
Every morning when singer-songwriter Michael Alan looks into the mirror and sees the surgical scar across his chest he is reminded of how lucky he is to be alive. Three years ago he suffered a major heart attack and a year after the episode he was required to have open-heart surgery. The heart attack caused physical disability and the onset of severe depression. In perspective his life evolved around a course of different therapeutic modalities for several years.
Looking back in time, it was the musical sounds in Michael's head that helped to keep him internally calm during the 911 emergency run to the hospital. He closed his eyes and concentrated on beautiful music and calming images to offset the immense pain and fear. In Michael's words, "When one experiences an event which threatens your life, leaves you disabled, or takes from you a loved one, the soul inside of you searches for understanding and it yearns for compassion from others. My wounded heart led me to the one thing which always nurtured my spirit".
Michael's efforts to improve his emotional state led him back to singing and writing songs, a passion he had put on hold while making other commitments to develop a business career. The result of Michael's rebirth in writing and recording is the making of a new album release titled "Michael Alan ? Searching for the Heartland."
The recorded song tracks on the CD are a compilation of different time periods in Michael's song writing, performing and recording career. They include his works as a staff writer for a major music publisher in Los Angeles, his performance touring in Europe with the Esquires, and his most recent music projects since relocating to Seattle, WA. Several of the songs on the album have received grandiose broadcast results on regional College radio in the US. The songs "Rosary" and "Candy" have been placed onto "air-play rotation" schedules with several European commercial stations for weekly broadcasts.
Michael Alan, who records with the label "Global Fish Records," is a rare artist who creates without a prescribed musical formula. His approach to writing is straight from the heart, lyrically poetic and honest, and void of any sound-alike comparisons. His songs create a myriad of lyrical expressions and images that move the listener through a musical experience of excitement, tenderness, passion, and sadness. His ability to write songs in a variety of musical styles reveals the fact that he is an avid listener of all types of music.
Michael approaches the art of song writing with full emotional conviction. He expresses himself in a personal way sharing his deepest thoughts and feelings through his music. In a recent conversation he commented, "Sometimes on a rare occasion the music and words come together like shadows of light creating a warm sense around me. It's a feeling that you are not alone in the rhythm of life. It's in this moment that you know the hearts and souls of all people around the world are truly connected."
Music and Healing: Michael has been blessed with a second chance at life. It is his desire to share his personal story in hopes that he might encourage people to become educated about heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of Americans today affecting people of all ages. The American Heart Association website, www.heart.org, offers a wealth of health information and discusses many options to make healthy lifestyle choices.
Global Fish Records and Michael Alan are a registered third-party fundraiser for the American Heart Association. A portion of the revenue from the music CD sales is donated to the American Heart Association affiliate office in Seattle, Washington. To learn about the association's resources and programs call 1-800-562-6718.
Michael spends his Saturday mornings handing-out educational literature about heart disease to people at shopping malls and grocery stores in Lynnwood. He is comfortable in sharing his experience with folks and he feels a responsibility to inform the public about the growing health crisis in America.
As Michael puts it; a lot of people walk by and look at me with a silly grin on their faces while I'm standing in the rain and the cold in my efforts to chat and offer life-saving information. The highlight of my efforts is when a person calmly approaches me with a smile and says "I read the literature you gave me last week and I visited the website of the American Heart Association and now I am prepared to discuss my health concerns with my doctor in an informed manner."
The music CD, Michael Alan - Searching for the Heartland, is available at the website: www.MichaelAlanMusic.com
The website offers mp3 audio samples for all 12 songs along with insights and lyrics. The album's promotional song release "Rosary" can be downloaded for free. Additionally, the site includes links to several nationally recognized health-information websites.
Michael Alan is a published singer songwriter, with album & movie credits, who has lived and toured in the US and Europe. Website: http://www.MichaelAlanMusic.com
He is also an active member of the American Heart Association.
AP - Israel resumed its Gaza offensive Wednesday, bombing heavily around suspected smuggling tunnels near the border with Egypt after a three-hour lull to allow in humanitarian aid. Hamas responded with a rocket barrage.
AP - Pink slips are piling higher as companies scramble to cut costs even deeper to survive the country's economic and financial storms.
