Americana wildflowers amongst blades of bluegrass.  Have you Escaped the Pavement lately?

My music and my friends...some stuff off my label...some from anywhere..

Pulling the roots of country music then mixing punk, rockabilly,bluegrass and New Americana together creating a familiar but unique sound. It holds the high lonesome sound we've heard from Hank and Cash but with a nitty gritty edge. Singer/songwriter Trevor James holds no shame for what he says in his songs.  He tells it the way it is.  Raised in Minnesota but born in Florida he holds southern charm and Midwest nice with open arms. Thanks to his mother Linnea Marrin who was the church music director, Trevor was surrounded by music at an early age. Eventually he would make his own tunes with his own lyrics.  Trevor's songs hold nothing back from life experiences.  He sings from the heart be it love lost or love gained, regret and  the good times.   He finds the upside to remind us that the sun still shines. He takes country routes and crosses the road creating an edge to his sound which makes him an Americana Rebel.

“The Long Road to You wraps Kelly&Ellis’ journey - a tuneful autobiography, a slice of music history and a vision of their future - in lush, guitar-rich arrangements. We’re lucky to go along for the ride.” - Acoustic Guitar Magazine

The Long Road to You is the Chart Topping debut full length CD by two rather accomplished musicians. Leslie Ellis performed lead roles on Broadway including Grizabella in “CATS” and won a Grammy® with Celine Dion for “My Heart Will Go On”. Casey Kelly began his career in the legendary “Greek Fountains” of Baton Rouge opening for major artists at arenas and stadiums. He then began writing hits at 1650 Broadway and the Brill Building, working among the likes of Carole King. He nearly joined Three Dog Night, toured with Tom Rush and The Beach Boys, and wrote #1 hits “Anyone Who Isn’t Me Tonight”, “Somewhere Down the Line”, “Only Game in Town” (recorded by America/produced by George Martin”) “The Cowboy Rides Away” – a signature hit for George Strait –  among many others, and scored a brace of Grammy® nominations. 

The Long Road to You captures a sound born of two hearts, honed over years of performing together, and full of all the pain, humor, relief, disappointment, strength and gratitude that comes from fully giving oneself over to one’s art.

They have been touring across Europe and the US since 2005, to sell out crowds.

Michelle Held didn’t set out to be a songwriter—but somewhere between the weight of unspoken things and the desire to make sense of them, the songs came. What began as a search for meaning, connection, and a sense of purpose, slowly unfolded into something others could see themselves in.

Her voice is unmistakable—fragile and fierce, tender with an edge. Her songs are invitations: into grief, into wonder, into the kind of honesty that asks you to stay a little longer than is comfortable. With a poet’s attention and a deep sensitivity to life’s complexities, Michelle builds a world where small moments carry weight and every syllable matters.

Over the years, she’s quietly built a body of work that resonates far beyond her hometown of Detroit. A three-time Honorable Mention recipient in the Telluride Troubadour Contest, and praised by folk legend Tom Paxton, Michelle continues to carve out a thoughtful, steady path—one that honors intention and takes its time. Her songs don’t offer answers, but they listen well. They become something luminous: a way forward, a way back.

Michelle has released one single to date—not out of hesitation, but out of deep care. She’s more interested in what lasts than what’s loud. Her songs have lived most fully on stages, in quiet rooms, and in the hearts of those who carry them home. A full recording is on the horizon, but for now, the songs remain close to the bone.

A singer-songwriter providing insight and awareness.

Escaping Pavement is following