Michael's Biography

Michael Troy was born and raised in the rough-and-tumble mill town of Fall River, Mass. In many ways, his life reflects the lives of the hard-working common folk who populate this part of New England. Having spent parts of his own life as a mill worker, fisherman, laborer and carpenter, and most of his adult years as a husband and father, Michael has traveled many paths, and the experience and wisdom he's gleaned along the way echoes through his music.

A magical storyteller with a gift for melody, a deep rich voice, excellent finger-pickin' skills and the ability to compose outstanding stanzas of substance, Michael's plaintive ballads speak of the hills and mills of Fall River and of childhood dreams not quite forgotten in the adult quest to make an honest living. But Michael is honest when he says he's playing for himself, for the sheer joy of creating music to call his own. "I have no plan," he says. "I'm not trying to write in any style or sound like someone else. I write from gut feeling. I let the emotion drive the music, not the music drive the emotions."

In 1998, as Michael puts it, he moved "from the road of least resistance, to the road one chooses". The CD he released that year, Whispers in the Wind, is like a vivid, painted picture - the artist's conception of a life experience, illustrated solely by the tools of voice and guitar. There's no fancy production here, no drums, keyboards, sidemen, not even liner notes - just the simple, eloquent, touching words and melodies of a humble, quiet man from a town that has seen its share of historic ups and downs.

In 2015 Michael released his final CD titled “I Am American”. Sadly, he was ill and was unable to perform. However, many well-known musicians came together to play Michael’s songs to a sold-out audience, at the Narrows Center for the Arts.

The following year the Michael Troy Memorial Music Foundation was established. Using the previous year as a template, the musicians reunited for the 1st Annual, “Celebration of the Music of Michael Troy”. It was such a huge success that the foundation is now entering its 6th year and continues to be hosted by the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, MA.

A few of Michael’s accomplishments are:
Winner: 2010 Kerrville Folk Festival New Song Contest
Winner: 2007 New England Songwriting Contest
Winner: 2006 Wildflower Folk Festival Songwriter's Contest
Winner: 2005 South Florida Folk Festival Songwriter's Contest
Winner: 2004 Boston Folk Festival Songwriter's Contest
Winner: 2004 Founders Title Folk & Bluegrass Festival Songwriter's Contest

2004 Kerrville Folk Festival New Song Contest; finalist
2004 Woody Guthrie Songwriter's Contest; 2nd place
2004 Chris Austin Songwriter's Contest @ Merlefest; 2nd place
2003 USA Songwriter's Contest; folk category finalist
2003 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference; formal showcase
2003 Winterfolk II Festival; Emerging Artist Showcase
2003 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival; Emerging Artist Showcase
2003 Southwestern Regional Folk Alliance Conference;
       Emerging Artist Showcase