AP - Pointing with concern to "red ink as far as the eye can see," President-elect Barack Obama pledged Wednesday to tackle out-of-control Social Security and Medicare spending and named a special watchdog to clamp down on other federal programs even as he campaigned anew to spend the largest pile of taxpayer money in history to revive the sinking economy.
AP - Senate Democrats beat a hasty retreat Wednesday from their rejection of Roland Burris as President-elect Barack Obama's successor, yielding to pressure from Obama himself and from senators irked that the standoff was draining attention and putting them in a bad light. Burris said with a smile he expected to join them "very shortly."
AP - Protests over the fatal shooting of an unarmed man by a Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer turned violent Wednesday night with windows broken, fires set and train stations closed.
AP - Confronting a grim economy and a Middle East on fire, Barack Obama turned Wednesday to perhaps the only people on the planet who understand what he's in for: the four living members of the U.S. presidents' club.
AP - Rain and high winds lashed Washington state Wednesday, causing widespread avalanches, mudslides, flooding and road closures as the heavy snowfall that has buried parts of the state began to rapidly melt.
AP - The upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama is an attractive target for international and domestic terrorists, but U.S. intelligence officials have no information about specific threats to the Jan. 20 event.
AP - Jeremy Lin scored 27 points to lead Harvard to an 82-70 upset over No. 17 Boston College on Wednesday night, three days after the Eagles upset previously top-ranked North Carolina.
Reuters - At least four rockets fired from Lebanon exploded in northern Israel on Thursday, wounding two people, police and medics said, in an attack likely linked to Israel's offensive against Hamas Islamists in the Gaza Strip.
Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama will call for quick action on a fiscal stimulus package in a speech on Thursday aimed at reassuring Americans that he is determined to stem the economic crisis.
Reuters - A fresh wave of profit warnings and job cuts soured investor sentiment on Thursday after an employment report suggested U.S. job losses in December could be the worst in almost 60 years.
Reuters - In an abrupt switch, Democratic leaders began talks on Wednesday to swear in Roland Burris, appointed by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.
Reuters - It took war, the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression and the collapse of some of New York's famed investment banks, but Manhattan apartment prices are finally falling.
Reuters - The case of Ali al-Marri, accused of being an al Qaeda "sleeper" agent and held for 5-1/2 years at a U.S. military prison in South Carolina, will be an early test for President-elect Barack Obama.
AFP - The Israeli army fired into northern Lebanon on Thursday after rockets were fired at the Jewish state, an army spokeswoman told AFP.
AFP - Israeli warplanes bombed suspected arms-smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza early Thursday, as diplomats worked to secure a ceasefire in an offensive that has killed 700 Palestinians.
Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 8, 2002I am... Read More
"We are built to conquer environment, solve problems, achieve goals and we... Read More
I'm a pretty competitive guy, though I try to keep it in... Read More
Everything is made of energy. Atoms, molecules, light, sound and color have... Read More
"We are responsible for everything in our lives, including how the chemistry... Read More
In 1982, I found myself in Eden. What I found out from... Read More
Another perfect sunset seen from Redondo Beach, California. Since arriving here in... Read More
I. ExpositionIn the movie "Shattered" (1991), Dan Merrick survives an accident and... Read More
I have always wondered how the Red Sea parted as described in... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 16, 2002I recently... Read More
Silence means no voice input of any sort. What happens when there... Read More
Are things busy at your house or workplace? Imagine how in must... Read More
Human mind which is well known as a fluctuating prodigy presumes itself... Read More
I have, in recent years, come to believe that IQ tests are... Read More
Is a grudge-laden heart sabotaging your success in business and in life?Much... Read More
While sitting here tonight, watching the conclusion of "There Are No Children... Read More
"For everything you have missed, you have gained something else; and for... Read More
Ask any of my kids and they'll tell you immediately that you'll... Read More
He was pushing a cart containing crates of soft drinks and followed... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of February 24, 2003I met... Read More
In old buildings there was a boiler room where men stood shoveling... Read More
A second on your lips forever on your hips never happens with... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of February 3, 2003I need... Read More
Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully. Memorize... Read More
An 18 month-old girl lay dying of diphtheria in January of 1944.... Read More
All of us are resistant to change, whether it's in using a... Read More
