michael@packwayhandle.com

Michael was born in Cleveland, Ohio but has spent the vast majority of his life in Georgia. His interest in playing music came about when he decided to buy a drum set at the age of 14. Shortly after, he began playing around with a friend's (Tom's) guitar. Not having any previous knowledge of the guitar, Michael picked it up for the first time and sat it on his lap upside-down. This is how he learned chords and eventually scales. For about four or five years, he increased his knowledge of the guitar in this manor, mostly influenced by jazz, but also drawing from rock and country-rock. After hearing Bela Fleck for the first time, Michael began developing a passion for bluegrass. He was inspired by Bela's ability to combine so many musical influences into his own unique style of music. Soon after, he had the opportunity to play a mandolin for the first time and instantly fell in love. It felt more natural to him than the guitar so he began teaching himself to play the mandolin in the same upside-down method he had learned guitar. This began his journey into the studies of bluegrass as it was and what it has become. His style draws from many influences and his unique way of playing upside-down has allowed him to see the mandolin as others have not.

Michael plays a custom-made F-model mandolin made by up-and-coming Oregonian builder, Andrew Mowry.