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FIRST LIVE PERFORMANCE:  It was a 3rd grade music class assembly at school.  I played "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on piano while the class played their tonettes (plastic recorder-flutes).

FIRST SONG (AND AGE WRITTEN):  King Khord (age 10)

WHAT IS THE WORST SONG YOU'VE EVER WRITTEN?:  King Khord

WHAT WAS THE FIRST INSTRUMENT YOU LEARNED TO PLAY?:  Piano

FIRST ASPIRED TO BE:  A painter

MOST DISTINCTIVE HOME TOWN FACT:  The name itself, Yazoo City, Mississippi

MOST CHERISHED POSSESSION:  Family photos

IN YOUR HUMBLE OPINION, WHAT IS THE BEST ALBUM EVER?:  He Touched Me by Elvis Presley.

DREAM DUET:  Amy Grant

SONG I WISH I'D WRITTEN:  "Happy Birthday."  Think of the royalties!

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON:  Jesus Christ.  Every decision is weighed by His approval and what pleases Him.

MOST SIGNIFICANT SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE:  Six days on a Wilderness Hike in Yellowstone, conversing with God in His beautiful creation, learning about physical endurance and equating it to my spiritual journey.

MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCE:  Avalon's first performance on the "Young Messiah" Tour, 1995.  (Michael also said this was his most meaningful and exciting career experience).

MOST ADMIRED HISTORICAL FIGURE:  Jimmy Carter

FAVORITE SONG:  "Heart of the Matter" recorded by Don Henley.

FAVORITE MOVIES:  The Color Purple, , My Dog Skip

FAVORITE ACTRESS/ACTOR:  Julia Roberts/Jim Caviziel

FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK:  The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

FAVORITE CARTOON:  Bugs Bunny

FAVORITE COLOR:  Blue

FAVORITE ITEM OF CLOTHING:  Old pair of jeans

FAVORITE BOARD GAME:  Monopoly

FAVORITE DAYDREAM:  Being on a beautiful beach on a remote island in the Caribbean.

FAVORITE TIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT:  Dusk

FAVORITE PLACE:  The beach

FAVORITE PLACE TO LOOK AT THE MOON:  On that fore-mentioned beach.

FAVORITE FOOD:  Mom's fried chicken, cream corn and blackeyed peas.

FAVORITE COMFORT/PIG OUT FOOD:  Warm chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream.

FAVORITE SODA:  Coke

FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR:  Chocolate chip

FAVORITE STORES:  Sony, Best Buy

FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM:  Tennessee Titans

CHICKEN OR STEAK:  Steak

DREAM WHEELS:  Land Rover Defender

LOVE OF YOUR LIFE:  A man's heart is a deep ocean of secrets.

IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE?:  Billy Graham (Michael also said that Mr. Graham was his significant role model because "of his impeccable commitment to living a holy-Christ-like life.

IF YOU COULD BE ANY KIND OF TREE, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?:  An evergreen that grows on the beach

I'D BE RICH IF I HAD A QUARTER FOR EVERY TIME I WAS TOLD:  "I have a project for you..." or "Michael, get out of bed..."

HYMN MOST ASSOCIATED WITH CHURCH:  "When We All Get to Heaven"

IF I WEREN'T A ARTIST, I'D PROBABLY BE:  Veterinarian.  (Michael also said he'd probably be a beach bum).

WHAT IS GOD TEACHING YOU NOW?:  To wait on Him with patience

FIRST QUESTION YOU WILL ASK GOD WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN?:  So how many hairs are on my head?

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO BE DOING IN TEN YEARS?:  Still active in music.

FAVORITE PLACE TO HANG OUT:  my farm in yazoo

MY FAVORITE EVENING THING TO DO:  dinner and a movie

CELEBRITY I'VE BEEN MISTAKEN FOR:  Ed Norton (I don't see it!)

