Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Blind audition: Michael Lee, 30, of Fort Worth, Texas, sang B.B. King’s “The Thrill is Gone.” Adam Levine turned early in the performance, Jennifer Hudson graced Michael with her first shoe-toss of Season 15 and Blake Shelton turned as well. Michael decided to join Team Blake.

His background: Michael says he’s been performing since age 17, eventually working his way up to doing 200 shows a year. But he also confesses that he got caught up in the rock-and-roll lifestyle, doing things he shouldn’t have. He credits his wife with helping get him back on track. He was married just 17 days before his Voice audition. His wife says Michael loves three things; her, music and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a hobby they enjoy together.

On picking Blake as his coach: Mike said he was all prepared to pick the only coach who didn’t turn around — Kelly Clarkson — because of the hometown connection. Her hometown of Burleson is 10 minutes away from Fort Worth. “I know that Blake is a big picture kind of guy,” Michael added. “He doesn’t really get bogged down in the details or really try to change any nuances or get you out of your comfort zone too much, or try something crazy new. So I wanted to go with him. He’s been there since the beginning and he’s won the most times, so I really felt like Blake was the best decision for me.”

What the show didn’t show:

* Michael was born in Bedford, Texas, and calls himself a Texas blues singer and guitar slinger.

* In his website bio, he credits his parents for introducing him to the blues, saying he recalls being pulled out of pre-school to see BB King in concert.

* “There was some headliner that at the time I didn’t know, but I knew BB King was the man,” Michael recalls on his website. “And I was so thrilled to see The King.”

* Michael started playing guitar and saxophone when he was 12, according to that bio, and eventually formed his own band.

* He released a self-titled solo album in 2014 and describes it by saying: “It sums me up in 11 songs.”

* Michael has released two new singles this year, “Here I Am” and “Heart of Stone.” Check out a live version of “Heart of Stone” below.

* He performs as Michael Lee and the Wartime Limousine. The latter is a reference to his band, which also includes Nathan Ziehm, Brian Miller, Colin Cambell, Preston Lewis and Evan Templeton, according to Michael’s Facebook page.

His social media links:
Instagram
Website
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube