Our Little Secret
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Learning Curve
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Literate Americana with a rock-n-roll heart.
Call him rock, call him pop, or call him country - Michael Heaton's music is steeped in the rock songwriter traditions of Tom Petty, John Mellencamp and John Hiatt. Based in the Chicagoland area, Michael Heaton is a musician with a talent for creating heartfelt lyrics and melodies about life, love, work and burning houses. "I try to write songs that everyone relates to," says Heaton. "I like my songs to tell a story, and maybe people can see themselves in these songs." Writing music that connects with his audience is a talent Heaton didn't initially know he had.
Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Heaton just wanted to play guitar, but somehow as a youth listening to artists such as The Who, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and Willie Nelson, he got the impression the guitar player in the band was always the one wrote the music. Heaton says, "I figured if I was going to be in a band I was going to have to write some songs." Within a month of learning his first guitar chord, Heaton penned his first song. From that point on, he was hooked. As a guitarist, singer and songwriter, Heaton is an in demand musician. In the span of about thirteen years, he has performed with a multitude of bands including his self-formed bands The X-Tras and Cut. He also toured with Chicago's favorite Irish band The Drovers as a member of their road crew and as a part time opening act. Although music has always been a passion, Heaton reminisces about former jobs. "From diaper delivery person to making false teeth to performing singing telegrams, I guess I've done a little bit of everything." It's his previous life of "doing a little bit of everything" which makes Heaton's music and lyrics so accessible. With a knack for using a unique combination of musical styles to create tunes that are catchy and light-hearted, Heaton delivers an astounding and compelling experience both live and on CD.
On stage Heaton exudes charisma, charm and unstoppable energy. Leading from one song to the next, he entertains the audience with great music, danceable rhythms, surprise kazoos and an amazing speed for replacing broken guitar strings. It's no wonder he's a favorite at clubs around Chicago. Over the past three years Michael and his band have consistently performed over 200 shows a year. His recordings LEARNING CURVE and OUR LITTLE SECRET (Artichoke Records) are albums that will quickly become staples in any music lover's collection. "I want to create discs that listeners can grab onto from the first listen, but then find something new with each successive listen," says Heaton. With subtle nuances, Heaton's music fills a Midwestern pop-rock-country niche that practically begs you to sing and dance along. It's catching on too. To date he has sold over 10,000 copies of his three titles from the stage alone. Recording OUR LITTLE SECRET at Moraine Studios and Musique Mediterranee in Nashville, Tennessee, Heaton had the pleasure of recording with some of Nashville's finest talents. Backing Heaton were great musicians like drummer Eddie Bayers (credited on over 150 Gold and Platinum releases), mandolin virtuoso Sam Bush, bass master Dave Pomeroy (James McMurtry, Mose Allison, Elton John), keyboardist Steve Conn (Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Loggins, Sonny Landreth) and keyboardist Tim Lauer (Radney Foster, Dolly Parton, Wynnona Judd).
OUR LITTLE SECRET was co-produced by guitarist/producer Pat Bergeson (Lyle Lovett, Chet Atkins, Allison Kraus) and award-winning producer/engineer Jim McKell (Kenny Rogers, The Judds). Not only has Heaton played with some of the finest musicians, he's also found himself opening for such talents as Grammy Award winners Shelby Lynne and Brave Combo, Sugar Blue, Cheap Trick, Heart, Robbie Fulks, Greg Trooper, Sleepy LaBeef, Duke Robillard and folk music darling Claire Holley. Whether he's playing at a local club or touring with his band throughout the Midwest, Heaton is gathering fans one by one.
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What some folks think:
Taken as a whole, this multi-faceted album is the work of a mature artist at the peak of his powers, meditating about life with insight and wit. Fans of literate Americana with a rock-and-roll heart will find "Our Little Secret" to be a rewarding journey.and if they file their CDs in alphabetical order by artist, will find that "Heaton" very appropriately slots next to "Hiatt."