PERSON I'D MOST LIKE TO MEET:  Pres. G. W. Bush

FIRST ALBUM I BOUGHT:  Boz Skaggs

I KNEW I WANTED TO SING WHEN:  I came to Nashville in 6th grade on family vacation

WORST JOB I EVER HAD:  delivering furniture

BIGGEST PERSONAL INFLUENCE:  my parents

BIGGEST MUSICAL INFLUCENCE:  amy grant

IF I HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN I WOULD: have never thought a mullet looked good on me

THE ONE THING I CANNOT STAND IS: people who don't use their turn signal

IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT MYSELF:  more patient

ACCOMPLISHMENTS I'M MOST PROUD OF:  surviving 7 day wilderness hike thru Yellowstone; getting through my senior piano recital without passing out

IF I'VE LEARNED ONE THING IN LIFE IT IS: it's the little things that matter most

PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT: to serve God and others in humility

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME BEST: sincere, appreciative, laid back, introspective, contemplative, loyal, too neat, perfectionist, quiet, hard to read

ALL-TIME FAVORITE ALBUMS:  Elton John-Goodbye Yellow Brick Road; Amy Grant-Lead Me On, Elvis-Hymns

FAVORITE ARTIST:  Van Gogh

FAVORITE SINGER:  David Phelps

FAVORITE AUTOMOBILE: land rover defender

FAVORITE RESTAURANTS:  Ruby Foo's ; Pappasito's; In & Out Burger

FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT: Maui

IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND AND COULD ONLY TAKE FIVE THINGS WITH YOU THEY WOULD BE:  Off, lighter, good book, pocket knife & Listerine.


Pepsi or Coke:  Coke
Dasani or Tap:  Dasani
Beef or Bocca:  Beef
Decaf or Caffeinated:  Decaf
KJV or NIV:  NIV
USA Today or Wall Street Journal:  USA Today
Disney or Warner Bros:  Warner Bros
Donald Duck or Daffy Duck:  Daffy Duck
Gap or Abercrombie:  Gap
McDonalds or Burger King:  McDonalds
Taco Bell or KFC:  Taco Bell
VHS or DVD:  DVD
CD or 8-track:  CD
Loafers or lace-ups:  Loafers
Jeans or Khakis:  Jeans
Nike or Reebok:  Nike
Leno or Letterman:  Letterman
Starsky & Hutch or Dukes of Hazzard:  Dukes of Hazzard

Here's a short biography of Michael when he first left Avalon and was interested in pursuing a solo career:

For Michael Passons, the most meaningful experience as an artist is hearing from someone that his music has somehow changed their perspective on life in a positive way. "Music is very powerful, especially when combined with the message of the Gospel. I love knowing God uses that to give people hope and a deeper faith," he says.

Michael grew up singing hymns in his small country church in Yazoo City, Mississippi. His love for music began in childhood and he took an early interest in piano and songwriting. As a young musician, Michael was influenced by the keyboard flavored sounds of music veterans Elton John and Lionel Richie. In college, he performed in a band and in a New Jersey-based group that toured nationally. After completing his degree in classical piano at Mississippi College, Michael moved to Nashville and began working with fellow musicians.

His career took a dramatic turn when Grant Cunningham, a Sparrow A&R director, caught his performance at a Nashville showcase. This pivotal meeting led to Michael becoming the founding member of the Christian pop group, Avalon. In 1995, Avalon made their debut as part of the Young Messiah Tour and the rest, as they say, is history.

2004 will be an exciting year for Michael as it marks the beginning of his solo career. After eight years, seven records, four Dove Awards, two Grammy nods and a 2003 American Music Award for "Favorite Inspirational Artist," Michael feels ready to leave the group setting of Avalon and stand on his own as an artist. He is thankful for this new chapter and the freedom to write music from his heart and minister around the globe.

Michael explains, "My songs tend to be so introspective and vulnerable...too personal for a group to sing. In this respect, I am very excited about the road ahead and the opportunity for people to learn a different side of me." Michael is excited about "sharing with other people what God is doing in my life and what he is teaching me. I find that I do this best through my music."

Michael's vision for this new chapter in his ministry is "to write and sing songs from my heart that will connect with those that listen. As I share what God has done in my life, perhaps others will find encouragement in their Christian life." If his life message could be expressed in one passage, it would be "For nothing is impossible with God," (Luke 1:37). "This scripture is so simple yet so profound. I am moved most by seeing God work in the most impossible circumstances."

Michael reflects, "I am finding that each day, there is something new to learn and by sharing with each other, God can and will be glorified. I have found that I still have so much to learn. Just when I think I have something figured out, I am back to being humbled by my humanness and reminded that God's ways are higher than mine. I have learned that salvation is God's job and obedience is mine...but in the end, we need His strength to even do our part in it all. He is our all in all."