It wasn't
all that long ago that Michael Clay was one of Nashville's noted
heartthrobs. He is certainly a fine example of an impossibly
handsome sensitive man. His music at the time was noteworthy in that
it could not be pigeonholed. In the heartland of the Country Music
Industry that can be a two edged sword. There was definitely nobody
like him. No one else was playing his brand of pure American music
with a strong positive streak. His loyal following was exactly that
because the music was so uplifting. On the other hand being that
unique made it difficult for major labels' A&R people to take a
chance on him.
Still he stayed on and played and played.
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Italian on his mother’s side and bred in the heart of Texas,
Michael is furnished with an emotional base that propels him
to perform and reach out through that performance. Nashville
was graced with many a show at The Sutler, Caffe
Milano, 3rd and Lindsley, 12th & Porter,
and Wolfie's not to mention spontaneous performances
that sprouted at parties, The Nashville Country Club,
The Bound’ry and The Trace.
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It wasn’t
as if the Michael Clay bud simply sprouted on Nashville turf. He’d
already sung with Garth Brooks at The Grand Ol’ Opry,
and performed with Opryland USA for 5 years, touring the west coast,
not to mention his Alabama Theatre experience in Myrtle Beach.
The Nashville years also brought him to Austin’s Saxon Pub
more than once and reignited his attachment to his home State where
he is now and where he continues to create.
Michael could tell you many a tale of his close friends from his
Nashville years and more than one has inspired his original
material. They were years full of creativity and connecting
personalities. The list seems endless and certainly memorable.
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Michael Clay's signature song at one time was the incomparable
Love Out Loud, a paean to
loving as one's nature dictates. It arrived at the very end of the
set starting out unassumingly with an autobiographical sketch of how
the emotional struggles of youth brought the singer to musical
expression a metaphor/simile for loving and living. It was that part
of the show where everyone in the band had the opportunity for self
expression. It was cathartic and exhilarating.
I was born with bugle horns and
trumpets in my heart,
Mandolins, & accordions & voices in three parts
Pounding drums and guitar strums
And choirs singing out
I was born to love, love out loud
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| Photo by
Gene
Chavez |
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The song was the inspiration
for a series of fundraising events in New York and Los
Angeles for HIV related charities. Michael helped initiate
it in 2006 creating a joyful noise at Prohibition in New
York City’s upper west side with none other than
actress/singer Ilene Kristen.
Michael plays on and Austin, Texas is the better for it.
The coming year will see the completion of "Ready", his
project with producer Merel Bregante, formerly of
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Loggins & Messina.
In the meantime he is putting his song writing talent to
work for songs for the forthcoming Cardboard Signs.
Currently near and dear to the man is a unique collaboration
of gentle soul. “The Homeless Project” and the paintings of
Duke Michael Peschka. Michael is writing words and
music to accompany, if you will, those works of art. It is
labor of love as part of Art4TheHomeless.
…loving out loud indeed. |
