Joseph Michael is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriterand record label owner currently residing in Los Angeles, California. Born on December 26, 1979 in Utica, New York, Michael presently fronts Los Angeles-based progressive dark metal outfit Witherfall, Seattle-based technical metal group Sanctuary, and Los Angeles-based thrash metal-gothic music hybrid Midnight Reign. Apart from his schedule fronting internationally recognized metal acts, Michael also privately teaches music theory and application, as well as voice, to aspiring musicians and songwriters. Privately, Michael enjoys sushi, red wine, and airport lounges. He’s related to former Black Sabbath/Rainbow/Dio singer, the legendary Ronnie James Dio and renowned Bewitched actress Agnes Moorehead. Born Joseph Michael Furney in Utica, New York—also home to television star Dick Clark, Boston’s Tommy DeCarlo and Fran Cosmo, and famed guitar player Joe Bonamassa—Michael’s primary interest growing up was baseball. From sun up to sun down, he played “America’s Game.” At an early age, Michael was also exposed to live music—mostly country artists like Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Kenny Rogers—through his father. At home, he would jam Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, and Neil Diamond on an 8-track player that he coveted. After the wearing out rock ‘n’ roll’s superstars, Michael graduated to heavy metal via his cousin, with whom he discovered King Diamond, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden. King Diamond was of specific interest to Michael, as the Danish native was an exceptional vocalist and a highly visual performer. But Michael’s switch from baseball to rock ‘n’ roll/heavy metal didn’t come at the behest of his cousin. Rather, Michael saw and became enamored with guitarist Saul Hudson (better known as Slash) after seeing the Guns N' Roses video for “November Rain” on MTV. At that point, there was no turning back for Michael. “There were guitars around the house, but I didn’t really have my own instrument,” Michael says. “My dad bought me a Cruz Strat copy from Japan. I think it was $100. In a few days, I was reading tablature. Within a week or two, I was playing the usual songs that beginners play. I remember my first band was formed after a baseball game—my father was a baseball coach. A couple of the guys there played. I ended up meeting up with those guys and formed a band called, Asylum. We played Black Sabbath songs. We were terrible. I got better at playing guitar relatively quickly. So, I kept forming bands. People would come and go. So, I started to work on music by myself. I started to put on independent shows. I was sort of a promoter. I worked with the mayor and created the Music Utica Music Festival. I still couldn’t make things happen in Utica—beyond guys doing cover bands—so I started to travel to New York City.” Michael spent a year between Utica and New York City trying to make bands work. Midnight Reign, the band … more here: https://josephmichaelofficial.com/biograph