Michael Jeansonne History
Mobile, AL 1976
I remember the first time I ‘heard’ my voice, singing along to Springsteen’s “Born to Run” in the back of my mom’s Buick station wagon in Mobile, AL. I kept thinking how cool it was that I could copy the tone of different singers’ voices so closely. Soon after, I started bangin’ around on my dad’s ol’ ukulele, trying to play along with songs from my sister’s suitcase size 8 track collection. Elton John, The Guess Who, Boz Scaggs, BTO, The Doobie Brothers - these were the artists that established my love for music and can still be heard as roots for the music I write and play today.
The first time I “sold my soul” for music was just before high school. My mother agreed to buy me a small Peavy PA system, with microphone and stand, in exchange for playing for my parents’ friends upon request. This meant every Saturday night I was in our playroom, playing small concerts for house guests. It led to my first paying gig; a guest asked me to play a party for $50.00! At 15, I realized I could play guitar, sing, AND get paid for it. From that night on, I played solo gigs throughout high school and into my college years. At LSU, from ‘85 to ’89, I played every Thursday at Fred’s Bar & Grill. And during the summers, packed up my trailer and found gigs in Yellowstone, WY, Boulder, CO, and Los Angeles, CA.
Everywhere USA 1989
A career in the stevedoring business eventually took precedence over music, and led me on a nationwide odyssey of 38 US ports, as a ship superintendent loading and unloading ships. During a three month stretch in Long Beach, CA, I had the opportunity to spend several late nights with our Japanese partners in local karaoke bars. This led to my name as a candidate to serve as our company’s representative in Tokyo, Japan. Obviously, I said yes.
Tokyo 1992
Before arriving in Tokyo, the word had been spread through Kawasaki’s office that a “Karaoke ringer” was coming to live and work amongst them. Within the first month, I drank a year’s supply of scotch and sang “My Way” more times than Elvis. Then, I received a card from a gentleman that had a “country bar” in Tokyo’s famous Ropongi district. He said he wanted me to do a country show and would put a band together for me the following Saturday night. I had one rehearsal with interpretation, through the broken English of a Japanese bass player. Surprisingly, the first show went well, and then every Saturday night after, we packed the house! Within two months, we were drawing capacity crowds and I was slowly becoming a celebrity in Tokyo. It was a magical year for my music career; I realized how much I loved performing live with a band. It is that special moment just before show time, when the lights go down, the house is packed, and the band is ready to play – then, complete magic takes over when the first chord is struck…
New Orleans 1993
I moved to New Orleans and immediately put a band together in the “Big Easy.” We quickly established a following and were playing shows at The Mermaid Lounge, Carrolton Station, The Maple Leaf Bar, Tipitina’s, House of Blues, and a 5,000 plus crowd at The Jazz and Heritage Festival. I even had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at a Saints’ game in the Superdome. I married Melanie Jackson in 1996, and now more than ever, we both wanted my music career to work out. Record Producers from Sony Music came down to see a couple of shows; record deals were being talked about and were no longer just a dream. It was “fun-crazy” times. For example, I remember doing an early morning news show with the band, and then dashing off to change into my suit for a meeting with the Port of New Orleans. Melanie and I would rent a U-Haul on Thursday, and take off with the band all over the south - playing shows at casinos in Biloxi, bars in Mobile, festivals in Abita Springs – we were all over the place and having a ball! So much so, we decided to give music a legitimate shot. After ten years with the same company, I resigned; we sold the house, and moved to Nashville.
Nashville 1998
Once in Nashville, a close friend introduced us to her world of friends, which eventually led to a publishing deal. Our plan seemed to be coming together well, until ten years later, we still do not have a record deal or songs cut. However, along the way, I have learned that record deal or not – I still love performing and will do whatever I can to put myself in that moment, when the lights go down, the house is packed, and the band is ready to play…
Since arriving in Nashville, we have produced two records on our own ‘Tiger Records,’ (Geaux Tigers), and plan to release a third, knowing that they will be extremely valuable, once the first Grammy is won. I believe in reaching for your dream, as long as there is breath to draw. I firmly believe music brought me my wife (another story), which brought me three beautiful children, and a wonderful life in Franklin, TN. Looking back, all the way to the back seat of my mother’s Buick station wagon, I wonder now how empty and different my life would have been if I had not pursued my passion for music; I am so grateful for all the enablers in my life that encouraged me along the way.