January 1980

                                  August 2003

                          "Somebody has to be the Outlaw !"  - Michael Lee Thomas 1994

                        " A normal life can never truly have adventure."  - Michael "Bucky" Quinn  2002

       Michael Lee Thomas began his musical career at age 6 when he first picked up a pair of drumsticks. Since discovering his God-given musical talents, he has never looked back. At age 9, he formed his first band, Apple Penny, with neighborhood friends. In early junior high, he was the drummer with Apple Penny & Company, formed with school mates and as  percussionist in Simon Bareback Travelers, an acoustic based band. In 1972, at age fourteen, Michael Lee founded the group Blackstone. His exceptional drumming ability was recognized by many early on and became the foundation of his musical presence. By teaching himself Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar & Bass Guitar, he eventually became the principal composer / arranger for the band and designed their direction to be based on original material. 

      By 1977 the group was featured as an opening act for numerous bands on the Mid-West tour circuit. Appearing with such acts as Baby, Head East, REO Speedwagon, Rainbow, Journey, Heart and many others, Michael Lee's reputation as a world class drummer began to take hold. He was offered to fill the same position in other established groups, but his dedication to Blackstone always won out. In 1978 they were signed to Polydor Records, after they won the inaugural Texas World Music Festival -Battle Of The Bands and opened the first Texas Jam. Michael Lee was named best drummer in the competition. The contract was part of a promised prize package, most of which the band never saw or received.

       The Polydor contract kept Blackstone in limbo for almost three years, without any product finalized or released. What seemed like such a great opportunity actually became the most destructive period for what was the best version of the band. " We rehearsed extensively, sometimes Six or Seven days a week to record Demo after Demo, then waited like neglected puppets for the response" says Thomas, "What started as a fabulous opportunity dissolved into a quagmire of stagnation." The negative experiences and bad taste left by the so called "deal" would steer Michael away forever from the stifling control of a major label and towards the freedom of an independent.

     Eventually, Michael Lee would stay with the group for ten years from 1972 to 1982. While remaining the sole original member, he went through twenty-seven different musicians during the band's incarnations. Due to the lack of serious personnel, fatigue and need for a new direction, Michael Lee finally put Blackstone to rest. (See Blackstone Archives)

      "By the time we were signed to Polydor in 1978," explains Thomas, "I was writing 90% of our material, arranging and producing it and handling almost all of the business ends. When problems arose and deals did not pan out , I was the one alone who bore the responsibilities and dealt with the consequences. Then in 1982,  I eventually found myself burnt out from the hassles and abuse of maintaining the band. It had been ten years too long it seemed. While staying loyal to my rock heritage, I decided to get serious about pursuing a solo effort in Composition and Production. This shifted the focus from Drums to Keyboards." In 1983, encouraged to pursue a solo career, he pulled up stakes and moved to Los Angeles.

    In 1984, inspired to embrace the complexities of MIDI-based electronics, Michael Lee began to develop himself as an accomplished keyboard specialist. In 1986, He incorporated Darksilver Records, an independent label that he founded in 1981, formed a publishing company, Darksilver Music (a BMI affiliate) and a production company, RealDream Productions. Another milestone in 1986, he established his own private / project studio, Positive Energy One. This studio would serve as his unlimited access / home based production facility. His focus was now on composing unique instrumental music that would soon gain critical recognition. As a drummer turned self-taught keyboardist, his compositions are inter-woven with strong percussive influences. 

      He initially released three New Age albums worldwide with both public and critical success on his own Darksilver label, distributed by Bainbridge Entertainment.  'Fresh Out of Nowhere' was released in 1989, with 'Voyager Grand Tour Suite' and 'Sleeper' in 1990. The CD's were subsequently reviewed favorably in Billboard, R&R, CD Review, Electronic Musician, Recording as well as many others foreign and domestic. He also was featured in Air & Space Smithsonian for work on Voyager. As the first artist to manipulate audible space "noise" recordings, provided to him by NASA / JPL. Through digital sampling and re-shaping, he created unique one-of-a-kind keyboard voicings featured on the recording.  Unfortunately, disruptive circumstances and distribution contract problems put a length of time between these initial album releases and the next product debut.

