Michael Passons: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}

{{references}}

{{Infobox musical artist

'''Michael Passons''', a native of Yazoo City, Mississippi, is the founding member of the christian band [[Avalon (group)]]. After moving to Nashville in 1990, he began to meet and collaborate with friends in the music industry which ultimately led to him receiving an offer to help assemble a band with [[Sparrow Records]] (EMI) in 1995. The band made their debut November of 1995 in San Jose, California at the start of the multi-city arena tour "The Young Messiah" along side such legendary artists such as Steven Curtist Chapman, [[CeCe Winans]], and [[Michael W. Smith]].

|name = Michael Passons

|image = MichaelPassonsatGRAMMYS.jpg

|caption = Michael Passons, GRAMMY Awards red carpet

|background = solo_singer

|birth_name = Robert Michael Passons

|alias =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|10|29}}

|birth_place =[[Yazoo City|Yazoo City, Mississippi]], U.S.

|death_date =

|origin = United States

|instrument = [[Piano]]

|genre = [[Contemporary Christian music|CCM]]/[[Worship music|Worship]]/[[Pop music|Pop]]

|occupation = [[Musician]]<br />[[Songwriter]]<br />[[Composer]]

|years_active = 1995 – present

|label = [[Capitol Music Group]]

|associated_acts = [[Avalon (American group)|Avalon]]<br>[[Point of Grace]]

|current_members =

|past_members =

}}

'''Michael Passons''' is an American singer-songwriter and the founding member of the Christian band [[Avalon (American group)|Avalon]].

This proved to be an excellent launcing pad for the foursome who later garnered two gold records, countless number one hits, 6 GMA awards, 3 GRAMMY nominations, an American Music Award for "Favorite Artist Contemporary Inspiration" in 2003, and their hit song "Testify to Love" would eventually be named one of the top gospel songs of all time.

After eight years with Avalon, Michael departed to seek out a new path in his music career which has included an opening spot on tour with christian super group [[Point of Grace]].

[[Category:American musicians]]

==Biography==

Michael Passons was born and raised in [[Yazoo City, Mississippi]], and as a toddler, began to sing and play piano. As a young musician, Passons was influenced by music from the small country church where his family attended, and also popular mainstream singer/piano player artists like Elton John and Lionel Richie.

Michael went on to attend [[Mississippi College]] where he graduated with a degree in classical piano. He joined a college band his senior year, and after graduating, toured nationally several summers with a New Jersey–based band.

Passons moved to Nashville in 1990 and began working with fellow musicians. It was there that Grant Cunningham, a [[Sparrow Records]] (EMI) A&R director, caught his performance at a February 1995 Nashville showcase. This pivotal meeting led to Passons becoming the founding member of the Christian pop group, [[Avalon (American group)|Avalon]].<ref name=CML>[http://www.christianmusiclighthouse.com/main/information/avaloninfo/michaelinfo.htm Christian Music Lighthouse Michael Passons Bio] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425230616/http://www.christianmusiclighthouse.com/main/information/avaloninfo/michaelinfo.htm |date=2011-04-25 }}</ref> The band made its debut in November 1995, in San Jose, California, at the start of the multi-city arena tour, "The Young Messiah," alongside such artists as [[Steven Curtis Chapman]], [[CeCe Winans]] and [[Michael W. Smith]].

<references/>http://christianmusic.com/avalon/avalon.htm

This proved to be an excellent launcinglaunching pad for the foursomeAvalon who, during Passons' tenure, later garnered two [[gold recordsrecord]]s, countlesstwenty numberNo. one1 radio hitssingles, 6six [[GMA Dove Awards|GMA awards]], 3two [[GRAMMY]] nominations, ana 2003 [[American Music Awards of 2003 (January)|American Music Award]] for, "Favorite Artist Contemporary Inspiration," in 2003, and their hit song, "[[Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon|Testify to Love]]," would eventually be named one of the top [[gospel songssong]]s of all time.

After eight years with Avalon, Passons left the group in 2003.<ref name=CML/> After years of public statements by Avalon to the contrary, Passons confirmed in a 2020 podcast interview that he was forced out of the group because he was gay and that he ultimately refused to attend [[conversion therapy]].<ref name=Billboard>{{cite magazine|url= https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/michael-passons-avalon-9447362|title=Michael Passons Says His Sexuality Was the Real Reason for Leaving Avalon|date=2020-09-11|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=2020-09-13|first=Joe|last=Lynch}}</ref>

"Avalon showed up at my house and told me I was no longer in the group ... And it was all because of who I am."<ref name=People>{{cite web|url= https://people.com/music/michael-passons-kicked-out-of-avalon-for-being-gay|title=Former Avalon Singer Michael Passons Says He Was Kicked Out of Christian Band for Being Gay|date=2020-09-11|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|access-date=2020-09-13|first=Gabrielle|last=Chung}}</ref><ref name=JonahPodcast>{{cite podcast|url= https://art19.com/shows/jonah-and-the-whale/episodes/3226c35e-a945-407a-8f10-ab75aa228d89

| title=Michael Passons

| website=Jonah and the Whale

| publisher=Lasting Media

| host=Josh Skinner

| date=2020-09-09

| access-date=2020-09-13}}</ref>

Since leaving Avalon, Michael has been an opening act on tour with fellow Christian group, [[Point of Grace]]. He has also collaborated with Country Music singer [[Ty Herndon]] and Broadway star [[Kristin Chenoweth]] to record a new inclusive version of Avalon's 2006 song "Orphans of God".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thechristianbeat.org/ty-herndon-releases-orphans-of-god-duet-feat-kristin-chenoweth/|title=Ty Herndon Releases "Orphans of God" Duet Ft. Kristin Chenoweth|date=23 October 2020}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071021212029/http://www.entertainmentwatch.net/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=6&Itemid=29 Entertainmentwatch.net - An Interview with Michael Passons]

*[http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%253D160183%2526M%253D200340,00.html Michael Passons: Movin' Out]

<references/>*[http://christianmusic.com/avalon/avalon.htm Avalon - Christian Music.com]

*[http://www.newreleasetoday.com/artistdetail.php?artist_id=1300]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Passons, Michael}}

[[Category:1965 births]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:American Christians]]

[[Category:American gospel musicians]]

[[Category:American male pianists]]

[[Category:American gay musicians]]

[[Category:LGBTQ people from Mississippi]]

[[Category:People from Yazoo City, Mississippi]]

[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Mississippi]]

[[Category:20th-century American LGBTQ people]]

[[Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people]]

[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]