Early ’60s
Garage-band beginnings
Michael's original biography says he played his first gig at age nine. The setting was the Bay Area, and the first chapter was rock and roll played young and loud.
The road behind the records
Road
Book
Fragments from a long musical life, drawn from Michael's original biography and archive.
Bay Area
The Druids
Michael helped form The Druids and played with guitarist Pat Simmons before Simmons joined the Doobie Brothers. The archive includes this early band photograph, with Michael standing at the top right.
In 1966, the San Jose group released a two-sided single on MNO Records (MNO-101): “Cool, Calm and Collected” backed with “Sorry’s Not Enough.” Both sides survive in the collector and listening archive.
1970s
Brent Buell and the Los Angeles years
Michael worked closely with Brent Buell, who assisted with management and helped introduce Michael and his music to the Los Angeles recording industry. Together, they visited record companies and major television networks throughout Los Angeles while pursuing opportunities for Michael's songwriting and recording career.
Buell later became a playwright, director and producer. His prison-theater work inspired the acclaimed A24 film Sing Sing ↗, which he co-produced and in which he is portrayed by Paul Raci.
1980s
Recording with Pat Simmons
Michael later recorded at Pat Simmons' studio. Simmons also performed with Michael, including singing harmony on Michael's song “California.” These sessions became part of a long period in which Michael continued writing, performing, recording and developing his music alongside other established musicians and industry professionals.
West Coast
Solo and duo miles
Recording and performing continued in California and Oregon, followed by a shorter period in Hawaii. The details are sparse; the persistence is not.
Today
Clark Fork River country
Michael later played primarily in Montana and Idaho. Today he lives along the Clark Fork River near the Idaho–Montana border, where he is building his home in peace, with his horse nearby and music still woven into daily life.
The records
Headed Home. Raw. Get Ready.
The first album was recorded in Nashville. For the next two, Michael worked with his son Daniel on Raw and Get Ready. Raw also received engineering and mixing support from Scot Shaw of Soundhaus Recording Studios in California and LT2—Lenny Turner, “The Sound Mechanic.”
Most of Michael's songs are spiritual, with Christian faith at the center of a catalog carried through country, rock, folk and blues. Headed Home looks toward the beauty of meeting our Maker—Jesus Christ—and reaching our final home. Thirty-five verified songs now connect that history to the present streaming catalog.
What’s going on now
Michael Seward — No Brand Band
Michael is going back to finish what he started long ago: forming a band around the songs and the message behind them.
Over the years, Michael’s songs have reflected what he has witnessed in a chaotic world while seeking to bring people hope. His conviction is simple and direct: Christ is the only answer.
He hopes soon to complete the full instrumental version of Get Ready—the counterpart to the acoustic version that has already been released—along with several more songs that no one has heard.