Michael Roach
Michael
Roach, originally from Washington, D.C., USA, sings and plays guitar in
an East Coast style of blues that dates back to the 1920s. After
spending several years learning directly from such well known figures as
John Jackson, John Cephas and Jerry Ricks, Michael Roach has developed
his own style and is now an exceptional performer. He interacts with
his audience and he entertains as he plays.
 Over
the past 20 years, Michael has conducted numerous workshops throughout
the USA and Europe. As a cultural arts performer, Michael has promoted
African-American culture through the use of blues music. He has
lectured for the Smithsonian Institute (USA), Oxford University (UK) and
more recently at the University of Metz (France). In July 2004, he was
involved in the
organization of a conference held at the University of Gloucestershire
(UK) called 'Overseas Blues -
European Perspectives on African American Music'. The University Press
of Mississippi published the papers from the conference in 2007.
Michael is the founder of the
European Blues Association and serves as its Director of Development,
Secretary and Newsletter Editor. He is the Director and Guitar
Instructor for the annual Blues Week 2000 - 2008 programme (a week of
lectures, guitar, harmonica, piano/keyboards and vocals tuition) at
Exeter University (2000/2004) and the University of Northampton
(2005/2008). Michael also presented 'Deep Blue', a three part series on
blues music featured on BBC Radio 4 in March 2003. It is Michael's
communication skills together with his musicianship that has enabled him
to bring about a greater understanding of blues music and the Black
experience.
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