Dan Reich - Online review www.carmendiode.com
Remember the days when Counting Crows was the new buzz, rockin' beer lovin' campuses all over the country? This rootsy rock album could very well be that kind of beginning with his distinctively flammable knack for an original yet well-endowed blend of Tom Petty,Wilco, early Counting Crows and modern day good times rock.--
Tamara Turner - CDbaby.com Reviewer
There are a lot of sweet things that typify Michael Heatons songwriting , but the point is that its the attention to little details that make his music refreshing.
Richard Milne - Host of Local Anesthetic - WXRT Radio Chicago
A collection of well crafted vignettes.The lyrics are intelligent and the music is pure heartland in the best sense of the word.
Paul Barile -Associate Editor - Liberty Press
Garageband.com Awards
As of January 1st 2006:
Michael Heaton has 4 songs from the CD "Our Little Secret" in the Top 100 of All Time (out of nearly 70,000 songs).
Two of those songs "Souvenirs" and "The Good Times" have reached 1 on the Folk/Country charts.
Listener Awards for For "The Good Times' from Michael's CD "Our Little Secret"
Track of the Day on 4Apr2004 in Folk/Country
Track of the Day on 13Nov2004 in Folk
Track Of The Week on 11Oct2004 in Folk/Country
Track Of The Week on 22Nov2004 in Folk
15 Best Male Vocals in Folk, all-time
15 Best Guitars in Folk, all-time
16 Best Drums in Folk, all-time
19 Best Lyrics overall, all-time
3 Best Lyrics in Folk, all-time
10 Best Melody in Folk, all-time
10 Best Beat in Folk, all-time
1 Feel Good Track in Folk, all-time
16 Grooviest Rhythm in Folk, all-time
Best Male Vocals in Folk/Country, week of 29Mar2004
Best Male Vocals in Folk/Country, week of 30Mar2004
Best Male Vocals in Folk/Country, week of 26Apr2004
Best Male Vocals in Folk, week of 3Jan2005
Best Male Vocals in Folk, week of 28Mar2005
Best Guitars in Folk/Country, week of 26Apr2004
Best Guitars in Folk, week of 20Dec2004
Best Guitars in Folk, week of 3Jan2005
Best Guitars in Folk, week of 27Jun2005
Best Drums in Folk/Country, week of 26Apr2004
Best Drums in Folk, week of 20Dec2004
Best Drums in Folk, week of 27Dec2004
Best Drums in Folk, week of 3Jan2005
Best Drums in Folk, week of 27Jun2005
Best Bass in Folk/Country, week of 26Apr2004
Best Bass in Folk, week of 3Jan2005
Best Programming in Folk/Country, week of 4Oct2004
Best Lyrics in Folk/Country, week of 29Mar2004
Best Lyrics in Folk/Country, week of 30Mar2004
Best Lyrics in Folk/Country, week of 26Apr2004
Best Lyrics in Folk, week of 20Dec2004
Best Lyrics in Folk, week of 27Dec2004
Best Lyrics in Folk, week of 3Jan2005
Best Lyrics in Folk, week of 27Jun2005
Best Melody in Folk, week of 3Jan2005
Best Melody in Folk, week of 27Jun2005
Best Beat in Folk/Country, week of 26Apr2004
Best Beat in Folk, week of 3Jan2005
Best Mood in Folk/Country, week of 29Mar2004
Best Mood in Folk/Country, week of 30Mar2004
Best Mood in Folk, week of 3Jan2005
Most Original in Folk/Country, week of 30Mar2004
Most Original in Folk, week of 27Dec2004
Most Original in Folk, week of 3Jan2005
Feel Good Track in Folk/Country, week of 19Apr2004
Feel Good Track in Folk/Country, week of 11Oct2004
Feel Good Track in Folk, week of 20Dec2004
Feel Good Track in Folk, week of 27Dec2004
Feel Good Track in Folk, week of 3Jan2005
Rocking Track in Folk/Country, week of 26Apr2004
Rocking Track in Folk, week of 20Dec2004
Grooviest Rhythm in Folk, week of 10Jan2005
Best Dance Track in Folk/Country, week of 11Oct2004
Chill-Out Track in Folk/Country, week of 26Apr2004
Best Elevator Song in Folk/Country, week of 5Apr2004
Listener awards for Michael Heaton's Song "The Good Times"
- www.garageband.com (Nov 1, 2005)
