Michael Colton is a singer/songwriter and blazing guitarist whose rootsy approach to countrified, bluesy pop goes straight to the heart. Drawing comparisons to Jason Isbell’s storytelling, Keith Urban’s tunefulness, and Gary Clark Jr.’s fiery energy, Colton reaches audiences through Americana soul, memorable hooks, and guitar work rooted deep in the Chicago blues tradition.
Colton has performed from Connecticut to Los Angeles, opened for Tower of Power at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, and been featured at South by Southwest and the Sundance Film Festival. After writing his first two albums independently, an introduction to Nashville songwriter Brett Boyett sparked a new album and a creative partnership that continues today. As guitarist, educator, and California Blue co-producer Steve Trovato puts it, Colton “has that rare combination of being a great singer and great guitarist.”
His journey is one of depth and reinvention. After paying his dues in bars and coffee houses, a career-changing studio encounter with producer Blake English (George Benson, Toni Braxton, Jennifer Lopez) led to session work and The Robert Johnson Sessions EP. Later, while recovering from a serious head trauma, Colton spent five hours a day playing guitar to rebuild his mind — an experience that shaped his defining philosophy: “I like to play music rather than just the guitar.”