Michael is…

…one of the most exciting and unique performers to emerge on the music scene is Singer, Guitarist and Songwriter Michael Friedman. Based on Canada's West Coast, this musician is one of the most complete of performing songwriters fulfilling the expectations of even the most critical listeners by delivering the unexpected. At once a mixture of explosive musicality and close intimacy, expressive playing technique and stirring vocals, Michael makes full use of a passionate and powerful 3 1/2 octave voice, a stunning and eclectic "New Acoustic" guitar playing approach, and the entire range of musical genre.

Born in Vancouver and raised in a family of musicians and artists, Michael began studying piano at age four and was exposed to folk, world, rock and classical music throughout his youth. His father played flute in various orchestras, and also led a folk music group. At age eleven the family moved to Berlin where Michael's father enrolled in Berlin's Hanns Eisler Conservatory of Music to study Choral Conducting. While in Berlin, Michael began his life-long love and "obsession" with the guitar. After a few years of playing professionally in Toronto he would return to Germany, to receive formal musical training in Guitar and Composition at that same distinguished Berlin conservatory. While based in Germany he toured extensively, performing in various countries as a solo artist as well as a member of different groups, becoming a respected member of the international music community in Europe.

Friedman's visually compelling technique is a combination of intricate fingerpicking, strumming, harmonic slapping and pulloffs. His imaginitive use of alternate guitar tunings sets the stage for a soundscape of infinite possiblity, where Friedman paints a tapestry of changing emotions and moods. It is immediately evident that he has spent a considerable amount of time forging a style and sound that is uniquely his own.

Returning to Vancouver in the 1980's, Michael took a temporary leave from public performance, keeping a busy schedule writing music scores for T.V. and Film, and giving guitar and songwriting instruction and workshops. Starting in 1992, Michael was the Music Director for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) Front Page Challenge and wrote over 120 compositions for this respected television production during its last three of 39 years. In the 1990's, he began performing once again and released two critically acclaimed solo albums,I Never Knew What Hit Me Until Now (1995) and Angst Ridden Writer (1998) featuring songs co-written in part with Canadian songwriters, Sam Masich, Kevin Vogen and Colleen Eccleston. Michael Friedman continues to tour in Canada, USA and Europe in support of his recordings. He is currently recording his third album, Diamond Space, to be released in the Spring of 2002.