Sean Michel

Sean Michel (born August 21,1979) is a musician from Bryant, Arkansas. He gained initial recognition through his participation in American Idol Season 6. Before his stint on the program, he spent several years touring with his band.
Personal life
Michel was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His family relocated to the Little Rock area in the early Nineties.
Early career (2003-2009)
In 2003, following his return from a period in China, Michel enlisted his friend and bassist, Nick Taylor, to join his musical endeavors. By 2005, the band expanded with the addition of drummer Joie Lyle and embarked on a consistent touring schedule.
In 2006, Michel spontaneously decided to audition for American Idol. His audition took place in Memphis, Tennessee, and subsequently, he spent time in both Memphis and Hollywood as part of his American Idol obligations. His national recognition grew as a result of his impressive rendition of "God's Gonna Cut You Down," which earned praise from the judges. When the episode aired in January 2007, his media exposure significantly increased.
During this period, Michel and his band were actively touring with a complete lineup. The latter half of 2007 saw them dedicated to recording their inaugural full-length album. Entitled The Thrill of Hope, this debut album was officially released in December 2007.
Modern career (2009-present)
In the absence of a band to accompany his performances, Michel sought the assistance of his long-standing friend, Andy Turner, to create demo recordings for works in progress.
During the early months of 2009, Michel crossed paths with guitarist Alvin Rapien, a fellow member of the same church community. Their collaboration led to Alvin Rapien assuming the role of Michel's guitarist. Concurrently, Michel embarked on a solo tour spanning over two months, covering regions in India and Nepal.
Towards the end of 2009, Michel unveiled I Know I've Been Converted, an album steeped in blues influences. This record featured his interpretations of traditional spirituals alongside original compositions. While the album lacked an official release date, physical copies became accessible in late 2009, with digital downloads following suit in 2010.
In the year 2010, Michel received an invitation to visit Chile, where he actively participated in relief efforts following the devastating 2010 Chile earthquake. Michel organized a band to perform numerous shows throughout the country during this period. It was during this time that bassist Seth Atchley became a part of the band's lineup.
In 2011, Michel announced a fundraising campaign for a forthcoming album project. Michel, along with his collaborators, managed the Arkansas Stage at the Cornerstone Festival for the third consecutive year in 2011. Over this period, they transformed it from an independent "generator stage" into a prominent attraction, achieving notable success by the festival's final year in 2012. By this juncture, Michel had established himself as a proficient guitarist leading a formidable blues-oriented trio. The resultant album, titled Electric Delta, featuring Atchley and Batterton, was officially released in 2013.
After the conclusion of the final Cornerstone Festival in 2012, Michel played a significant role in initiating the AudioFeed Festival in Urbana, IL. Within this context, Michel became a featured performer starting from 2013 onwards, performing at a restructured Arkansas Stage, which has since become one of the primary stages of this festival.
In July 2016, Michel initiated a Kickstarter campaign to fund a new album project that would center on "Roots Gospel music." This project aimed to blend original gospel compositions with traditional tunes and was slated to be produced and engineered by Paul Moak at Smoakstack Studios in Nashville. Notable musicians, including Jimmy Abegg, Aaron Smith, and Eddie DeGarmo, were scheduled to contribute to the recording process.
Citations
References
Official Sean Michel Facebook Page
Relevant Magazine Interview
Baptist Press Article
Entertainment Weekly
Reality TV Magazine
Singers from Arkansas
American Idol participants
Living people
People from Bryant, Arkansas
Year of birth missing (living people)