me and my cat

Bonnie and Clyde

——————

Early in 2023 We’ve Always Been at Home was pressed into vinyl records. You can click this link to purchase your own and/or listen on various streaming platforms. The vinyl record is also available to purchase at Yooptone music store in Marquette.

——————————

“Comfortably at home in the north country, Michael Waite is the quintessential rural singer-songwriter.”

— ROSS BOISSINEAU, LOCAL SPINS MAGAZINE

“One of the best one-man shows you’ll ever see”

—THE NORTH WIND, NMU’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

“One of my favorite songwriters and singers in Michigan”

—JOSHUA DAVIS, SINGER/SONGWRITER

A melding of earthy grace and campfire poeticism, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Michael Waite hails from the north shore of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Weaving together a combination of folk, jazz, Americana, blues, and classic singer/songwriter elements, Waite's songs explore the geography and nuances of everyday life while keeping a keen eye on the pursuit of happiness and wholeness. Common themes in his work include the wonders of the natural world, the mysteries of the spiritual, and the joys of kith and kin. He's not afraid to sing about his darkness too, but at the end of the day he knows what he has and is grateful for it.

Raised in Harvey, a small town outside the port city of Marquette, Waite took early influence from his parents’ blues albums and Irish and American folk songs sung by his father, who passed on to Michael his uncommon memory for songs. He studied trombone in college, and picked up the guitar to accompany his singing. Earning a classical voice degree from Northern Michigan University, he began his career as a singer/songwriter, playing his own songs alongside a motley collection of covers. Before long he'd become a staple of the North Country music scene, connecting with audiences in the rare way that only true, deep talent does. While his powerful voice can easily reach the back seats, a quiet humility and gentle warmth marks his demeanor on and off stage. With each performance Waite disappears completely into the song, transporting himself and his listeners with grace, power, and the hard-won finesse earned by years of singing in all kinds of situations.

His repertoire and lifestyle grew out of the same root system. Building a home in the Huron Mountains just northwest of Marquette, he and his wife began raising a family in the rustic Michigan backwoods and their shared experiences inspired much of the material on 2008's Let It Go, Waite's debut album. Recorded in Chicago with a brilliant band of close friends and infused with a lifetime of musical influences, Let It Go beautifully captures the essence of Waite's philosophy; its songs meditate on themes of love, patience, connection, and the concept of home in both the physical and emotional senses. A critical success, the album served to broadcast his music well beyond Northern Michigan's borders and in the years since its release, he's been found touring as far afield as the Pacific Northwest. In 2015 he formed the acoustic band Adam Sawfox, helping him explore new tonal landscapes and a richer harmonic palette.

— Timo thy Mo nger

You made it to the bottom! You win a free download of “Spread the Love Around.” Click on the button below

I’ll send you your song using a link to bandcamp.com. I’ll also add you to my email list, but take comfort in my promise to never send spam or share your information. This is solely a way for me to announce a tour in your area or other uncommon news like a new recording. You are welcome to unsubscribe at any time. I hope this song brings you joy!