Kevin Michael Thompson

About

Kevin Michael Thompson is a singer, songwriter, producer and composer. His music is a weathered and worn blend of Americana, country, blues, rock, and gospel. His songs have appeared on the television shows American Pickers, What Not to Wear, Destination America and many more.

Kevin’s songs sound both fresh and familiar at the same time. He accomplishes this by embracing his musical roots and influences but refusing to be limited by them. Instead, he uses his influences and a spirit of experimentation as a starting point and fine-tunes the initial creative spark into songs that blur the lines between genres. The result is front and center vocals underscored by a current of rich sonic textures mixed with vintage tones and colors.

Growing up as a preacher’s kid, Kevin Michael was steeped in and surrounded by a rich tapestry of gospel choruses, songs and hymns. His early influences were equally shaped by his parent’s vinyl collection. Elvis Presley, Larry Norman, Phil Keaggy, The Beach Boys, and particularly Bob Dylan’s Slow Train Coming seemed to spin endlessly on the turntable.

Kevin has performed, sometimes armed only with a guitar, with performers such as the Grammy nominated Emerson Drive, CCM chart-toppers Casting Crowns, and the critically acclaimed Derek Webb to name a few.

His constant gigging and an openness to almost every genre of music has earned him a reputation as somewhat of a musical chameleon. Although this eclecticism has made him hard to categorize it has allowed him to play alongside hip hop, bluegrass, and hard rock acts throughout the country.

Kevin has recorded several full-length albums. His third release, Wither. Fade. Remain. (2008), was a concept album meditating on death, and life and was far more personal, more urgent, and more experimental than anything he had ever done before.

His latest album, Good News in These Bad Times, is a tip of the hat to some of the gospel albums he grew up loving. The title is inspired by a sermon by the late Reverend S.M. Lockridge and sets the tone for gospel theme of the album. Highlights include the soulful Nail Scarred Hands, the plaintive I Believe, Help My Unbelief as well as several reworked hymns such as O Love Divine What Hast Thou Done and Holy, Holy, Holy.

Kevin also fronts the acoustic band Old State Travelers and is recording their debut album. He is also working on a follow up to Good News in These Bad Times which is expected winter 2017.