Michael “Blind-Dog” GatewoodI am a native of the Motor City and have been a music teacher, instrument technician and professional musician since the age of 16. My early exposure to some of the diverse musical influences in Detroit created the framework for my extensive mastery of the blues via R&B, funk, rock, and fusion. I am an award-winning one-man act who has polished my chops in places as diverse as the Sierra Foothills, the Mojave Desert, Mississippi Delta and the streets of New Orleans. In September 2002, I took the first prize in Colorado at the Telluride Acoustic Blues competition. First place winners are honored with a performance on the main stage the following day at the Telluride Blues and Brews Festival for over seven thousand attendees. That same year I won the Kentuckiana Blues Society’s Blues Challenge out of Louisville Kentucky and represented the Society at the International Blues Challenge on Beale Street in Memphis Tennessee.In 2004 I was a Finalist for the first Annual International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA) in the category of AMERICANA/ROOTS/AAA, for my song “TELLURIDE”. In addition, a Simi finalist in 2006 in the International Song Contest (ISC), Blues category, for my song “Monkey On My Back”. In June of 2005, I took first place in the Memphis Blues Society's Battle of the Blues solo division on Beale Street and represented them at the 22nd annual International Blues Challenge that January in Memphis. In 2006 I won the Battle of the Blues two years in a row and represented the Memphis Blues Society at the 23rd annual International Blues Challenge, this was my third time to compete at the IBC in Memphis.In 2014 I won the RBBS IBC and represented them at the IBC in Memphis in 2015 in the Solo\Duo category. In september of 2015 I won the Piedmont Blues Society Solo/Duo and will represent them at the IBC in Mempnis in 2016.I am truly, a one-man band, I am now based out of Greensboro North Carolina.