MICHAEL LEE THOMAS  

                                                     - BIOGRAPHY-                  

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

                                  January 1980

                                  August 2003

                            "Dreams Never Run On Time, But Always On Schedule"  - Michael Lee Thomas 1989    

      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 & 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-Three 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 in Summer 1982. 

      "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. And this began the eventual shift in 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 America, (an independent label that he founded in 1981), formed a publishing company, Darksilver Music (a BMI affiliate since 1986) and a production company, RealDream Productions (also founded in 1981). 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. The studio has changed States, locations, had many versions. The most recent layout has been dismantled in preparation for the studio to be re-designed into a full Pro Tools 9HD format room in Spring 2012.*

     Several unsuccessful attempts in Los Angeles at projects in the Hard Rock genre soon led him towards a new style of composition. His writing would change to developing and recording unique, adventurous instrumental music. Although as a drummer turned self-taught keyboardist, his compositions are inter-woven with strong percussive influences. In time these efforts evolved into a Serious New Age project that would soon gain critical recognition. He initially released three New Age albums worldwide with both public and critical success on his own Darksilver Records 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 voices 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. But 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, shortly after the collapse of 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 back 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 Instrumental Jazz and Soundscape areas. And In 2000, Michael Lee launched THRILL ELEMENT , a Major side project featuring a New Age /Soundscape style. The Project has released Eight CDs to date and has been a tremendous success creating a serious Fan base and following of it's own.

      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 - 2009. During this time, Michael Lee produced and recorded an additional 400 digital Masters, bringing his digital master catalog total to over 900 cuts.  He also launched two additional Limited Edition major side projects. In August 2006, the debut CD for GRAVITY QUIET  , 'Climbing Through a Fall', featuring an Ambient production style, was released and the second Gravity Quiet CD, 'Under The Tree of Secrets', was released in Spring 2007, with the Third CD, 'Storms In Low Orbit', released in May 2009. The Fourth and Last CD, 'Visions and Other Times', is scheduled for Fall 2013. August 2007, saw the introduction of the third MLT side effort, TOM SLAYTON EFFECT , featuring an Electro/Acoustic style. The debut Tom Slayton Effect CD, 'Slide Show Dreams', was released in August of 2007, with the Second CD, 'Water Crossing No. 3', released December 15, 2009, with the Third and Last release, 'Last Warm Morning' scheduled for Fall 2013.  The Sixteenth MICHAEL LEE THOMAS  CD, 'Home Away From Time', and the Eighth THRILL ELEMENT  CD, 'Fountain Of Skies', were released December 1, 2009, and December 8, 2009, respectively.  'Echo Breathing' , the Eighth  THRILL ELEMENT CD was released December 21, 2010, and 'Resting Vertical, the Seventeenth MICHAEL LEE THOMAS  CD, released December 28, 2010. Sometime in late 2012, 'Sometime Next Future' ,  the Eighteenth MLT CD and 'Oceans On Mars' , the Ninth THRILL ELEMENT  CD are scheduled to debut.

     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. Since 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 Summer 2010, Michael made his definitive return to the professional world of Drums & Percussion. Becoming  the Drummer for the Progressive Hard Rock group, 'Just Past Tomorrow', and Texas Rock artist, 'Gary Ray Grice'.  Michael Lee is now performing Live once again and recording on his Ludwig Clear Vistalite Drum Kits! And he is thoroughly enjoying t this sincere and deep return to his percussive roots and musical beginning. Still, with a digital catalog of over 900 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."

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 2001)

Publishing: 

Darksilver Music BMI    (Founded / BMI affiliate since 1986)

Production:

RealDream Productions     (Founded 1981)

____________________________________________________________________

* Dedicated to the Memory of  Luther Lee ' Tommy'  Thomas   (1928 - 2010) *

© 2012  Darksilver Records America

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