Michael Gutierrez-May

Singer-songwriter and screenwriter Michael Gutierrez-May has been entrenched in the folk scene for almost 30 years as a dedicated behind-the-scenes force. That’s all changed now. Since 2009, Michael has presented himself as an empathic and insightful folk songwriter. in 2021, he created his fourth solo album, Drifting to The Right. This is Mike’s strongest and most serious collection of songs, and the 9-song album benefits from polished production, courtesy of veteran musician Stephen B. Martin, a former member of the soft rock band Orpheus. Drifting to The Right also boasts 11 special guests, including former Joe Cocker musical director and guitarist Cliff Goodwin. Drifting to The Right has been featured in Worchester Magazine where the writer gushed: “Gutierrez-May's biggest strength throughout this album is that ability to look beyond the flaring rage and into people's underlying pain.” Tunes from Drifting to The Right have been played on the Twilight Showcase program at WATD-FM in Marshfield, Artie Martello’s Catskills Café on WIOX Community Radio, and The Folk Revival program at WICN-FM in Worcester.

In 2008, Mike started to frequent the local open mic at the Catbird Café in South Weymouth, Massachusetts where he met host, Stephen Martin, who has performed on Mike’s three previous albums, and produced Drifting to The Right. That creatively fertile environment reignited Mike’s passion as songwriter and a performer, and he would go on to hone his craft through other, more regimented endeavors. For 12 years, Mike has participated in the February Album Writing Month (FAWM.org) challenge, and for four years he has participated in the Quiet Corner Songwriters Meetup, where all of the Drifting to The Right songs were workshopped and presented. Since August of this year, Michael has been working on a new album, Light Still Shines The Same, again produced by Stephen B. Martin and recorded at Ultrasound Studios in Hanover, Mass. This album is scheduled for release by the beginning of 2025.

Since discovering Stage 32 five years ago, Michael's interest in film screenwriting has been reawakened and over the past 2-3 years, he has been working on a screenplay titled Chasing Gilels, based on the real life experiences of a close friend who studied at the Moscow Conservatory for one year from 1968-69 under the guidance of famous pianist Emil Gilels. The screenplay has been reviewed by several advisors connected to Stage 32 including Theresa Gallagher and Sara Elizabeth Timmins, who assisted Michael with a pitch deck for this screenplay. Michael is hoping that this screenplay can find a wider audience that is interested in contemporary history and relations between Russia, the United States and communities which are part of both nations.