Michael Lewis's career spans over three decades in the music industry, with an exceptional repertoire that boasts producing for Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jon Anderson of YES, recording with legendary jazz-fusion violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, performing guitarist for Mary Wilson, one of the founding members of the Supremes, the most successful Motown act in history, collaborating with world renowned Christian Guitarist Phil Keaggy, performing for a Pope who became a saint and an induction into the AGM Hall of Fame with his own band One Street Over.
As a producer, engineer, Mastering Engineer and studio owner, Lewis has accumulated a remarkable discography of 70 albums, hundreds of songs and a vast array of studio projects from songwriter demos to audio post for film, to commercials, to soundtracks to big band projects and more. Along with his technical abilities in the control room, Michael is an accomplished session guitarist, bassist and keyboardist, video director and editor.
Originally from Northern California, Michael opened his first professional recording studio in Oregon in 1985. During one of his solo tours in 1995, he made a month long stop in the Music City and found himself immediately inundated with work. With a handful of newfound connections, he moved his family to Nashville in 1996.
In Nashville Michael’s first opportunity had him running a studio on Music Row He was immediately busy with full time studio work, gigging and touring as a musician for a variety of artists and projects which led to multiple endorsements and selling boutique music gear on the side. He also performed for 10 years as the guitarist for the Radio Daze Big Band.
Michael's list of endorsements includes Taylor Guitars, Fuchs amps, Keeley pedals, Celestion speaker and most recently Harby Pedals located in Idaho. In 2009, with the help of top-notch luthiers in Nashville, Michael designed his own custom line of electric guitars known as Michael Lewis Guitars.
Michael’s family had always hoped to return to the Pacific Northwest and with the development of remote studio work, Michael was able to relocate to Eastern Washington in 2008. He currently owns and operates the Song Mill Studios near Coeur dʼAlene, Idaho and continues to work remotely with Nashville studio pros, arrangers, musicians and producers on a regular basis. The studio also employs Michaelʼs son and daughter who produce and engineer recording and video projects with him.
In 2014 Michael helped found the Inventioning Band with Jon Anderson and Jean Luc Ponty, which later became the Anderson-Ponty Band. Michael continued releasing songs under the Inventioning Band name, which now features his daughter Bridgette as the lead vocalist. Their biggest release to date was in 2021 and featured Anderson and Ponty as guests, along with Oliver Wakeman on keyboards, son of Rick Wakeman, the keyboardist for YES. The drummer and bassist for Inventioning are major Nashville session players.
The Song Mill has been booked continuously since 2017. In addition, Michael has also had a steady flow of gigs for his band One Street Over featuring Michaelʼs daughter Bridgette on vocals and his son Jordan on keyboards. The success and quality of this trio, along with Michael’s rich history in the music industry led to their induction into the AGM Hall of Fame in 2022.
In 2023 alone, as a session guitarist, Michael played on projects that featured other session players such as Jay Graydon (Steely Dan,) Billy Sherwood (YES,) Oliver Wakeman (YES,) Adam Holzeman (Miles Davis,) Pat Coil (Michael McDonald,) Mark Douthit (everybody,) Adam Nitti (Kenny Loggins,) Brian Fullen (Peter Frampton,) Craig Smith (everybody,) and many others. Michael has amazing music industry connections in both Nashville and LA.
New for 2025, Michael has formed a spin-off of the One Street Over band called "Legends of Yacht" that will be a yacht rock tribute band. The new group is currently working on recording new versions of classic Yacht Rock hits and preparing to hit the road for a busy touring schedule for the new year.
Michael performs throughout the Northwest on a weekly basis and has many projects in the works for himself and other artists.
Comments from famous artists:
Joyce Cooling said “Michael, such tasty stuff. Killer tone. Nice Feel, Magical Music!”
World Renown Fusion Guitarist Jamie Glaser (Jean Luc Ponty) says: "Michael has energy and chops but never forgets the most important element, being melodic in both his improvisations as well as his compositions. The sound of his guitar and arrangements are modern, expressive and though he has elements of fusion from years gone by, he keeps it contemporary and fresh. Check him out, you will be glad you did."
