John Michael Hersey is a singer/songwriter known for his sophisticated yet accessible melding of rock, pop, folk, blues and country. Hersey is first and foremost a storyteller, one who happens to play a mean guitar.
On his latest album, You Got to Me, Hersey weaves a tapestry of mellow soul, folk-pop, doo-wop, adult alternative and roots rock. He has released five other albums of original material: Soup Du Jour (1999), Whirligig (2003), Mr. Lucky [with Speedo and the Cadillacs] (2004), How Am I Here? (2007), and Adirondack (2014).
Hersey grew up in the small town of Franklinville, NJ where he fronted his first band, Shale. In the 1980s, he moved to New York City and got a job playing guitar with doo-wop legends The Cadillacs, for whom he wrote and produced the album Mr. Lucky. In 1999, he released the album Soup Du Jour with Miles Away, a song about the alienation and loneliness one can feel in the big city. In the 2000s, Hersey began to strut his stuff as a guitarist, forging his own brand of blues on Heartbreak 101 from Whirligig and Running from the Blues from How Am I Here? In 2014, after spending time in prison, he released Adirondack with Sittin’ Pretty, a song about coming home a changed and grateful man.
Hersey’s latest album opens a new chapter, one defined by the redemptive power of love as heard in the title song You Got to Me.
Singer/Songwriter John Michael Hersey offers heartfelt pop-rock collection of love songs on You Got to Me
NEW YORK, NY – September 2016 Hersey releases YOU GOT TO ME a joyful and poignant collection of songs about finding and losing love. It follows up his “raw, hard, observant and thought provoking” 2014 album, ADIRONDACK(review: folkwords.com 5/23/14).
Hersey weaves a tapestry of mellow soul (“You Saved My Life” and “You Got to Me”), folk-pop (“I’m So in Love with You”), doo-wop (“Never Ever”), adult alternative (“Don’t Shy Away”) and roots rock (“Every Time I See You’).
The songs describe love’s arc: the life-changing excitement of falling in love, the gray areas of doubt and difficulty after infatuation is over (“In the Dark” and “It’s Not Black and White”) and anger and heartbreak at the relationship’s demise (“Curtain Call” and “Empty Love”). But love’s return is just a song away (“One on One” and “Falling”)! YOU GOT TO MEis a musical romantic novel with a happy ending (“Yes, I Love You”).
YOU GOT TO ME was written, performed and produced by Hersey with three songs co-written with composer Peter Millrose. He has released five other albums of original material: Soup Du Jour (1999), Whirligig (2003), Mr. Lucky [with Speedo and the Cadillacs] (2004), How Am I Here? (2007), and Adirondack (2014).
johnmichaelhersey.com
https://www.youtube.com/user/jmhersey
www.facebook.com/johnmichaelhersey
jmhersey@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/jmhersey


singer/songwriter John Michael Hersey

 



Ziggy B, Ziggy Bryant, was always influenced by various styles of music Rap, Old School Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz, Soul, & Rock.  From a young age he was drawn to Andre 3000, someone who would truly make you go back and listen to catch all of his intricate lines.  He and his brother RJ, who also is an artist and producer, would listen to their dad rap and eventually picked up freestyling.  So he started writing around 10 years old, and once everyone took attention to him, began getting serious and recruting his brothers, Bum$quad, to use the blessing they eventually found they all had. 
        Fat Ray, Ray Lipscomb, has always been a fan of Trap music & Classic Hip Hop found inspiration in his brothers and took to the music scene also. The first hook he wrote was "Use It" immediately showing he deserved the same shine his brothers got. Generally the comic relief, once he took the craft serious he took off running. Doing music with his brothers, Bum$quad, that he had known for several years. He says after that music became more than something to do when him and his brothers was high, it was a way to keep their future bright.
         Young Suave, TiiMyr Roberts, was born and raised on the east side of Charlotte, Sandalwood Apartments. Coming from a single parent home, he managed to graduate high school and is now attending college. Hip Hop and music in general have been a big part of his entire life. From his moms love for Reggae and his grandad's love for Old School R&B. He has been rapping since about 10 years old but didn't actually write until the end of middle school. Nothing too serious on a few songs with his bestfriend, Ziggy B. Senior year in high school is when everything got formatted. Told his friends about a group name idea called Bum$quad and everyone took too it. As he got older and experienced more things, he feels that his rapping abilities have increased. He's just tryna make a name for himself, his city,his family, and his brothers. Bum$quad, "Stay up or Lay up".
         Bum$quad has a collective sound and each artist in the group carries there own style. There are 5 members in Bum$quad 3 of the 5 rap and one is a rising producer. The three rappers Ziggy B, Fat Ray, Young Suavé  are very lyrical.  They all can put a song together and make it something. Ziggy B and Young Suavé are the eldest out the group. Best friends of 15 years. Both always tried forming a rap group as just little kids on the school bus. After high school graduation these two decided they were going to chase this dream. Decided to recruit the closest friends Fat Ray, Quan, and Travvy. The Rest Is Soon To Be History!

