Michael Roach

Michael Roach, one of thirteen children born to Ted and Sadie Roach of Washington, D.C., USA, sings and plays guitar in an East Coast style of blues that dates back to the 1920s.  He is an exceptional performer that interacts with his audience and entertains as he plays.

Over the past 20 years, Michael has conducted numerous workshops throughout the USA and Europe.  As a cultural arts performer, Michael has promoted African-American culture through the use of blues music.  He has lectured for the Smithsonian Institute (USA), Oxford University (UK) and more recently at the University of Metz (France).  In July 2004, he was involved in the organization of a conference held at the University of Gloucestershire (UK) called "Overseas Blues - European Perspectives on African American Music".

He is the founder of the European Blues Association and serves as its Development Officer, Newsletter Editor, Director and Guitar Instructor for the organisations annual Blues Week 2000 - 2010 programme (a week of lectures, guitar, harmonica, piano/keyboards and vocals tuition) at Exeter University (2000/2004) and the University of Northampton (2005/2010).  Michael also presented "Deep Blue", a three part series on blues music featured on BBC Radio 4 in March 2003.  It is Michael's communication skills together with his musicianship that has enabled him to bring about a greater understanding of blues music and the Black experience.

Michael has a new album called 'Innocent Child' scheduled for release in January 2010.  To hear sound samples, click on this link:
http://www.stellarecords.net/michaelRoachInnocentChild.htm

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