SCENE: THE SPOTLIGHT | THIS WEEK'S BAND

The Scene Spotlight: Duane Michaels

7/3/2014

Artist: Duane Malinowski, aka Duane Michaels, accordion and vocalist extradionaire.

Year formed: 1974.

Style of music: Performs many styles: country, polka, big band, jazz, '50s, Italian, Tejano. Can sing in five languages.

Sounds a little like: Dean Martin, Jerry Vale, George Strait, Alabama, and Conway Twitty.

Influences: All the above, plus world-renowned jazz accordionist Tony Dannon of Detroit, Art Van Damme, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Brenda Lee, and Bobby Vinton.

Favorite local venue: All of them.

CDs/online releases: Not just Monkeying Around, One Good Piece After Another, Wanted, Buttons Galore, Shocked, From My Heart To Yours, How It All Began, Christmas Hope, A Little Bit of Love, Ladies Choice, and Callin' All Cowgirls.

Upcoming gigs: Maumee Elks on July 11, Lagrange Street Polish Festival on July 13, American Czech-Slovak Club in Dayton on July 20, and All Saints Parish Festival in Rossford on July 25.

Booking contact: Duane Michaels at 419-340-7914 or duanesmusic@bex.net.

Website: duanemichaels.com or GR8 records.com.