Bum$quad is Flyah





Em Jay was born in Lake Charles LA, the 2nd eldest of four children who all had fathers except him. Mother was more interested in the street life and fast times than raising children thus he's always felt cursed at birth.  Days & Weeks would go by without seeing his mother thus when she passed when he was 5 he went to live to with his grandmother who instilled the Fear of God, Retribution, Sacrifice and offered Order in his Chaos.  Residing by the railroad tracks he envisioned how far he could take them to reach a better life, then his Grandmother died.  His brothers and sisters had fathers so he was taken in by his Aunt who eventually moved to Houston for a better life. During this time is when Em Jay began to bounce around among family and learned from the streets how to be a man...still wanting to get away. Once he made his mind up he finally left because he had nothing, no one to provide for him being that he was living with family, not parents, in a two bedroom home with 8 children two women and he was the only male. He decided that they would be better off if he left to provide for his himself.




East Houston, The Eastside, is where Em Jay cut his teeth, packed his piece and sold them streets while consistently thinking about those rail road tracks and how far from the Million Dollar strip aka Federal Road his true talent could take him. On these streets he became known for his lyrical ability, demeanor and style. It wasn't until he hooked up with Shadow Black of Black House Productions that he finally found the conductor to create the tracks to allow his words, thoughts, emotions and insight to be connected together to move along the rails.



"Dat Funky Hood Sh!T" released in 2006 sold well on the Underground circuit as his wordplay, metaphorical systematic flows meshed his love of Hip Hop, Houston & Hog Legs (yeah you have to ask him about that reference!). His "Coon Dog Niggaz" track is widely played within Underground circles to this day ~ Classic! 



During this same time Em Jay was featured on the "Dat Fire" and the "Weed Food & Gas" Compilations all released independently which included tracks by Bun-B & K-Rino to name a few.  Then came along the opportunity which has made Em Jay a household name outside of Houston...InsanAsylum Productions (I.A.P.)! 



Em Jay joined forces with I.A.P. to create the classic mixtape "Whatchu Talkin Bout VOL I" which blew up as it was a project that squarely placed Em Jay as one of the top MCs of the South not only Houston; it can be heard on Mixcloud.com.  Following the nationwide recognition Em Jay stayed with I.A.P. to create this 2nd studio project "Coon Dog" which is available now and includes the singles "Focus", "Any Nigga"/"Anybody (Radio Edit)" and "No Time Fo' Trippin'" all three different types of vibes and styles further accentuating the finesse with which he holds the chrome.



2016 ~ NOW ~ Em Jay is featured once again on I.A.P.'s "Whatchu Talkin' Bout VOL II" mixtape and is currently working on his 3rd Studio Project which will include collabs with Montega Brix, E-Dawg, Psyco Sid, Sax Player Kyle Turner, Bassist Funky Fingas and others plus completing a Hip Hop remix of Flutist Ragan Whitside's "Funkuation" to feature E-Dawg as well.



Em Jay is now the conductor of the engine that pulls the cargo through tracks to destinations that make Amtrak jealous.  Jump on board, the train has left the station.





Em Jay Get Your Focus Back

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)