Since I don't have a local submission for my "Temecula Valley Tuesday" edition of "The Dose" I've expanded my search down to San Diego and an artist by the name of Michael McGonigle. I'll be playing a new song of his called "Sweet Lady". I met Michael several months ago when he was participating in his other gig as an actor while I was on set for an independent film shoot.
Here is some info about Michael:
Michael McGonigle was born in 1962 and raised in Harmony, Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh, PA). My musical influences include “The Beatles”, “The Bee Gees,” “Journey,” “Pink Floyd,” “Eagles,” “Little River Band,” “Led Zeppelin”, “Queen” and so many more.
Michael has been singing in front of audiences since about 5 years old. In high school, he sang chorus and was selected for barbershop quartet in addition to singing solo for other events. He’s been a lead vocalist in bands since 21 years, mainly old with local PA bands in the 80’s.
In the 90’s Michael sang lead vocals with the bands “Pitch Black” and “Lost Faith”. While in the band Pitch Black, he got his first experience in a recording studio. This was around 1983. His band recorded 2 songs at Jerry Records in Beaver Falls PA. They made a 45 record, side A “Oh Anna” side B “Don’t Look to Fast”. Pitch Black broke up in 1990. The band “Lost Faith” was next, from about 1990 to 1992. After that, Michael did an acoustic duo for 2, then a solo act for about 3 years where he played guitar and sang. During this time, he gained a lot of confidence since he was singing and playing all the music all the time while really honing his skills, stage presence and with greater connecting with his audiences.
Michael recalls, “In 1998, I was ready to get back into the recording studio. I had many songs that I was wanting to produce. I wrote, performed, sang and produced my first CD “Fairway Freedom” consisting of 12 original songs. I was doing it all and crafting my music skills to new level. I really enjoyed my time in the studio. I loved making music, creating melodies and many harmonies to all my songs. It took me about 6 months to complete since I was playing most of the instruments and all vocals myself. I distributed bios and CD’s to friends, family and about 15 record labels while waiting to hear back from record companies. Solo producing and distributing was difficult on a limited budge— but a great learning experience for me.”
“After I completed the CD, I took a music sabbatical. I had mixed feelings about the music industry. I shifted to a completely different career (carpentry, contracting and cabinet installation etc.). I put the guitar down for almost a decade after having played since I was about 15 years old (and composed all of my originals on the guitar).”
Then, in 2009, Michael had an accident at work and cut 2 fingers off on his left hand. The fingers were re-attached, but he could no longer play guitar again since he was unable to bend his fingers properly to hold a chord. “I thought it was Ironic that I chose not to play my guitar for 10 years and then the choice was taken away from me for good due to an accident.”
A few years after this incident, a former band member got Michael interested in performing again. Since he was unable to play a guitar, his bandmate said he could just sing while the other band member would play the piano. Michael says, “I started rehearsing with him and we sounded really good together. I was getting the fever again, the desire to perform. I was gaining confidence with every practice. I bought a keyboard for him to use while practicing at my house. Great plan since this introduced me to a new instrument that I would eventually be able to play despite the finger injury.”
The duo split up and that keyboard sat around for about a year, until Thanksgiving Day of 2013. “That’s when I decided I wanted to try to play music again. I knew what the keys were on the piano and I knew music theory from playing the guitar. I wasn’t trying to become a professional musician at this point, I was a contractor in Pittsburgh, PA. I just want to play again for fun and for the love of music—my lifelong passion. I began transcribing what I knew on the guitar to the piano. I played every day for hours and hours. A few months of playing the piano extensively, I realized I was able to play it well enough to write music again and play cover songs.”
Having been a solo performer, Michael became interested in a different type of duo—having a girl singer to accompany him on stage and in the studio. In 2013, Michael met Suzanne Gladstone. Suzanne was a singer/songwriter from San Diego who was living in Atlanta, met a guy from Pittsburgh and moved there with him. That’s the short version. The timing was perfect as was the music chemistry between them. They both started writing songs together and Michael was happy to have finally met someone with the same passion and love for music, as well as an interest in the same genre of music. It was another chance for Michael. They became McGonigle & Gladstone. They practiced long hours and started with a few cover songs, later deciding to focus on original music. They created 13 songs, recorded a 5 song CD and 1 music video. The dream was alive once again.
In 2015, the duo moved to San Diego California. Michael recalls; “so I did what any crazy person would do with deep passion. I quit my job, sold my house, and moved to San Diego, having never been there before. Since I was waiting to work, we practiced 8 hours a day for months. We then started playing locally in San Diego in restaurants, charities, private parties and hotels like La Valencia in La Jolla.”
“In Nov 2016, I decided to record the song “Starting Over” It was a song that Suzanne and I wrote together and completed it in San Diego. The video followed a year later. We continued to play locally, but Suzanne was losing faith in the duo and chose to go solo. Prior to that, in 2017, I had written the song “One More Chance” thinking her and I would record it together.” That never happened, the chance was gone but a new song was born out of it.
“After licking my wounds for a few months, I said to myself, I can still do this. I need to count on me, that’s the only way I can be sure, because I will not quit on myself!” On January 2019, Michael got back on the horse and went into the recording studio and started over. How ironic, the last song Suzanne and he recorded together was coming to life. “I finished recording “One More Chance” an amazing song with so much heart and harmony. I have been working on the music video all summer. I have re-recorded a song “Mirror” from my 1998 CD. This song could very well be one of my best, although I love all my songs. Two more songs coming soon, “More Than a Memory” and “Please Don’t Go.”
“I am peaking at this stage in my life with some of my best music and video production. Songs are available here to listen and to purchase digitally mastered downloads. Thanks for visiting the site, support the arts/music!”
Sincerely,
Michael McGonigle
If you are an artist or in a band and you want to be featured in a future edition of The Dose, here is what you do.
Pick out your very best song
Make it into an mp3
Send it with info about you or you band in a pm to our FB page
www.facebook.com/radio945fm.com