Profile & Biography

Age: 21 Hometown: Wichita, KS Instruments: Vocals, guitar, bass Favs: Rage Against the Machine, DJ Quik, Busta Rhymes, Bob Marley, 311, Beatles, Green Day, Incubus, Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Foo Fighters, Bob Dylan, Ludacris, pretty much everything and anything that sounds good. Background: Ever since I was little kid, I always remembered singing. I learned how to walk, talk, and sing...in that order. Being the youngest of a "good" (= big) Catholic family, I had several different musical influences: from rap to rock and showtunes to hymns. I joined my first organized choir in 3rd grade at College Hill Elementary. During that year, I was invited to participate in the Kansas State choir for elementary students. Even though I was in the 3rd grade, it made a lasting impression. From there, I continued singing in choirs throughout middle school and high school, participating in groups like Concert Choir, Men's Ensemble, Madrigals, and church choirs. I continued this path on through college, singing at the University of Kansas in the Men's Glee Club and the University Singers, where I began singing Italian Arias and a few showtunes. I have recently moved out to California to try and reset my perspective on life and uncover the path I want to take. I currently reside in Orange County, CA. Influences: My musical influences, like I said before, are varied. I like rap, hip/hop, rock, blues, opera, classical, a tiny bit of country, even exposing myself to more jazz recently, and just anything I hear that I like. My first purchased CD was Jewel: Pieces of You. Don't laugh...or smirk...it was actually a good CD, very poetic and original. This is when I began playing acoustic guitar, so it catered very well to my expectations. Throughout my 21 years of life, I have tried to pick up on anything that I heard and liked. I have kept myself very open to all kinds of styles, genres, and time periods. I hope to reveal that in my music. Musical History: I was about 16 when I first started on the guitar, using a crappy acoustic Epiphone that had been stored away in the closet before I was even born. I then upgraded to a Takamine acoustic, thanks to the appreciated generosity of my sister and the experienced eye of her fiance. I have been wailing on this Takamine since then, picking up a candy red Fender Telecaster on the way (also from the two generous people mentioned above). With these two guitars, I hav e been playing mostly rock and alternative music over the past 5 years. With in the past 3 months, I have also picked up a bass, an Ibanez SG-400, I believe. I now play bass and sing in Black April with John Fredrickson and Tyler Phan, jamming here and there with others using both guitar and bass. Goals: I want to be a good person, a good musician, and get my PhD. I don't really care if I'm rich or poor...even though rich would be a lot easier...I just want to be known as a good person and, hopefully, a good musician. My musical goal is to expose people to the different music I've been exposed to. My ears are tired of hearing the same shit over and over again, and my eyes are tired of seeing certain people being labeled to certain music. What I want is originality, creativity, and overall good musicianship. Fame and fortune are not and cannot be my motivations. If it was, then I wouldn't be writing this at my day job. My motivation is the love of music. I love how songs can unite millions of people, and yet instill different feelings and thoughts. The driving force in my music is the desire for the ability to convey my feelings through my instrument. I want to communicate my thoughts and feelings through my music...nothing else. Famous Quotes: "I don't live to work. I work to live." "I'm single and ready to mingle:.                               E-mail to michael@blackapril.com Copyright © Black April 2002-2003. All Rights Reserved.