{{short description|American pianist and composer|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Michael Dulin <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: | image = Michael_Dulin.jpg --> | alt = Michael Dulin | caption = | birth_place = Birmingham, Alabama | genre = Classical, Neo-Classical, Contemporary Instrumental, New Age, Smooth Jazz | occupation = Composer, Pianist, Recording Artist | years_active = 1998 – present | label = Equity Digital, Equity Music Group | associated_acts = | website = [http://www.michaeldulin.com MichaelDulin.com] }} '''Michael Dulin''' is an American pianist and composer. In addition to performing his original music, Dulin has appeared both solo and with orchestra in performances of classical music. He has also toured as keyboardist with the Motown group, the Temptations.<ref name=Lannan_Timeless>{{cite web|title=Timeless Review - A Better Musical Mousetrap|last=Lannan | first= RJ| year=2005 | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/recording/viewreviews.asp?rvwbrd=2&rvwbrdpstn=1&rvwbrdcmmt=146|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref><ref name=GadsdenTimes>{{cite web|title=Temple Beth Israel's Concert Series|last= | first= | url=http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20140328/ENT/140329817?p=2&tc=pg|publisher=The Gadsden Times|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref><ref name=Parsons_2004>{{cite web|title=Michael Dulin Interview|last=Parsons | first= Kathy| year=2004 | url=http://www.mainlypiano.com/Older_Interviews/Dulin,_Michael_4_04.html|publisher=MainlyPiano|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> Four of Dulin's albums ''The One I Waited For'', ''Atmospheres'', ''Follow The River'' and ''Timeless II'' have reached the #1 spot on the Zone Music Reporter (formerly New Age Reporter or NAR) Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart. <ref name=Radio_May2003>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart|last= | first= |date=May 2003 | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/charts/top100.asp?m=5&y=2003|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref><ref name=Radio_September2003>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart|last= | first= |date=September 2003 | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/charts/top100.asp?m=9&y=2003|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref><ref name=Radio_June2008>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart|last= | first= |date=June 2008 | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/charts/top100.asp?m=6&y=2008|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref><ref name=Radio_April2011>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart|last= | first= |date=April 2011 | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/charts/top100.asp?m=4&y=2011|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> Two of his albums have been awarded the New Age Reporter's NAR Lifestyle Music Award in 2004, its inaugural year for ''Atmospheres'' (Best Instrumental Album – Piano),<ref name=NAR2004>{{cite web|title=NAR 2004 Lifestyle Music Winners|last= | first= | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/admin/2004award_finalists.asp|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> and again in 2005 for ''Timeless'' (Best Neo-Classical Album).<ref name=NAR2005>{{cite web|title=NAR 2005 Lifestyle Music Winners|last= | first= | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/admin/2005award_finalists.asp|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> Dulin was also a finalist in the Carnegie Hall International Piano Competition in 1985,<ref name=Parsons_2004/><ref name=Diamond_TimelessII>{{cite web|title=Timeless II Review|last= Diamond | first=Michael | year=2011 | url=http://michaeldiamondmusic.com/2011/02/17/timeless-ii-by-michael-dulin/|publisher=Music and Media Focus|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> and was awarded the Silver Medal in the Second Annual International Audio-Video Competition in New York.<ref name=GadsdenTimes/>
It has been noted that while Dulin has a strong classical music background, his music is reminiscent of New Age.<ref name=GadsdenTimes/> Dulin has cited Philip Aaberg, David Lanz, Keiko Matsui and Clara Ponty as some of the artists whose work he has admired.<ref name=Parsons_2008>{{cite web|title=Michael Dulin Interview|last= Parsons | first= Kathy | year=2008 | url=http://www.mainlypiano.com/Older_Interviews/Dulin,_Michael_7_08.html|publisher=MainlyPiano|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> Dulin and his business partner, Dan Whiteside, own and operate Equity Digital, a music label, and PSI Digital, a digital recording facility both located in Birmingham, Alabama.<ref name=Parsons_2004/>
