Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanna Howerton And Michael Cross.
Hi Joanna Howerton and Michael Cross, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Michael Cross & Joanna Howerton – The Duo
Michael and Joanna, both long-time Austin residents and professional musicians, began playing together as a duo in 2017. They released their first album in 2019, “A New Love Begins”. That year they were selected as New Folk Finalist for The Kerrville Folk Festival, and also had a showcase at the Southwest Regional Folk Alliance.
Michael and Joanna perform regularly in and around Austin at a variety of venues as well as for private parties, corporate events, and retirement communities. They are honored to be on the musician’s roster for Swan Songs, an organization founded by Christine Albert that provides musical last wishes for individuals near the end of life. Music helps to heal the soul in hard times, and these engagements have been incredibly rewarding.
Currently they are in the process of recording their second album which will be self-released.
About Joanna
Joanna Howerton grew up in a musical family in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. She studied classical piano with the late Dorothy Knost. Early influences were traditional church hymns, old-time mountain music, bluegrass from her fiddle-playing father and her mother’s collection of jazz recordings. She moved to Austin in 1984 and new friends, the late Mel Brown and his wife, Miss Angel, introduced her to the Blues and her first accordion. In the Blues, she found her true voice and style. Joanna quit her day job in Austin and moved to New Orleans in 1986, where she further honed her vocal skills playing with jazz cats from Loyola University and various other R&B and jazz ensembles. She returned to Austin and over the next twenty years performed with a variety of bands, including the Joanna Howerton Blues Band, and Route 66, a party band that played festivals, corporate parties and weddings all through the 90’s. Other bands included the Gypsy Ramblers with Dickie Lee Erwin, The Hill Country Penguins with Lindsay Haisley, and Gal Dangit!, a songwriting trio with Lisa Fancher and Wendy Hale Davis. Her partnership and duo with Michael Cross has been transformative, inspiring the creation of a sound that bridges their past and current influences.
About Michael Cross
Michael Cross, a talented vocalist, lyricist, composer and seasoned recording artist, has built a successful music career on a lifelong passion for music. The City of Austin honored Michael with an official proclamation naming June 21, 2007 “Michael Cross Day”. Born in New Mexico and raised in El Paso, Michael discovered his love for music very early. When he was 6 years old, his grandfather took him to Navajo tent meetings, where he was introduced to his first guitar licks. He was chosen for the El Paso Boys’ Choir when he was 10. Early influences included his mother, who played piano at the local church, along with artists Brook Benton, Mahalia Jackson, Marvin Gaye and The Beatles. Michael moved to Austin in 1991, joined Duck Soup, a well know variety band, was bassist for the late Rusty Weir for 6 years, and Denim, a progressive county rock band, for 5 years. A full-time musician, Michael has toured nationally and internationally. Recording projects include 3 albums with Joe Forlini (Forlini and Cross), Bottom of the Blues with Groovy Gravy, TX Blues Voices produced by Fabrizio Poggi, his solo album, Blues Lovin’ Man, produced by David Murray, Roscoe Beck’s album, Walk On, and Jennifer Warren’s latest release, Another Time Another Place. In addition to performing with Joanna, Michael currently performs with the Forlini and Cross Duo and also with his Mystic Blues Band.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Overall yes it has been a smooth ride. We love working together and it is a joy performing as a duo! Our biggest challenge is finding the time to do everything we want to do. – write, record, polish our performances, and book gigs. Since Joanna also works a full time job in addition to performing as a professional musician, the divided energy can be challenging.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We perform live music and write and record our original songs in our home studio. Having performed professionally as musicians in Austin for decades, we are both known individually as performers and songwriters. We are most proud of consistently delivering great performances to enthusiastic audiences. We pride ourselves on great vocal harmonies and solid musicianship. Our duo instrumentation which includes the piano, accordion, acoustic and resonator guitars, brings to the stage a full and unique sound.
What makes you happy?
Performing – especially with each other and also with friends that sit in at our gigs sometimes. We love seeing the smiles on faces in the audience, getting folks on their feet to dance, and meeting new people along the way. We love writing songs and recording, All of this makes us happy because we are bringing joy to others and ourselves! It is so important to get out and have fun, to enjoy the moment, the music, and forget the troubles of life. Music is healing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.morelovemusic.com
- Instagram: morelovemusicmj
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morelovemusicaustin
