This page contains a short bio that can be copied/pasted for posters or print, as well as a full-length version available as plain text.
Short biography
Bay Area native Michael Gaither writes songs that alternate between the nostalgia of small-town life and the challenges of modern technology. Always with plenty of humor thrown in. He turned to songwriting after a background in journalism and a narrow brush with standup comedy. (He sold jokes to Jay Leno in a previous life.) Michael’s latest CD – his fifth of original tunes – is “Welcome Back: A Collection.”
His shows with are a mix of award-winning originals, stories with a backbeat and Americana with a local angle, along with a cover or two by some of the artists who’ve influenced he and his bandmates
Offstage, Michael is a DJ with the legendary KPIG Radio.
Complete biography
Whether you call it Americana, folk, or singer-songwriter, award-winning songwriter Michael Gaither is a storyteller. A Central Coast native, he takes the “write what you know” idea to heart, crafting songs that alternate between the nostalgia of small-town life and the challenges of modern technology. Always with plenty of humorous takes on everyday life.
Michael turned to songwriting after a background in journalism and a slight brush with standup comedy. (He sold jokes to Jay Leno in a previous life.) A Santa Cruz County native, his songs also have a healthy preoccupation with locales from the past (“Starlite Drive-In Saturday Night”) and present (“Highway 17″). He’s released five CDs of original songs, along with several singles. All of them have received local and international airplay.
Michael performs solo or as “Michael Gaither and His New Best Friends,” backing up his stories on guitar, banjo, and harmonica, and mixing in covers of artists who’ve influenced him (Tom Petty, Warren Zevon, John Prine, Bob Dylan) along with songs that are just a heck of lot of fun to play with a band (including The Cars, Little Feat, Neil Young, and The Band).
Offstage, Michael is a DJ with the legendary Americana station KPIG radio and hosts two weekly trivia nights (heavy on pop culture and music, naturally). He also produced/hosted the “Songs and Stories” podcast from 2006 through 2020, which featured stories behind his songs and interviews with other independent songwriters.
Press
- Beach Neighbors Spotlight: “Meet Michael Gaither and His Bandmates” – 2/29/24
- Lookout Santa Cruz: “Michael Gaither Returns with a New Album and an El Vaquero Winery Celebration” – 4/13/23
- Pajaro Valley Magazine: “Michael Gaither’s New Song Speaks to a Generation Feeling Like An ‘Elder'” – 2/25/22
- Wallace Baine of Lookout Santa Cruz interviews Michael and examines his latest single in “Ready or Not, ‘We’re the Elders Now’ brings a sense of inevitable reality”– 12/5/21
- Santa Cruz Good Times: Michael Gaither’s Pandemic Gig Helped Local Music Fans Through Lockdown – 6/23/21
- Lookout Santa Cruz: “Local Singer’s Pandemic Anthem” – 12/16/20
- KC Cafe Radio Interview: “Michael Gaither enjoys good karma with his latest album” – 2/7/2018
- Adobe and Teardrops Review – 11/2017
- Michael Gaither – “Hey Karma” (Bucketlist Music Reviews) – 6/15/2017
- Register Pajaronian: Zombies, Layoffs and Sarcasm – 5/9/2017
Other Media
- Livestream: The Santa Cruz Guitar Company visits Michael on their Coffee Break video podcast.
- Livestream: Michael and his New Best Friends remember KPIG Radio’s Laurie Roberts in this livestream memorial concert.
- Interview: KSQD Radio talks with Michael on “Exploring Santa Cruz” episode about Highway 17.
- Interview: “See You On the Other Side” is featured on KSQD Radio .
For booking and interview requests, please call 831-288-2226 or send an email
to booking@michaelgaither.com.