MICHAEL NOVAK

Rumor has it he was born in a grain bin just outside Volga, South Dakota.   It’s never been confirmed or denied;  he simply says “go check it out”.

He grew up with a two-wheel trike, a gravel pit, the town inebriate, hamburgers, a one arm GI Joe and discovered that Keinbochs would delay his dreams.  Never a quitter he’s now following up on pursuits commenced in his youth.  His dream was to act, write plays and make music.  Following his first year of college he discovered that he suffered from Keinbochs.  A bone ailment that results in lack of blood to the lunate bone and its eventual collapse and death.  He spent the next two summers recovering from surgery to try and correct the situation.

Although he never formally studied music he experimented with an old guitar writing songs that appeared out of nowhere.   While recovering from the disease he fell in love and knew he wanted a family and he decided to attend law school to make sure he could afford to raise them. He married the summer following his first year of law school and raised four beautiful children, and his first album is an outgrowth of thirty years of marriage that abruptly ended.

That album ‘permission to speak’ is an intimate look into the pain and sorrow resulting from the collapse of the marriage and is also a tribute to people around the globe who are hurting in despair and needing love.  ‘permission to speak’ carries this message forward.

Now at work on album two - ‘Eyes Open Eyes Up’ he continues to be supported and mentored by incredible talented artists.   Mira Kehoe, Mike Michel and Greg Schutte have been incredibly supportive and helpful in his artistic growth and development.  He looks forward to release of Eyes Open Eyes Up’ in the fall of 2023.

Hardship and challenge have often found him.  Moving often between birth and the middle of fifth grade he conquered his two-wheel trike, spent lots of time with his one-armed GI Joe and hid in his imagination.  Immediately following Christmas of ‘64 he was hoisted into a delivery truck headed to Minnesota.  He was given the GI Joe for Christmas and the ride.

Besides following up on his musical passion he has been involved in numerous theatre, film and writing projects.  Winding down the practice of law to spend more time creating he hopes you find something worth connecting to as we continue this path called life.  Thank you for listening and your support.

He’s spent a lifetime distilling his experiences and exploring ways to share them with others. He has appeared in several films including – ‘Can’t Go Home, ‘Old Media Studies’ and others. Theatre productions include the ‘Laramie Project’, ‘Laramie Ten Years Later’, ‘Line of Sight’, ‘Tigers Be Still’ and ‘In A Stand of Dying Trees’ and he has written several plays. Always interested in how the personal informs the universal and vice versa, he's looking forward to meeting you.

He hopes you find something in one or two songs or other work.