==Early life== Dan Michael Dulin was born in Birmingham, Alabama, where he still resides. Mike's dad worked for US Steel, and his mom worked in her father's furniture store and then in a doctor's office filing insurance claims. Mike has one sister, Brenda, who is three years older. In an early interview Dulin has stated that in his formative years as an instrumentalist, he would play the piano by ear and learned to sight read at a much later date. He had started improvising on the piano when he was 8–9 years old. He has also credited his accomplishments to his parents who had made a lot of sacrifices to help him follow his dreams, including a gift of a Steinway grand piano on his 15th birthday.<ref name=Parsons_2004/>
Dulin is a graduate of the Alabama School of Fine Arts. He studied piano performance at Birmingham-Southern College where he was twice awarded the Alys Robinson Stephens Piano Prize. Subsequently, he has studied at The Juilliard School in New York with concert pianist Adele Marcus.<ref name=GadsdenTimes/>
==Music career== In 1998, Dulin made his debut with ''Beethoven, Mendelssohn & Debussy'', a solo piano performance of the works of classical composers Ludwig van Beethoven, Felix Mendelssohn and Claude Debussy.<ref name=AllMusic_BMC>{{cite web|title=Michael Dulin - Beethoven, Mendelssohn & Debussy|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/michael-dulin-plays-beethoven-mendelssohn-claude-debussy-mw0001366152|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> This was followed up by ''A Nice Boy From Brooklyn'' in 1999, a collection of songs by composer George Gershwin.<ref name=AllMusic_Brooklyn>{{cite web|url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-nice-boy-from-brooklyn-mw0000710972|title=Michael Dulin - A Nice Boy from Brooklyn|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref>
In 2002, Dulin released his third album ''The One I Waited For'', a debut of Dulin's original piano compositions.<ref name=AllMusic_Waited>{{cite web|url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/one-i-waited-for-mw0000030868|title=Michael Dulin - The One I Waited For|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> The music on the contemporary instrumental music featured Dulin's solo piano performance with the usage of occasional synth work.<ref name=Parsons_Waited>{{cite web| title=One I Waited For Review| last=Parsons| first=Kathy| year=2003| url=http://www.solopianoradio.com/cdreviews/michaeldulin.htm| publisher=SoloPianoRadio| accessdate=17 November 2014| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924103618/http://www.solopianoradio.com/cdreviews/michaeldulin.htm| archivedate=24 September 2015}}</ref> The album peaked at #1 in May 2003 on the ZMR Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart,<ref name=Radio_May2003/> where it stayed for 3 months <ref name=Radio_June2003>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart|last= | first=|date=June 2003 | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/charts/top100.asp?m=6&y=2003|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref><ref name=Radio_July2003>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart|last= | first= |date=July 2003 | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/charts/top100.asp?m=7&y=2003|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> The album was #3 on the ZMR Top 100 Airplay Chart for 2003.<ref name=Top100_2003>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Airplay Chart for 2003|last= | first= | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/charts/Top1002003.asp|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter | accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref>
Dulin continued to explore the New Age genre on his 2003 release ''Atmospheres'', his second release of original piano based compositions.<ref name=AllMusic_Atmospheres>{{cite web|title=Michael Dulin - Atmospheres|last= | first= | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/atmospheres-mw0000324758|publisher=AllMusic | accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> The album peaked at #1 in September 2003 on the ZMR Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart <ref name=Radio_September2003/> and was #9 on the ZMR Top 100 Airplay Chart for 2003.<ref name=Top100_2003/>
Later in the same year, Dulin collaborated with Chuck Offutt on ''Balance of Nature''.<ref name=Dulin_Offutt>{{cite web|title=Chuck Offutt w/ Michael Dulin – Balance of Nature|url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/directory/search.asp?type=recording&id=2904|publisher=Zone Music Reporter|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> The album featured Offutt on Native American flutes and Dulin on piano and keyboards. The inspiration for the album came from a week Dulin spent in the mountains of North Carolina. Dulin has stated that the music was not intended to be representative of Native American culture, but the wooden flutes were the perfect medium to express the beauty of the untouched world.<ref name=Parsons_Balance>{{cite web|title=Balance of Nature Review|last=Parsons | first=Kathy | year=2003 | url=http://www.mainlypiano.com/Older_Reviews_D-F/Dulin-Balance_of_Nature.html|publisher=MainlyPiano | accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref>
