Michel Gallant
Michel (Mitch) has been playing guitar and singing vocal harmonies for over 50 years starting with pop bands in high school in the
early '60s. He has performed solo and with
several groups ranging from rock, jazz, blues, classical, surf and folk in duos, trios and quartets. In 2014 he forged an
eclectic classic pop duo Straight Up with long
time musical partner Ian Jones. From 2015 to 2017 he undertook a two year musical project to learn all instrument parts and vocal harmonies
along with Ian Jones and home-record half of The Beatles standard songbook, dubbed
FAB50%. His passion for Beatles music inspired him to
form A Beatles Tribute band to celebrate
the 50th anniversary of the iconic Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. The Tribute band has performed at various venues
and special events in the Carleton Place, Smiths Falls and surrounding regions during 2017.
Through his extensive multitrack home recording experience, Mitch has coached several vocal artists in recording, mixing and mastering
their favourite songs. He hosted an Open Jam in Carleton Place and backed many local musicians on guitar.
In 2018, he partnered with Rae Palmer in a duo Fine Tuned covering songs from
the 50s to the present.
Mitch extended the FAB50%
recording tracks in late 2018 and created a vocal recording project FabFem featuring
Ottawa region female singers from all backgrounds interpreting the Beatles songs.
Mitch's musical influences include The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Ventures, Jimi Hendrix, The Cream, John Mayer, Fleetwood Mac,
Dave Brubeck, Diana Krall, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and many other artists of all genres from 1950 to the present.