Michael Dowdle
Michael Dowdle was born in Oklahoma. By age five he was playing the piano. His school years found him playing the violin in school orchestras, but attracted by Rock ‘n Roll, he picked up the guitar and played with bands.
He began doing studio work professionally as a session guitarist in 1980, and has since done thousands of sessions in every style of music. Some were for artists such as Marie Osmond, The Osmond Brothers, John Schneider, Mr. T, David Archuletta, and The Jets. Michael has played on several movie scores, including “Born to Be Wild,” “The Stand,” “Christmas in Connecticut,” “The Yearling,” and “Hart to Hart” among many others. Most of the studio work Michael does is for TV Networks, such as ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX, as well as cable networks such as CNBC, TNT, and the USA network. This work includes ABC Sports Main Theme, ABC College Football, ABC Monday Night Football, FOX Fall Campaigns, and also TV shows such as Good Morning America (ABC), The Today Show (NBC), The Oprah Winfrey Show and many more (official website).
As a composer, he has written many themes for TV and radio use, and has also written music for movie trailers. He’s written for the Utah Jazz and the 2002 Olympics. After 3 successful albums, Michael contracted with Lex de Azevedo to record an album of fifty acoustic guitar hymns (“50 Favorite Hymns”). Created in 1984, the album is still popular today. Two more albums of hymns followed, and then two Christmas albums.
In 2001 Michael signed on with Sounds of Zion to do a series of acoustic guitar albums for the LDS market. This series has five award-winning albums; “25 Beloved Hymns of Christ,” ”25 Beloved Hymns of the Restoration,” ”25 Beloved Hymns of Prayer and Faith,” ”25 Beloved Primary Songs” and “25 Beloved Carols of Christmas.”
Michael has won many Pearl Awards from FCMA (The Faith-Centered Music Association), a total of 13 to date.
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Recent Posts
Susan Evans McCloud Recounts the Story Behind the Hymn, “Lord, I Would Follow Thee”
Susan Evans McCloud, the lyricist of the beloved hymn, “Lord, I Would Follow Thee” (Hymns, no. 220), says that while she was writing the hymn one of the things that she learned is that the Lord’s timing is not our timing, and His ways are not our ways. He often has a...
The Bonner Family Released Soul-Stirring Music Video “Child of God” from “Jane and Emma” Movie
On Tuesday, 18 September 2018, 10 members of the multitalented Bonner family released a soul-stirring music video of the song “Child of God” from the upcoming movie, Jane and Emma. The movie premiers in select theaters on 12 October 2018. It is the story of two women...
Micah Harmon Shares Message of Serving Others and Fighting for What We Believe In
On Saturday, 15 September 2018, Micah Harmon of the world-renowned One Voice Children’s Choir released a music video on his YouTube channel which is a mashup of Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” and two LDS missionary songs – “Called to Serve” and “I Hope They Call Me on...
Music in the Key of Life: JTM Opens Up About Being Abused as a Child in New Music Video
On 9 September 2018, JTM (formerly known as James The Mormon), released what is perhaps his most vulnerable music video to date. The video called “I Could Be Wrong,” is a depiction of his own abuse as a child. JTM says in the video description, “The first 17 years of...
Music in the Key of Life: “For the Love of a Blue-Eyed Boy”
This is the heartwarming, awe-inspiring backstory of the beautiful song "For the Love of a Blue-Eyed Boy" written by Mary Hiett. Mary is also the author of this article. This song is dedicated to this mother, and mothers and fathers everywhere who Foster Care and hope...
Music in the Key of Life – “Farewell September” (Noelle’s Theme)
This article was written by Mary Hiett. The song "Farewell September" is from her album Notes from the Heart. September always causes me to think of the very first song that I composed. The song that opened the front door of my heart, so I could go in and...