In 2004, Dulin released ''Timeless'', a collection of classics.<ref name=AllMusic_Timeless>{{cite web|title=Michael Dulin - Timeless|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/timeless-mw0000370686|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> He has taken familiar melodies from the 19th and 20th century piano repertoire and gives them a new age styled interpretation. In an interview, Dulin had expressed his views that classical music was dying, and needs to be brought back to the attention of the general public. By updating some of these easily accessible pieces, he has made a step in that direction without compromising the integrity of the music in any way.<ref name=Parsons_Timeless>{{cite web|title=Timeless Review|last=Parsons | first=Kathy | year=2004 | url=http://www.mainlypiano.com/Older_Reviews_D-F/Dulin-Timeless.html|publisher=MainlyPiano | accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> The album peaked at #12 on ZMR in Dec 2004 on the ZMR Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart,<ref name=Radio_Dec2004>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart|last= | first= |date=December 2004 | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/charts/top100.asp?m=12&y=2004|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> and was #86 on the ZMR Top 100 Airplay Chart for 2005.<ref name=Top100_2005>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Airplay Chart for 2005|last= | first= | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/charts/Top1002005.asp|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter | accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref>
Dulin released an album of Christmas standards in 2005 with ''Christmas at Our House''.<ref name=AllMusic_Christmas>{{cite web|title=Michael Dulin – Christmas at Our House|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/christmas-at-our-house-mw0000703048|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> The album peaked at #9 in Dec 2005 on the ZMR Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart.<ref name=Radio_Dec2005>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart|last= | first= |date=December 2005 | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/charts/top100.asp?m=12&y=2005|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref>
In 2008, Dulin released his fourth album of original material, and his third as a solo recording artist, on ''Follow The River''.<ref name=AllMusic_River>{{cite web|title=Michael Dulin - Follow the River|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/follow-the-river-mw0000789512|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> In an interview Dulin has stated that the inspiration for the album came from his observation that the journey of life is like a river. The main melody on the title track that opens the album also came to Dulin when he was sitting on a rock looking down at the river.<ref name=Parsons_2008/> It has been noted that while there are elements of classical music, the album exhibits a much wider range of influences including contemporary instrumental, new age and smooth jazz. Dulin has also dedicated a song each to his mother and to the late recording artist and pianist Laurie Z.<ref name=Diamond_River>{{cite web|title=Follow the River Review|last=Diamond | first=Michael | year=2011 | url=http://michaeldiamondmusic.com/2011/02/26/follow-the-river-by-michael-dulin/4|publisher=Music and Media Focus | accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> The album peaked at #1 in June 2008 on the ZMR Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart,<ref name=Radio_June2008/> and was ranked #10 on the ZMR Top 100 Airplay Chart for 2008.<ref name=Top100_2008>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Airplay Chart for 2008|last= | first= | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/charts/Top1002008.asp|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter | accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref>
