Michael Eck

As a high school junior at a Catholic military academy, Michael Eck was required to complete career profiles for two jobs. He chose freelance writer and musician, and, despite their sad economic profiles, has followed those twin paths ever since. At the Times Union in Albany, NY, Eck was a stringer covering pop music and theater for 27 years. He has also written about music for Amazon.com, AOL/Time Warner, the Austin Chronicle, Billboard, Fretboard Journal, Mandolin Café, Nippertown, No Depression and many other print and web outlets. He has four solo albums of original material and, as a multi-instrumentalist, currently performs with Ramblin Jug Stompers and Lost Radio Rounders. With WAMC Northeast Public Radio, Eck served as the producer and host of the popular live concert/interview program Performance Place. Since 2013, Eck – who also paints portraits of iconic folk, blues and jazz musicians – has been publicist for Proctors in Schenectady, NY.