Michael first heard the blues as a small child. His father loved songs like "St. James Infirmary". In 1961, he heard Dave "Snaker" Ray, and Tony "Little Son" Glover, which really sparked an interest. One night in 1969, he heard Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf for the first time, which set his love of the blues in stone. Since then the blues has been the music for him that says it all. He says, "I love to play the blues because it allows me to play emotionally and say something from my heart, that is, it is not just a technical exercise, its simplicity leaves room for expression."