Michael Fracasso’s celebrated songcraft is uniquely observant and his beautiful tenor often evokes the great crooners of the past. He is a first generation Italian raised in Appalachia near Pittsburgh where pop, rock and folk music converged just like the Ohio, Monongahela and the Allegany rivers in the valley below.
His critically acclaimed work includes nine distinctive solo albums, recorded duets with both Patty Griffin and Lucinda Williams, an epic reinterpretation of John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero,” memorable tributes to Woody Guthrie, Mickey Newbury and Townes Van Zandt. Three of his recordings including the most recent Big Top (Lucky Hound Music, 2019) were created alongside his gifted friend, producer/guitarist Charlie Sexton. Michael Fracasso came up in the New York folk scene while mentored by the great Doc Pomus (Save the Last Dance For Me, Viva Los Vegas) and follows a grand aesthetic compass found in a rare few. In 2013, he was shortlisted for the Austin Public Library Literary Achievement Award and he continues to be an inspiration to future songwriters for whom he teaches classes. He was the music director for the Showtime movie The Monster Hunter (1999) in which he wrote several original pieces. Following another passion Fracasso wrote an Italian cookbook (Artist in the kitchen: A Brief Biography in Food). Presently he is both the musical guest and chef at house concerts featuring his menu and music.