Songs are life, and life is a song. This is what Michael O’Neal might say if you were to ask him
about his music. Michael is a 20 year independent artist and veteran of running up and down
the roads of Texas and Oklahoma. To the tune of 6 studio records and 2 live records, all while
maintaining his day job the entire time. You could say he’s a workingman’s songwriter who only
writes what he knows. Picking up a guitar for the first time when he was 25 years old, he will tell
you he has a passion for the lyrics and the detail. Michael’s songs are heartfelt and true with the
stories to match, he’s been quoted as saying “to me, the story is more important than the
rhyme”. Michael’s songs are documents of life’s events, from quitting school in the 3rd grade
(only to be forced to return) to watching his Mom iron his shirt before his grandmother’s funeral.
Very heavily influenced by the writing styles of Guy Clark and John Prine, Michael has steadily
progressed at selling records and building an audience in his region. He has shared the stage
with some of the heaviest hitters in his genre, Fred Eaglesmith, Chris Knight, Steve Earle, and
Ray Wiley Hubbard to name a few. His tunes have won the respect of peers and music lovers
worldwide. Songs and stories of laughter, tears, disappointment and hope…just like the life we
live. Dark Side of a Small-town (2003) Soul Shine (2008) Learning As I Go (2011) Family
Business (2014) Stars (2017) Live at Heritage Hall (2018) Chili When It’s Chilly (2020) Still
Tryin’ (2023)