Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Michael Skinner is fulfilling a long held childhood dream to play the guitar, sing, and write songs. Since first picking up the guitar and learning to play it back in 1995-96, his musical adventure has brought him to new heights of achievement with the release of a successful album titled "TRAIN OF TEARS" in 1999, designing and establishing a website in February 2002 that has garnered over one million visitors from 40 different countries. In May of 2003, Michael released his second album "PIRATES" and in April 2008 he released his third album – “WAITIN’ FOR A TRAIN”. His performances have brought him throughout New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Washington, DC, North Carolina, Tennessee, California and all points in between. He has received some great reviews about his music from the press, but more importantly, the accolades from those who have seen his performances, buy his albums, and visit the website are indeed proof that he is doing the "right thing".

Michael first entered the world of music as a drummer when he was ten years old. Throughout his early teen years his band performed for many school dances, teen centers, and they won their fair share of the Battle of the Bands contests. His later teen years found this success parlayed into being a fulltime professional drummer, performing in nightclubs throughout New England and New York. Eventually his skills as a drummer led him to perform and tour all of Great Britain for two years with the rock band "American Train". For several years after their return home to Boston, MA, "Train" continued to perform and record in New England and New York. Later on, Michael took his knowledge and skills into the business end of things in music and started a highly successful management and booking agency representing rock bands who toured all over the East coast, as far mid-west into Chicago, and from Toronto to New Brunswick in Canada. Some severe health problems and concerns forced Michael to leave the music business for several years. He has now returned full force in living out his long held childhood dream of playing the guitar, writing songs, and singing and is loving every minute of it.

"Train of Tears," Skinner's first album, released in 1999, was also recorded at Bob Cat Studios
(Seabrook, NH). "I was pleasantly surprised by the success of "Train of Tears," Skinner said in a recent interview. "It opened a lot of doors for me. I want to be accepted as a musician who feels strongly about certain issues and will say so."

The ten songs that comprise the acoustic pop sounds of "Pirates" still address angst and accountability, love and loss, but anger is replaced by a degree of acceptance. Skinner sings in the title cut: "A sturdy ship from those at hand will help your passage, Deliver you to a new land…Position your ship so that the sun shines in their faces."

Skinner trades in his electric guitar for an acoustic one in "Pirates" and the original cuts are complemented by the rich voice of Kelly Ann McCann on several songs. Skinner has worked with different versions of his composition "Walk With Me." The one included with this album is a smooth instrumental by pianist Jay Hovnanian.

The musician, who toured Europe for two years in the late 1970s with the Massachusett's band American Train, is looking to reestablish himself in the more intimate solo venue of coffeehouses and other live performances in the New England region. Additional information can be found at www.mskinnermusic.com.

Skinner recently addressed the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on issues involving child exploitation and a portion of the sale of "Pirates" will be donated to organizations including SASS (Sexual Assault Support Services;Portsmouth, NH ) and The Healing Arts Studio; Boston, MA. The guitarist recently performed at Manchester's Veteran's Park as part of NAMI Walks, an 11 state nationally co-ordinated walkathon fundraiser for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. Skinner has been invited by the Million Dads March to perform "Dear Child," a song from "Pirates," at the gathering in Washington, D.C. this Father's Day weekend.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt