Like his song "Jack of All Trades" says, California singer/songwriter Michael Gaither has done a bit of everything: journalist, teacher, even joke writer for Jay Leno. All those tangents eventually led him to writing. And music.  He favors songs with stories and tales of day-to-day life: Big cars. Bad drivers. A baby’s first steps. Dogs and horses. His debut CD, the 2006 release "Spotted Mule and Other Tales", was an Americana mix of folk, bluegrass, and gospel.

(Michael’s song “Entertaining an Angel”, from that debut, was one of 20 winning entries in the May 2007 Indie Artists Alliance songwriting contest for the “Songwriters and Storytellers” contest. "Good God Man How Big a Car Do You Need?," also from "Spotted Mule...", was featured on NPR's "Car Talk" with "Click and Clack", the Tappet Brothers..

“Dogspeed”, his 2009 follow up, is another Americana story collection. Most of the songs are autobiographical this time out and cover similar ground. "Dogs" is the animal motif on this record, as conveyed in "Roselle" the true story of a four-legged hero from 9-11. There are also stories of rock concerts past, a nostalgic trip back to his father's career building county roads and state highways, and a bittersweet look at a small farm town overrun with development. The humorous "bad driver, big cars" thread from the first record continues on "Dogspeed" with "Hang It Up", a rant about cell phone abuse.

Besides performing his own material, Michael runs a monthly open mic and songwriter's night at the Wooden Nickel Bar and Grill on the central California coast and has promoted and played at California festivals, including the annual "Vintner's Festival Weekend" at Roudon-Smith Winery in Scotts Valley and "November-fest" at Pacific Crest Apiaries (a local honey farm) in Watsonville, California.

Michael also produces and hosts "Songs and Stories", a bi-monthly songwriting podcast which features stories behind his songs and interviews with other songwriters. "Songs and Stories" can be heard on his web site at www.michaelgaither.com, in iTunes (it's a free subscription) and Friday evenings on Grateful Dread Radio, a Baltimore-based Internet station carried by the Live365 network.

Michael is available either as a solo artist or with a full band, depending on the venue and size and requirements. He's also quite fond of in-the-rounds with other songwriters. For booking info, contact Michael by email.