     Michael Lee's enthusiasm and confidence have always stayed strong. He has weathered change and misfortune with the same patience and dedication he has had from the start. In 1992, after a disastrous attempt to re-start his Rock career in Texas with a band of amateur musicians (Radio Thunder), Michael Lee broke free of his distribution deal, rid himself of artistic "dead weight" and moved his studio operations from Los Angeles to Texas. He then further began an extensive development of his Keyboard skills, expanding his music towards a Jazz / New Age style. 

     Beginning in November 1992, through January 2000, Michael Lee remained encased in his studio developing and refining a fresh style enjoining Jazz, Fusion, New Age and even elements of Hard Rock. "I think the best description of my music is "Thermal Romantic" says Michael Lee, "With a taste and appeal of Smooth Jazz, it maintains a nice edge throughout." In addition to doing several film and media projects during the time, the long period of writing and recording  proved extremely fruitful. In his Private MIDI Production studio, Positive Energy One, Michael composed and produced over 500 digital Masters of release quality. While complex at times, every cut holds a strong melodic feel with a hard yet tasteful rhythm section that allows use in all Musical Soundscape areas. And In 2000, Michael Lee launched Thrill Element, a Major side project featuring a New Age /Soundscape style.

      After taking some time off in 2001 to spend with his new son, Michael Lee returned to fresh production composing new music and recording new Masters in 2002 - 2007. During this time, Michael Lee produced and recorded an additional 350 digital Masters, bringing his digital catalog total to over 860 cuts.  He also launched two additional major side projects. In August 2006, the debut CD for Gravity Quiet, featuring an Ambient production style, was released and second Gravity Quiet CD, was released in Spring 2007, with Spring 2008, set for the third CD. Fall 2007, saw the introduction of the third MLT side effort, Tom Slayton Effect, featuring an Electro/Acoustic style. The debut Tom Slayton Effect CD was released in August of 2007, with Summer 2008, set for the Second CD release. Additional production is currently underway in the re-designed and updated Positive Energy One-Texas. Production in 2008, includes cuts for the Sixteenth Michael Lee Thomas CD release, 'Home Away From Time', scheduled for a Spring 2009, and the upcoming  Thrill Element,,  Gravity Quiet and  Tom Slayton Effect,  project CDs.

     Michael Lee is in the process of  releasing an extensive array of CD projects featuring music from his digital vault  in conjunction with his label, Darksilver Records America. Beginning in May 1999, with the release of 'J' & 'Project 7: Area 51', Michael intends to introduce at least two to three projects a year. These releases will include Michael Lee Thomas, Thrill Element, Gravity Quiet  and Tom Slayton Effect CDs. In Spring 2004, Michael announced his definitive return to the professional world of Drums & Percussion, becoming active on a limited basis in the session recording arena. A nod to his percussive roots and musical beginning. Still, with a digital catalog of over 850 master recordings, you can be sure the main focus will be Keyboard composition and production. With resilience and commitment to his dream and craft, Michael Lee will continue to share with the world where he has been and where he is surely yet to grow. "I express my dreams through music," says Thomas, "Like an artist on canvas, I paint with sound."

"Dreams Never Run On Time, But Always On Schedule" - MLT 1989

Influences:  Dave Brubeck,  Beatles,  Doors,  Pink Floyd,  Jethro Tull,  Led Zeppelin,  Miles Davis, Brian Eno,  Weather Report,  Stanley Clarke.

Studios:   

Positive Energy One - West      (Established 1986)
Positive Energy One - Texas     (Established 1991)

Labels:

Darksilver Records America            (Founded 1981)                    
Darksilver Records Europe             ( Founded 1995)

Publishing: 

Darksilver Music BMI    (Founded / BMI affiliate since 1986)

Production:

RealDream Productions    (Founded 1981)

© 2008 Darksilver Records America