In 2011, Dulin released ''Timeless II'',<ref name=AllMusic_TimelessII>{{cite web|title=Michael Dulin - Timeless II|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/timeless-ii-mw0002173131|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> the follow-up to his 2004 release, ''Timeless''. On this album, Dulin has moved away from the New Age genre, back to his Classical music roots with interpretations of works by Bach, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, and Saint- Saens. The instrumentation is based on the piano with strings, organ, and other non-piano sounds complementing with subtle accents.<ref name=Diamond_TimelessII/><ref name=Lannan_TimelessII>{{cite web|title=Timeless II Review - Immutable Music, Just Like Gold|last=Lannan | first=RJ | year=2011 | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/recording/viewreviews.asp?rvwbrd=2&rvwbrdpstn=1&rvwbrdcmmt=903|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter | accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> The album peaked at #1 in April 2011 on the ZMR Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart,<ref name=Radio_April2011/> and was ranked #8 on the ZMR Top 100 Airplay Chart for 2011.<ref name=Top100_2011>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Airplay Chart for 2011|last= | first= | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/charts/Top1002011.asp|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter | accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref>
Dulin released ''These Are the Moments'' in 2012,<ref name=AllMusic_Moments>{{cite web|title=Michael Dulin - These Are the Moments|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/these-are-the-moments-mw0002747339|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> a collection of his original music and arrangements from six of his releases from 2002 to 2012. The album is a collection of Dulin's contemporary instrumentals and his performances of classical music.<ref name=Lannan_Moments>{{cite web|title=These Are the Moments Review - Defining the Genres|last=Lannan | first=RJ | year=2012 | url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/recording/viewreviews.asp?rvwbrd=2&rvwbrdpstn=1&rvwbrdcmmt=1004|publisher=ZoneMusicReporter | accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> The album has been featured in the Best New Age Albums in 2012.<ref name=Olsen_Moments>{{cite web|title=Best New Age Albums 2012|last=Olsen | first=John P. | year=2012 | url=http://www.newagemusicworld.com/best-new-age-music-albums-2012/|publisher=NewAgeMusicWorld | accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref>
Dulin's arrangement of Erik Satie's ''Gymnopedie #3, Simply Satie'', was featured in the soundtrack of 2014's ''Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles'' by Academy Award-winning director Chuck Workman.
In 2015, Dulin released ''My Beloved,'' another album of original compositions dedicated to his wife, Jan. It was named 2015's Best Solo Piano Album by Enlightened Piano Radio.
His music has also been heard in an episode of the final season of NBC's hit sitcom ''Parks and Recreation.''
==Discography== {|class="wikitable" |- !Title !Album details !Role !Release date !Label |- |align="center" valign="top"|Beethoven, Mendelssohn & Debussy<ref name=AllMusic_BMC/> |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|1998 |align="center" valign="top"|Equity Music Group |- |align="center" valign="top"|A Nice Boy from Brooklyn<ref name=AllMusic_Brooklyn/> |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|1999 |align="center" valign="top"|Equity Digital |- |rowspan="1"; align="center" valign="top"|The One I Waited For<ref name=AllMusic_Waited/> |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|2002 |align="center" valign="top"|Equity Digital |- |rowspan="1"; align="center" valign="top"|Atmospheres<ref name=AllMusic_Atmospheres/> |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|2003 |align="center" valign="top"|Equity Digital |- |align="center" valign="top"|Balance of Nature <ref name=Dulin_Offutt/> |align="center" valign="top"|with Chuck Offutt |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|2003 |align="center" valign="top"|Equity Digital |- |align="center" valign="top"|Timeless <ref name=AllMusic_Timeless/> |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|2004 |align="center" valign="top"|Equity Digital |- |align="center" valign="top"|Christmas at Our House <ref name=AllMusic_Christmas/> |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|2005 |align="center" valign="top"|Equity Digital |- |align="center" valign="top"|Follow the River <ref name=AllMusic_River/> |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|2008 |align="center" valign="top"|Equity Digital |- |align="center" valign="top"|Timeless II <ref name=AllMusic_TimelessII/> |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|2011 |align="center" valign="top"|Equity Digital |- |align="center" valign="top"|These Are the Moments <ref name=AllMusic_Moments/> |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|2012 |align="center" valign="top"|Equity Digital |- |align="center" valign="top"|My Beloved |align="center" valign="top"|Solo |align="center" valign="top"|Primary Artist |align="center" valign="top"|2015 |align="center" valign="top"|Equity Digital |}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dulin, Michael}} Category:Composers for piano Category:New-age pianists Category:Living people Category:1952 births Category:20th-century American pianists Category:21st-century American pianists Category:21st-century American male pianists