive three minute Pickett harp solo. And then there's the beautiful and haunting original title track, "Conversation With The Blues" featuring a live string quartet.
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