Today on American Nomad: Music Detours, we’re getting to know one of my favorite music curators and broadcasters – Michelle Lee, who is an IBMA award-winning broadcaster and tireless advocate for Bluegrass, Americana and Indie Musicians.
Michelle Lee’s 25 plus years of broadcasting has brought her full circle from creating her own radio station in the backyard to her very OWN ONLINE STREAMING STATION! You can find MICHELLE LEE ON AIR through the LIVE365 streaming platform – it is offered to you 24/7, free of charge, full of an awesome blend of bluegrass and country music (classic to today), and of course, Michelle Lee herself. You are also able to live stream the station straight from her website, https://michelleleeonair.com
The online channel features a variety of music ‘detours’ into the heart of bluegrass, Americana, folk, popular country and other genres to tickle your musical sensibilities and get you on your feet.
What I love the most about Michelle Lee on Air are the deep dives with artists including her Artist of the Month interviews and album cut reviews.
I’ve included a special interview with Michelle below:
- Journey of becoming a Broadcaster and helping artist share their music?
I began my journey in broadcasting right after high school. The possibility of obtaining an athletic
scholarship for college was out of the question after a career ending injury in sports. During that time,
the recovery from injuries were a lot different than they are now-a-days. As a sibling of 10, having the
necessary amount of money for college was limited. I have loved music and learning about it for as
long as I can remember. I decided to take my strong personalities skills and love for music to enter into
broadcasting school at Ohio Center of Broadcasting in Cleveland, Ohio. During my schooling I learned
the importance of all the “behind the scenes” stuff but I also learned how I was going to become the
liaison between fans and artists. From that point on, I have made it a focus of mine to help the artists
with great music to be heard and shared over the airways for all fans to hear. - What drew me to bluegrass?
I always loved country music. Bluegrass music became a love of mine because of how easily the two
styles of music intertwine with each other. Bluegrass has a very strong history and is a huge piece of
our heritage. The talent that is within bluegrass is truly amazing and it keeps impressing me. - Looking forward to IBMA?
I look forward to IBMA every year in the respects of getting to see all our bluegrass artists but also
meet and hear new artists from other areas of the country/world. Beginning a new segment on
Michelle Lee On Air, I particularly love having the opportunity of meeting artists from other Countries.
Having the honor of being nominated for IBMA Broadcaster of the Year this year, I am looking forward
to representing all other broadcasters and hoping to be recognized as the Broadcaster of the Year. I
won in 2019 and it was truly an amazing feeling of being recognized by your peers and it gives you that
reassurance that you are doing what you should be doing. For a simple answer to what I am looking
forward to at IBMA this year is hearing great bluegrass music, reuniting with friends and meeting new
awesome artists. - Top 5 concerts/festivals you have attended? (answering in no particular order)
- Mohican Bluegrass Festival – bluegrass
- The MACC (no longer happening but was great) – Bluegrass
- Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival – bluegrass
- ROMP – bluegrass
- Industrial Strength Bluegrass Festival – bluegrass
- Celine Dion – adult contemporary/pop
- Reba – Country
- Neil Diamond
- The Judds Farewell in Nashville
- Barry Manilow
- How do I keep listeners engaged between up-and-coming with seasoned pros?
I have created a rotation that provides a good balance between the new releases, bluegrass and
country songs from multiple decades, while keeping a few of the traditional and “foundation” songs
from the pasts. Over the years I have been able to learn the music and the ability to mix the changes
that have taken place throughout the years. - What’s next?
Continuing to grow my station that will provide that steady platform for artists to share their music on.
We hope to grow to the point where we have our own app and continue to offer the station for free.
I hope to close the gap between the national and international stages of music. I would love to see the
new and older artists to become more complimentary to each other. Having older artists share their
experience and knowledge helps keep the tradition alive. - Marsha is a veteran and found a great organization, Operation Song, that matches veterans and
veteran families up with professional songwriters to help tell their stories. Operation Song has an
office in Nashville, TN on the old original “Music Row”. While we were heading to Nashville for a quick
trip, we scheduled for her to meet a songwriter, Kelly Johnson, at the Operation Song office. Marsha
and Kelly created a song that describes how servicing the military is a generational thing in their family.
Both of Marsha’s grandfathers served in WWII and her dad served in the Air Force for over 30 yrs. The
song is a true interpretation of family, honor and inspiring.
All songs can be listened to on the Operation Song App
More information can be found at operationsong.org and it is free to all Veterans. - Favorite Vacation Spots? Any Tips?
I love going to Niagara Falls and Outer Banks. I love going anywhere that has sand and water.
Tips – pack your meds and extra outfit in your carry-on bag. Pack extra charging cords for phone.
Bring an actual camera along and good walking shoes. - Ideal playlist would consist of? (listed in no particular order)
Michelle Lee On Air, of course
Terri Clark The Grascals
Tim McGraw Neil Diamond
Breaking Grass Reba
Sister Sadie The Po’Rambling Boys
Kristy Cox Greg Blake
Caroline Owens Mike Mitchell
Infamous Stringdusters The Lonesome River Band
Steel Drivers Keith Urban
Katy Perry George Strait
Carrie Underwood Jackson Five
Wynonna Della Mae
Dale Ann Bradley Balsam Range
