biographical info
Michael Kelly Cavan is a Canadian
singer-songwriter, born in Ireland and raised by his immigrant parents
in North Bay, Ontario. It was during his formative years that Michael
found a love of music and his own Irish Tenor voice, first as a young
choirboy and then as a singer and guitarist in the Irish pub scene.
Now, as a mature Canadian songwriter, Michael finds inspiration in his
immigrant family experience as well as his life growing up in Northern
Ontario. “I’ve always maintained a strong connection to my homeland,
through the stories my parents would tell my siblings and me while at
the same time drawing great creative energy from the people and
geography of Northern Ontario and the country in general. There is
something wonderful about arriving at a time in life when the culture
of your birth and your adopted culture blend into a way of being that
fits like a comfortable old sweater.”
Michael creates his own sound and blend of both Irish and Canadian folk music traditions.
In terms of songwriting Michael has been dabbling at it since he was in
elementary school. "I had a long walk to and from school each day and I
often filled up the solitary distance by composing little songs. In
high school I wrote our school song and also wrote lyrics and music for
a successful little production based on the antics at our local city
hall. In a review, the local paper noted that they couldn't publish any
of the lyrics because they would incriminate several of the
counsellors."
Michael has played in several rock/pop bands including a stint in Ireland
with an Irish showband. He has performed as a sing-a-long piano player
on a tourist train (the Polar Bear Express), has graced the stages of
Massey Hall, the El Macombo, the Horseshoe Tavern, Hughs Room and
various other venues.He has sung the Irish National Anthem (in gaelic)
in Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto to kick of the St. Patricks day
celebrations and frozen his fingers off while playing on a float in the
Toronto St Paddys' day parade. He has released 4 CD's to date and is
currently working on a Irish traditional one and one of new original
material.
He currently performs throughout Soutwestern Ontario and runs
the Cavan Creative School of Songwriting in Kitchener Ontario.
With his singing, playing and storytelling and his melodic tenor voice
and gentle wit, Michael continues to provide heartwarming and
foot-tapping entertainment wherever he finds a stage.