Synchronicity: the coincidence of events that seem related but are not obviously... Read More
One man can make a difference. I've been saying this and writing... Read More
The massive orb dominates the aqua crystalline backdrop of its own making,... Read More
1. Once a week, visit somewhere you've never been before. A city,... Read More
Maybe you've heard this one:"What does it profit a man to have... Read More
I have counseled individuals, couples, families and business partners for the past... Read More
As soon as you have launched a strong desire, the answer is... Read More
I have been a business owner for about a minute. In fact,... Read More
Fulfilling your dreams will remain a mirage if you simply sit down... Read More
Researchers are seeking to identify how dolphins communicate. Unfortunately it is like... Read More
In life we all have dreams and goals, aspirations to follow a... Read More
I want to share some things with you that I usually don't... Read More
1. Breakfast in Bed.Imagine a lavish breakfast arrives brimming over with sweet... Read More
It was a mild summer day in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina when I... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 25, 2002My boyfriend's... Read More
Lance Armstrong has already proven he is the greatest athlete ever in... Read More
Rejection! Who hasn't experienced the horrible feeling of being rejected? Unfortunately we... Read More
"We come equipped with everything we need to experience a powerful life... Read More
First, let me share a quote from Ashlee Simpson's latest hit, "Shadow".... Read More
So much has been written about success that one often gets confused... Read More
Each night, when I put my head on the pillow and turn... Read More
Matthew 5:14-16You are the light of the world. A city on a... Read More
Have you ever paid for services rendered with a strong sense of... Read More
One day Mr. Shoaff said, "Jim, if you want to be wealthy... Read More
I am sharing one of the great insights.The fear that we have... Read More
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent.... Read More
Have you ever thought of what it would take to make you... Read More
Matches are all about power; a new world opens up when you... Read More
The Thorns of Opportunity...What are you trying so hard to do?Do you... Read More
How strong are you? I'm not asking if you can carry... Read More
For those people who lost friends and loved ones in the... Read More
In my lifetime, I have never witnessed enduring unconditional love from another... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 9, 2002I was... Read More
As I write this Southern California has just ended its second week... Read More
I have a question for you.Who are you?This may be a simply... Read More
Text: Matthew 12:46-50, Mark 3: 31-35, Luke 8:19Mother's Day has passed. All... Read More
Einstein said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge".Did you know that athletes... Read More
Change is difficult for many people. Often times our whole identity is... Read More
Why would we need to examine our lives? What benefit does it... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of February 9, 2004I love... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 12, 2002I came... Read More
A man is known by the company he keeps. We have heard... Read More
In pre-revolutionary Russia, a rabbi was walking to the synagogue. A Russian... Read More
Growing up, as a child of the 60's, peace, love and harmony... Read More
In 1982, I found myself in Eden. What I found out from... Read More
"The scars you acquire while exercising courage will never make you feel... Read More
Two-year-old Owen goes to speech therapy twice a week. The therapist's office... Read More
The lines below come from this weeks mind treatment, written by Rev.... Read More
Two years ago I was in a wheelchair and told I would... Read More
Life is beautiful and lovable with the type of people we have... Read More
Continued...After that I stayed with him still and when he would hit... Read More
We are drowning in it, our grey matter is swollen with it,... Read More
In Corrogue I receive a gift of love.I awake to find a... Read More
Today more than ever before, we are witnessing a crises of consciousness... Read More
The outer conditions of a person's life will always be found to... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of June 23, 2003I am... Read More
It is not very often that I have an issue with writing... Read More
There once was a happy monkey wandering the jungle, eating delicious fruit... Read More
In the Northeast, we have a few months to prepare for winter... Read More
At SPIRIT Connections, we believe that the most powerful tool we have... Read More
When in 1996 a local Secondary School opened, the staff decided to... Read More
How come, as women, we always second-guess ourselves? Are we not confident... Read More
In nature, when the season is right, all things flourish and overflow... Read More
I imagine when we die we find out how in-tune with our... Read More
Those who pride themselves on their honesty should also concern themselves with... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 27, 2003I met... Read More
Humanity seems to be the only species that never seems pleased with... Read More
Back in the good old days of school, the teachers would often... Read More
Inspirational Inspirational |