Mike McCarroll’s first memories of music revolve around his Mom and an Aunt dancing him around the kitchen countertop to Elvis singles “All Shook Up” and “Hound Dog.” That was a fine place to start for the young McCarroll as he progressed into the 60’s and 70’s listening to rock music and then got into southern rock in late 70s and country by the mid 80’s.
Mike was born and raised in Harriman, Tennessee located in east Tennessee near Knoxville and Oak Ridge. When he went into the Air Force at eighteen during the Vietnam Era a friend showed him a few chords and a new and different interest began with music. The first song Mike learned was “Heart of Gold” by Neil Young.
What got Mike serious about writing, recording, and performing was the emergence of alternative country music. When he discovered pioneers like Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, and Chris Knight- the excitement and feelings that were engaged with Southern Rock started all over again then he was inspired once again.
Through the years Mike became interested in songwriting and wrote a number of rock songs to play for his own enjoyment, little did he know what that would lead too? Music was put on the shelf for a few years to raise a family and start his own business. After that phase of his life moved to a comfortable level Mike decided to get back into music, jamming with a number of bands and playing a few gigs sporadically around the Atlanta area. Finally, he reached a point in life where the time and resources were available to cut and release an album of original songs.
Mike believes that what you hear on commercial radio is mostly cookie-cutter formula crap. The real artists are the independent folks that you never hear on commercial radio. As a successful and independent business owner this fits right into his outlook and philosophy about being free to create your own future and carve your own path through life.
His 2007 debut album At The Crossroads introduced this music man and warrior of life. The album embodied the very spirit and drive that Mike has embraced for so many years. It is filled with energetic real life stuff featuring scorching rock, country, and blues licks that originate from a man’s soul.
Mike and his band regularly perform around the southeast. In 2010, they won a Battle of the Bands in Atlanta, performed a showcase for record labels in Nashville, and completed a new album of original country songs.
Now, Mike takes it to the next level with the release of his second album Honky Tonk Dreams. The album was recorded partly in Nashville and partly in Atlanta and produced by former Nashville producer J. David Leonard. Mike was assisted in the studio by several top session artist including some members of Travis Tritt’s band. Honky Tonk Dreams further refines Mike's signature outlaw country sound and establishes him as a rising country music star and Nashville recording artist.
