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Michael Anthony Shanks

Michael Anthony Shanks is a hard working and fun loving Texas musician, singer-songwriter and bandleader whose performances have thrilled audiences from Buenos Aires to Beijing. His unique blend of blues, folk and funky grooves feels immediately familiar yet surprisingly fresh, always taking the listener down the road less traveled . He has performed with numerous world-renowned artists such as Suzanne Vega, Mando Saenz, Duncan Sheik, Jovino Santos Neto, Caretta Bell, and Down North.

Born in the wild, worldly sprawl of Houston, Shanks grew up listening to music from all parts of the globe. At home his family would jam the likes of the Doors, CCR and even Beethoven but out in Houston’s thriving arts scene he was introduced to Ravi Shankar, Philip Glass, Joe Guitar Hughes, Astor Piazzolla and countless other internationally known musical innovators.

His 2013 album, Shankster Style, celebrates this diversity in influences with tracks like “The Salamander” and “Lone Star Gypsy” having Latin jazz roots while “Shipwrecked” and “Foggy City Morning” are more acoustic folk, story telling songs. What ties it all together is what critic Adrian Quevedo calls “a powerful guitar that seduces you at every turn.”

In 2002 he moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas and to hone his skills as a guitarist and songwriter. That’s where Shanks created his first successful projects and cut his teeth as a band leader in Austin’s grittiest of clubs. In 2008 he moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina where he quickly inserted himself into a lively blues scene. After touring as a solo artist in South America and picking up a few Latin licks along the way, Shanks flew back to the States and settled in Seattle. There he performed with amazing musicians such as Jovino Santos Neto and Down North.

In 2011 Shanks returned to Houston to find the city’s music scene growing and continuing to inspire. In 2013 his band, the Shanksters, opened for Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band at the House of Blues and in 2014 they were back at the HOB performing alongside national touring group Graceland Ninjaz. In 2015 the Shanksters headlined Earth Day Festival at Discovery Green.

Shanks also has performed in several Broadway shows including the 2016 run of “A Night with Janis Joplin” with renowned rock singer Kacee Clanton at the Alley Theatre. And most recently he has done two tours in China and Singapore with the show Legally Blonde.

In 2018 Michael played guitars, banjo and mandolin in the world premiere of Lover, Beloved with Suzanne Vega and Duncan Sheik.

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"His album sounds great... (Michael's) one pretty damn good guitarist!" -Roark Smith, 2-time winner best Radio DJ, Texas Music Award

"If your going to listen to the Shankster Style album, be forewarned! The guitar is very powerful and at every corner it seduces you, manipulates you and that is what I would call the unifying force behind these tracks of such diverse origins. That is the Shankster Style!" -Adrian Quevedo, Scatter Records

"Michael is an intrepid young musician who likes to groove! Cool in the act of musical performance, his vision of music is expanding very fast and I wish him success and luck in the musical universe." 3-time Grammy Nominee Jovino Santos Neto

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Shankster Style

Chase Circle Records
2013

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