Michael Warren, a country music singer-songwriter from Alabama, shares his unique journey to success, from passing out burned CDs outside bars to performing at CMA Fest.
Michael Warren, a 41-year-old country music singer-songwriter from Hoover, Alabama, is a testament to the adage that it's never too late to pursue your dreams. Warren's path to success has been unconventional, marked by setbacks, persistence, and a belief in his own abilities.
Growing up in a musical household, Warren was drawn to writing and performing from a young age. He honed his skills in middle school by singing to schoolgirls with his buddies, channeling their love for Boyz II Men. From there, he joined the church choir, where he began to take music seriously.
During his junior college years, Warren dedicated himself to learning the guitar and writing songs, spending countless hours locked in his bedroom. He later enrolled at the University of Alabama, where he played gigs in dorm rooms and fraternity parties.
Warren's local popularity led to invitations to perform at college bars across the Southeast. Late at night, he and his father would record his original songs on his camcorder and burn them onto CDs. Warren strategically handed out these CDs only to girls outside bars, knowing that if he could attract the female audience, the guys would follow.
Through a series of fortunate events, Warren's music reached Atlantic Records Chairman and CEO Craig Kallman, who was impressed enough to call Warren directly. After months of pursuing Kallman, Warren signed a songwriting deal, which eventually led to a call from Grammy award-winning artist Toni Braxton, who wanted to record one of his songs.
Over the years, Warren has written songs for Jennifer Lopez, Flo Rida, Akon, Cody Simpson, and others. He is grateful for his journey, both the good and the bad, recognizing that every experience has helped him grow.
Today, Warren is gearing up for his first set at CMA Fest, a major achievement for any country music artist. He is humbled by the opportunity to perform alongside the stars he has long admired.
Warren is excited about the inclusivity in the country music genre and acknowledges the contributions of Black artists like Darius Rucker in breaking down barriers. He hopes to follow in Rucker's footsteps and inspire others to embrace their true selves.
As an independent unsigned artist, Warren is currently working on a full-length album that will tell his story through self-written music. He remains optimistic about his future, confident that his hard work and determination will pay off.
"This music industry is hard in general," Warren says. "So, every artist that's out there that's Black, White, Hispanic, this is hard. If it happens tomorrow, cool. If it happens five years from now, cool."
