Michael J. Powell

Michael J. Powell is an American R&B musician, record producer and arranger who is best known for his work as producer for eight time Grammy Award-winning soul / R&B vocalist Anita Baker.^[1]

Michael Powell was born in the Robert Taylor Homes in Chicago, Illinois and lived there until his family moved to Detroit at the age of 9.

As a self taught musician in Detroit in the late 60’s, Michael became a well known guitar player and musician at a young age, cutting his chops around town when Detroit was producing some of the greatest music in history.

Those influences served him well when in 1974 he formed a band called Chapter 8. A year later, Anita Baker joined Chapter 8 and they spent a couple of years playing in and around as the hottest band in Detroit. They eventually got a record deal with Ariola.

The self-titled album came out in Fall 1979. Two singles hit the R&B charts: "Ready for Your Love" and "I Just Wanna Be Your Girl". Ariola Records was bought by Arista. The executives at Arista thought Anita couldn't sing and didn't want to renew Chapter 8's contract.

In 1983 Michael reunited with Anita Baker and had a hit single with “No More Tears” featured on her “Songstress” album. In 1986 choosing her friend Michael Powell, as her producer, they created 3 multi-million selling albums …“Rapture”, “Giving You the Best that I Got” and “Compositions”.

Michael Powell began to focus his talent on writing and producing for other artists and establishing Vanguard as one of Detroit’s hottest studio’s.

This launched a whirlwind career for Michael, winning multiple Grammy nominations and awards and working in a multi faceted role with many great artists.

What makes Michael J. Powell unique is everything he brings to an artist in a recording project. He is an accomplished guitar player, vocal arranger, music arranger, writer and Producer. His relaxed demeanor and knowledge in the studio brings out the best in every artist that Michael works with.

“In all my work I always try to bring the best quality to every artist and song, so that it will stand the test of time”,Michael stated recently.“I’ve had the great pleasure to work with some of the greatest artists in history, but I am equally excited about some of the new projects I am working on as well. There is some great new talent and we are excited about the many new ways to get the music out to the masses”.

Recently rising star Lorenzo Owens wowed Oprah and her celebrity judges as a finalist on the show's "Popstar" contest. He had patiently searched for his best opportunity and was floored when he learned that his management had secured a deal with the legendary Powell. “Michael Powell is a singer's producer. Owens stated. “I am blessed to be taken under Michael’s wing”.

His production skills were an integral part of her success and rise to fame as one of the most respected and successful R&B vocalists in recent times. He produced the multi-platinum and critically acclaimed award-winning Baker albums Rapture in 1986, Giving You the Best That I Got in 1988 (which reached Number 1 on The Billboard 200) and Compositions in 1990.

After Compositions, Powell was replaced by several different producers including Tommy LiPuma, Barry J. Eastmond and Baker herself on her next studio album, Rhythm of Love, in 1994.

References

1. ^ Smith, Jessie Carney (1996). Notable Black American women. VNR AG. pp. 19–. ISBN 9780810391772. http://books.google.com/books?id=ssMBzqrUpjwC&pg=PA19. Retrieved 1 May 2011. 

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Name	Powell, Michael J.
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