Michael Marshall

In 1985, Michael Marshall was the lead singer for a loosely organized musical collective known as the Timex Social Club. They were bound together simply; they started with the limited ambition of creating a song or two for the types of multicultural parties that they frequented. But in less than a year, they would have a top-ten Billboard single and be loudly announcing the birth of a new musical form: hip-hop soul. This came with the release of the hit single “Rumors” and was cemented during the summer of 1986 as the song and a nascent musical form gained traction in the national consciousness. Radio programmers were perplexed. It was urban and had an edge. But it wasn’t rap. The song charted into the top ten and gained momentum on radio. Suddenly, the band was invited to tour with Run D.M.C. and LL Cool J. A second single, “Thinkin About You” advanced the trend. Finally, after a hastily put together tour and a long summer on the road, “Mixed Up World” would be the final hit for Timex.

But Michael’s latest and most significant reinvention would drop in 2004 and 2005: the subtle transformation to a solo artist. Now wielding the stage persona of Mike Meezy, Marshall released two albums in less than a calendar year. First was a collaborative effort with San Francisco-based rapper Equipto, entitled K.I.M. Among the tracks on this album, Beautiful (The Family) and Keep Rising show him in top form, building sticky vocal hooks with dense harmonic choruses and dynamic ad-libs.
 The songs and demo tapes of the last twenty years are now synthesized and released in a potent catharsis, a testimony to the frustration and the letdowns, the unrequited successes and the heartfelt failures. In 2014, Michael tours internationally where he is recognized as “The Soul of the Bay.”

Career Highlights

-1986: ”Rumors” Single (Timex Social Club) #8 on Billboard Hot 100,
#1 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Charts.
-1986: Opening Act Run DMC “Raising Hell Tour”
38 States Tour with Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and more
-1987: American Music Awards & Soul Train Awards (Nomination for best R&B Record)
-1995: “I Got 5 On It” #8 BillBoard Hot 100 #4 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop, RIAA Certificed Platinum
-2001: The Proud Family, Disney (Season 1 Episode 3 – “Rumors”)
-2008: The Hills, MTV (Season 4 Episode 16 – “You Did This”)
-2012: “Do You Miss Me” Music Videos Surpasses 200,000 viewers on YouTube
-2013: UK Tour (more info needed on this)