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No Turning Back - Live on Newschannel 34 - July 08

Recent News and Press About MPP:

MPP Selected as a winner of the 2008 New Jersey Folk Festival Singer/Songwriter Competition. He will be performing at the festival on April 26. More details under "shows."

Mike was a surprise guest at one of legendary folk artist Christine Lavin's tour stops in Elmira, NY on April 4/08. He performed to an incredibly enthusiastic audience at the gorgeous Clemens Center. For more on the incredible Ms. Lavin, check out: www.christinelavin.com

“That’s A Great Song--Makes me wanna put on my maple leaf underwear…a phenomenal cabaret entertainer.” --Joey Reynolds - NYC Radio Talk Show Host

MPP was a featured guest / performer on Joey Reynolds (“The Seinfeld of Radio) Show (WOR710 - NYC) in Nov / 07. Guest Co-host was famed mentalist “The Amazing Kreskin” aka George Kresge Jr. Michael performed his song “Canada” on the show with a live interview following.

“I really love that—such a tribute to Canada. You have a long future ahead of you. He’s got a very gentle quality about him and I’ll tell you that there’s something romantic about listening to him. The way you dress and the way you look and the movement of your head when you’re singing is very enchanting. I’m serious.” -- The Amazing Kreskin

“He’s one of these guys who’s in his twenties, like Michael Buble and Tony DeSare, who are really fine, fine musicians and songwriters, and also cover lots of standards…a one-man cabaret wave in Binghamton. I think he’s really got wide appeal.” -- Christine Lavin (reknowned folk artists / co-host)

“Some really nice stuff…he deserves to be heard.” - -Bill Kates (producer / co-host)

MPP's songs were featured on the XM 15 (The Village) show "slipped discs" in Sept./07. "Canada" is currently in rotation on XM 15.

“Great music…a very talented young man...I think you have a blockbuster career ahead of you." -- Sam Goodyear, host of "Art A La Carte" a cultural roundup of Oneonta, NY-area events on which MPP was featured in Oct / 07

"Probably the best unsolicited submission we've gotten, and we get a lot. A great, full sound." -- Tracie Coleman, morning host for WSRK Mix 103.9 (Oneonta, NY)

"Spare but effective arrangements put his deft piano melodies out front, with other instruments (guitar, cello and drums) clearly in supporting roles. Phelan’s smooth-as-silk vocals invoke both Broadway’s best as well as classic crooners such as Mel Torme and Tony Bennett, while treading a new path of his own.

Instead of focusing on vapid party girls in skimpy hip-huggers, the stories are for adults — those who do their best to jugglejobs, marriages and kids.

It’s clear he’s risen above the “lounge singer” stereotype to offer some solid additions to the jazz-pop genre — and it’ll be intriguing to see where this journey takes him." -- Chris Kocher, Arts Critic for Press & Sun-Bulletin, Binghamton, NY. May 10/07 CD REVIEW: Michael Patrick Phelan, “In The Meantime”

MPP was featured on NYC's WFUV (90.5 FM) "City Folk Sunday Breakfast" in February of 2008, a weekly radio show featuring "the singers and songwriters you know and love plus a good dose of up-and-coming artist surprises." His original song, "No Turning Back" was in a playlist of songs performed (and often written by) MUSICIANS WHO HAVE APPEARED AT BIRDLAND'S WEEKLY 'CAST PARTY' HOSTED BY JIM CARUSO. He was honored to be sandwiched in between two excellent performers: Fiona Apple's sister, Maude Maggart and Harry Chapin's brother, Tom. Said guest host Christine Lavin: "He's come from the world of the American songbook, but he's also a songwriter. He's got a really big audience in Binghamton, NY. A fine pianist, really wonderful songwriter, and he also happens to be handsome. I predict he's gonna have a really wide audience all over the country."

MORE ABOUT MPP:

If you like your music with a pensive after-taste, you'll love Mike’s savory sound. Michael Patrick Phelan's mellow and soulful songwriting style pays tribute to the heyday of the 1970's singer-songwriter boom while firmly establishing him as a unique artist in today’s adult-alternative scene. He's got a voice that's equal parts Harry Connick Jr. and James Taylor and piano skills that marry the styles of Bruce Hornsby, Sarah McLaughlin, with sprinklings of Diana Krall. His songs, while written from a personal perspective, touch on universal themes: love, loneliness, growing up, family, and the many ups and downs of living day to day. Many listeners often comment that while they had never met Michael prior to seeing him perform, they felt as though he had written the songs specifically for them.

“When I first entered I thought I was hearing a recording of some new jazz vocalist—the next male version of Diana Krall or Jane Monheit. But there was Phelan, in the back corner of the bar, playing with feeling and a remarkably welcome, restrained touch,” wrote Sarah D'Esti-Miller, arts critic for Binghamton, New York's Press and Sun Bulletin upon hearing Michael Patrick Phelan at a local establishment.

Born and raised in Brockville, Ontario, Canada on the shores of his beloved St. Lawrence River, he began playing the piano at 5 years old. He studied classical piano through Canada’s Royal Conservatory of Music system and eventually achieved his grade 10 certificate. An avid singer as well, his vocal training ranged from school choirs and theatrical productions to studies and performances with renowned opera singers. A graduate of the prestigious bachelor of fine arts acting program at the University of Windsor (Canada), in May 2005, Michael has been involved in many aspects of the performing arts.

Making the move to Binghamton, New York post-College (he’s a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S.A.), he made the risky decision to put his acting career on hold and focus on what had been a side gig for many years: his music. It paid off. Michael has enchanted thousands now with his popular originals and his warm, soulful renditions of classic songs.

The EP, titled In The Meantime is now available on itunes and through CD Baby.com as well as at Barnes & Noble Booksellers and at all of Mike’s gigs.

Accomplishments:

Michael was selected to showcase at the 2007 Millennium Music Conference (www.MMC11.com) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The event featured a diverse roster of artists from all over the world. In addition, Michael’s song, “In the Meantime Blues,” was featured on the MMC11 2007 compilation album. Michael was also selected to be a featured artist on “Narrative Music” (www.narrativemusic.ca), a website that features “songwriters that tell great stories” from around the world. They wrote of Michael: “You genuinely walk in Frank and Tony’s footsteps and we are honored to feature you.” He was selected to showcase at NYC’s M.E.A.N.Y. Fest in October of 2007. Most recently, he was selected by a panel of judges as a winner of the 2008 Singer/Songwriter Showcase of the 34th annual New Jersey Folk Festival, giving him the opportunity to perform at the festival in April 2008.

Michael’s songwriting was recently honored as his song “Safe” (which can found on the In the Meantime EP) was selected as a finalist in the Peace-driven Songwriting Competition. From their website (peacedriven.org) : The Peacedriven Organization, founded in 2001, is a nonprofit group established to inspire, motivate, and educate people about global social issues. Entries from all genres and from around the world were received, including United States, Australia, Canada, Ghana, Ireland, France and the United Kingdom. Judges narrowed down the entries based on originality, melody and lyrics. The field was first cut to the Top 16 finalists, and then judged a second time to find the winner of the songwriting award.

He also was given an honorable mention in the “We Are Listening” Songwriter Awards (wearelistening.org), for his song “Safe” (also on the EP).

Where to find him:

He currently performs regularly in and around Binghamton, New York and across the Northeast. He hopes to be playing in a venue near you very soon! For more information, please visit: www.michaelpatrickphelan.com

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