MICHELLE LEIGH BIO

Southern Rocker Michelle Leigh is a bit of musical mosaic.  Born in a small Western North Carolina town, she grew up in what she calls a "Norman Rockwell" setting, where doors were never locked, neighbors were always quick to lend a hand, and no matter how old you were, manners were always in style.
Michelle did not grow up singing in church, though she can sing most any old-time gospel song you'd want to hear.  Instead, Tina Turner, The Sonny & Cher Show, Dolly Parton and Elvis were her early inspirations.  From an early age, Michelle knew she wanted to sing, to write songs, to be on stage.
Michelle's first endeavor into the entertainment world was in her high school and college tour choirs, as well as local beauty pageants. 
After college, Michelle performed across the Western North Carolina area with her brother Mark. While she loved the small, intimate setting of an acoustic duo, it wasn't enough.  She wanted more, and MORE she got!
Country Music seemed to be the obvious choice, so she threw all her efforts into performing Country, writing Country songs, and courting Music City.  Michelle has worked with some of the finest in the Country Music business-  Jamie O'Neal, Kent Wells (Dolly Parton), Jimmy Mattingly (Reba McEntire), Billy Nobel (Tim McGraw), Charlie Kelley, David Fowler and many more.  She has shared the playbill with Country Greats such as Confederate Railroad & The Kentucky Headhunters, & the McCarter Sisters.
However, just as the acoustic gig didn't quite fit, neither did Country & Music City.  In her heart, she loves old Country and holds a reverence for unmatched for The Grand Ole Opry.  Her greatest musical heroes are Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard and the list goes on....  But Michelle just didn't fit that mold.  Her vocals were smoky, rough in a way.  She'd been described as having "Tube Amp" vocals. (Guitar players, you understand!) She always prefers "men" rough and tumble songs and that driving beat over the smooth, sometimes sad, longing songs from the ladies. 
So what do you do with a girl who thinks like a guy, has the delivery of a Mack Truck, and the fearlessness to write honestly without sugarcoating?  Put her front and center in Southern Rock, that's what!
There could not be a more perfect fit for the Country Misfit than being Southern Rock's darlin'!  Michelle is carving a deep path and making indelible marks in the Southern Rock world.  She has taken home several Southern Rock awards in the past 4 years, and has centralized her operations in the Southern Rock capital of the World, Jacksonville, Florida.

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Michelle is proud to announce she is now a proud member of the Grammy Recording Academy 2021 voting class.

As Michelle would say, "Duck Branch has done hit the big time".

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"As part of the new @RecordingAcademy member class, I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate, represent, and give back to the music and its creators." #WeAreMusic

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