Sounds from the Gruene Room Studio in Gruene Texas USA

Songs are life, and life is a song. This is what Michael O’Neal might say if you were to ask him about his music. Michael is a 20 plus year independent artist and veteran of running up and down the roads of Texas and Oklahoma. To the tune of six studio records and two live records. You could say he’s a workingman’s songwriter who only writes what he knows. Picking up a guitar for the first time when he was 25 years old, he will tell you he has a passion for the lyrics and the detail. Michael’s songs are heartfelt and true with the stories to match, he’s been quoted as saying “to me, the story is more important than the rhyme”. Michael’s songs are documents of life’s events, from quitting school in the 3rd grade (only to be forced to return) to watching his Mom iron his shirt before his grandmother’s funeral. Very heavily influenced by the writing styles of Guy Clark and John Prine, Michael has steadily progressed at selling records and building an audience in his region. He has shared the stage with some of the heaviest hitters in his genre, Fred Eaglesmith, Chris Knight, Steve Earle, and Ray Wiley Hubbard to name a few. His tunes have won the respect of peers and music lovers worldwide. Songs and stories of laughter, tears, disappointment and hope…just like the life we live. Dark Side of a Small-town (2003) Soul Shine (2008) Learning As I Go (2011) Family Business (2014) Stars (2017) Live at Heritage Hall (2018) Live at CWIC (2020) Still Try’n (2023)

Hey, guys. I'm a musician born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. I play many different styles of music on various instruments including guitar, saxophone, clarinet, flute, piano, and a few others. I have a small home studio where I record, mix and master all of my own music. Every bit of the music you hear is written (woth the exception of cover tunes), played, and recorded solely by myself. I take every opportunity I can to play music in any genre. I have played gigs ranging from Reggae and modern Pop and Hip-Hop all the way to 1920's swing music.
My biggest influences on guitar are Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. I grew up listening to classic rock and went to college at the University of Arkansas at Monticello where I obtained my bachelor's and master's degree in Music. i am now a band director and continue to pursue my dream of playing and recording music professionally. 
My main influences on saxophone are Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and the more modern sounds of 'Blue' Lou Marini on the blues side.
I have a wonderful wife named Devin and three beautiful children named Greyson, Owen, and Nora. My ultimate dream is to be able to give them a happy and comfortable life by doing what I love: making music.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my music. Have a good one!

Jake

user403318331 is following