Mike Horan Music News

Janis Joplin — 56 Years Gone Today

Janis Joplin (Janis Lyn Joplin) (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) became an icon of the 1960s through a voice filled with blues, soul and extraordinary emotional intensity. After breaking through with Big Brother and the Holding Company, she quickly became one of the most recognizable performers of her generation.

Piece of My Heart, Summertime, Ball and Chain, Cry Baby, Move Over, Mercedes Benz and Me and Bobby McGee form part of a remarkable catalogue created during an incredibly short career. Her final album, Pearl, was released posthumously in 1971 and became the biggest-selling album of her career.

Janis Joplin died from an accidental heroin overdose on October 4, 1970. She was only 27. Today marks 56 years since her passing, but the power and vulnerability in her voice remain unmistakable.

#JanisJoplin #MeAndBobbyMcGee #BluesRock #ClassicRock #RockAndRollLegend

 I’ve been talking with management at Craftails Speakeasy, and it looks like more dates are on the horizon! After the first of the year, we’re planning on being there every other Friday.

It’s a creative, intimate pub with great craft cocktails—a wonderful spot to enjoy an evening of live music. Stay tuned for confirmed dates!

#CraftailsSpeakeasy #Bradenton #SpeakeasyVibes #IntimatePub #CraftCocktails #PubMusic #FridayNightMusic #LiveAcousticMusic #GreaterSarasotaLiveMusic #BradentonLiveMusic #MikeHoranMusic

I'll be performing on Valentine's Day night at Craftails Speakeasy. Great place to go for that after dinner drink with that special someone! I'll be joined by June Sturdy and possibly a few other surprises. 

Swing on by and join us that night! Music starts at 8:00 PM!

Craftails Speakeasy

436 12th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205

Website: https://craftails.vercel.app

#ValentinesDay #ValentinesNight #LoveAndMusic #LiveMusic #DateNight #CraftailsSpeakeasy #SpeakeasyVibes #GreaterSarasotaLiveMusic #BradentonLiveMusic #MikeHoranMusc

One of my all-time heroes has to be Merle Haggard.

His songs were pure realism—music that told the truth, hit you right in the heart and mind, and spoke to every kind of music lover. Country singers, rock musicians, even the Grateful Dead—everyone respected and loved Merle’s writing. He wasn’t just a songwriter; he was the American poet.

You know how it goes when musicians get together to jam, especially in a country setting—almost without fail, someone calls out “Workin’ Man Blues.” That song is the common language.

The day Merle passed was a hard one. It was tough to imagine a world without him. But the good news? His music never left. It’s still here, still honest, still powerful.

And if you haven’t checked out his son Ben Haggard, do yourself a favor. The apple definitely didn’t fall far from the tree. You can find plenty of his performances over on YouTube—and the legacy lives on. 

#MerleHaggard #TheHag #MerleHaggardFans #CountryMusicLegend #ClassicCountry #OutlawCountry #BakersfieldSound #RealCountryMusic #CountryMusicHistory #MikeHoran #MikeHoranMusic

Did You Know? 

Did you know Mike Horan didn’t just sing Johnny Cash songs—he helped preserve the legend?

Over 10 years ago, Mike was one of the key coordinators and planners behind the wildly successful Johnny Cash Museum in Nashville, TN. He also helped implement much of the technology used in the original museum—tech that’s still going strong today. No surprise there: the museum has been repeatedly named USA TODAY’s Best Music Museum in the Country. Pretty cool company to keep.

And it gets better.....

Mike had the rare honor of playing with Johnny Cash’s band and became close friends with several of its legendary members. Stepping on stage with them was always electric. Bob Wootton. W.S. Holland. Earl Poole Ball. Not just icons—friends.

Those days may be in the past, but the music never left. Mike still loves bringing Johnny Cash songs to life at every event he plays, keeping that unmistakable spirit alive and kicking.

Because when it comes to Cash…

the man, the music, and the magic endure.

#JohnnyCash #TheManInBlack #JohnnyCashMuseum #Nashville #CountryMusicHistory #ClassicCountry #JohnnyCashFans #MikeHoran #MikeHoranMusic

It was a great holiday season. June Sturdy of Sarasota and I got to sing holiday tunes in a couple of different places! Sarasota Sailing Squadron and Cafe Barbossa both enjoy the tunes! It's too bad we only get to see them once a year!

June Sturdy of Sarasota also is an accomplished artist. Not only is she talented in music, she also is extremely talented in the area  of portraits and landscapes. June Sturdy is a graduate of Ringling School of Design. She has put her talents towards many different subjects, many of which will be displayed on this page. Her talents can also be Commissioned for portrait of your desire.