About Michael Loonan

Singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, arranger, producer, video artist--Michael Loonan does it all. The musical community has taken serious notice of Loonan's versatility. His studio work has been compared to Brian Wilson and his musical style brings forth reminders of the early Beatles, Squeeze, Graham Nash, and James Taylor.

A native of St. Paul, MN, Loonan began playing music as a child, beginning with piano lessons in third grade (he still owns the piano he learned to play on) and eventually teaching himself guitar from Jimi Hendrix and Beatles records. Through the years, he's played with various Twin Cities bands, including Foolish, the Janes, Three Below, Melange, the Johnny Holm Band and the Loonan/Nelson Band. In addition to his solo work, he is a keyboard player and vocalist for the band 2nd Generation.

Michael Loonan released his debut album, Graduation, in 1988. A promising mix of hard rock and gentle ballads, the album received favorable reviews and local airplay. His 1993 release, Share the Disguise, marked Loonan's growth as a songwriter, vocalist, and arranger, showcasing his knack for memorable, melodic pop craftsmanship. Share The Disguise received strong reviews in the local press and earned a Minnesota Music Awards nomination for 1993 in the Pop Album category. Several tracks received airplay in the Twin Cities area, Madison, WI and WONB in Ada, OH, where the album was reported to College Music Journal in the "current heavy" airplay category.

Michael Loonan is in heavy demand as a performer and producer. He performs solo on piano and guitar, with the band 2nd Generation and other musicians at several area venues. His easygoing, humorous stage manner, strong original material and solid treatment of standards from the 60's to the 90's attract a loyal following. Loonan is also well-known for his creation of "the Loony Bin Band" and parody songs for KSTP-AM's The Mischke Broadcast, as well as other special music for The Don Vogel Show. He also produced and played on T. D. Mischke's debut recording Better Man, and served as producer, session musician or arranger on recordings by many Minnesota artists. He recently produced, arranged , sang backup vocals and played several instruments on "The Day Has Come", a spiritual recording featuring his brother, Patrick Loonan.

Other credits include special musical appearances at St. Paul Saints baseball games, composing music for Dayton's, 3M, Carlson Companies, the "Stop the Hunger" theme for the New Orleans Hunger Project, and an advertising theme for the Charleston Riverdogs minor league baseball team.

Loonan earned a degree in video production from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and has put that background to use with the creation and production of several music videos, many of which have been seen on St. Paul cable access programs. Loonan also had a hand in the production of the cable access program Mission: Cable.

Performances (solo/Michael Loonan Band):

Venues:

Vintage Wine Bar, St. Paul; Music City Cafe, St. Paul; Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis; Minneapolis Cafe, Minneapolis; Cabooze, Minneapolis; Mississippi Live, Minneapolis; O'Gara's, St. Paul; Lexington, St. Paul; Great Northern Supper Club, St. Paul; Brewberry's, St. Paul; Gathering Grounds, Minneapolis; Ginkgo Coffeehouse, St. Paul; Calhoun Beach Club, Minneapolis

Special Events:

Grand Old Day, St. Paul; Summer Jam, Chang O' Hara's, St. Paul; Walktoberfest, American Diabetes Association

St. Paul Saints, pre-game performances, St. Paul

Rally for St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman (with Paul Metsa), O'Gara's, St. Paul

Bookings/Information:

Michael Loonan
461 Warwick St.

St. Paul, MN 55105

651-699-1999

 E mail: Michael Loonan

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