Michael J Thomas is known as a smooth jazz artist with integrity. As a musician, Michael has enjoyed continued success in his professional career. Others have taken notice because in 2006 he won the title of "Best of the Emerald Coast" in the category of BEST MUSICIAN/VOCALIST/BAND where he currently lives in Destin, FL. As any artist would, he appreciates the accolades, however, the real compliment to him is reflected in who is willing to share the stage with him. Michael measures his success in being able to perform at the Seabreeze Jazz Festival with musical greats such as: Alex Bugnon, Bona Fide featuring Slim Man, Boney James, Brian Culbertson, Brian Simpson, Chante Moore, Dave Koz, Down To The Bone, Eric Darius, Euge Groove, Jeff Kashiwa, Joey Sommerville, Joyce Cooling, Kim Waters, Kirk Whalum, Matt Marshak, Mindi Abair, Nick Colionne, Peter White, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun, Shilts, Steve Cole, and Wayman Tisdale. He has also performed with Christian artists Sandi Patty and Mark Harris as well.
Michael grew up in Cecilia, KY just outside of Elizabethtown where the Hollywood movie, Elizabethtown, was filmed in 2005. Although he was living in a small town where his style of music was not prominent, a love for R&B/Soul and jazz captured Michael. He began piano lessons at age seven studying intermittently until the seventh grade. However, the seventh grade is when his life took a turn that brought him face to face with the saxophone. Michael clearly remembers the day his love for the sax began, "My wishes were to play the drums, but when I went to the introduction meeting of middle school band I realized that playing the drums was not an option. It was there that I saw a Saxophone for the first time and I chose it because of its unique shape," he recalls. Michael instantly connected with the shiny instrument but he didn't take himself seriously as a sax player until his sophomore year in high school. His beginning days playing the horn weren't so smooth, "I felt left out from the rest of the group in high school band because I wasn't proficient enough to be chosen for an ensemble by my peers. I felt like someone that gets picked last for a basketball or football team," he says.
Michael was determined enough to not let this little setback finish his story. He started dedicating all of his free time to developing his abilities on the saxophone instead. Soon after, he became the guy that everyone else wanted to perform with. He even won several talent shows, made All-State Jazz Band, and was awarded the John Philips Sousa Award in his senior year of high school. In addition, he was awarded a music scholarship to the University of Kentucky where he attended for two semesters. However, it quickly became clear that his passion was in performing, not teaching. That's when his professional career began to blossom. At the age of 19, he began a two-year stint with the Jive Rockets. While touring a multitude of Midwest venues, he had the privilege to open for a variety of prestigious bands such as the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy, and Bill Haley's Original Comets.
Eventually, his love for music led him to move to the Emerald Coast in 1999 with his mentor Bobby Lanz. He feels blessed to be able to perform in a host of local establishments, festivals, concerts, and private venues. Within two weeks of moving to the Emerald Coast, Michael found his church home with Faith Assembly. This is important to the talented musician because he never wants to forget where he feels his blessings come from. He's made it a goal to spend his musical gift on others, "I want to bless people through my music and have a lasting career with integrity," he says. He is currently writing and recording songs for his upcoming smooth jazz album and performing at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Destin, FL.
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