1. Michael Franti was born on April 21,1966 and is an American singer, songwriter, musician, poet, activist, documentarian, and rapper.
37 Facts About Michael Franti
1. 2.
Michael Franti is an outspoken supporter for a wide spectrum of peace and social justice issues; he is especially an advocate for peace in the Middle East.
3.
Michael Franti was adopted by Carole Wisti and Charles Franti, a Finnish American couple in Oakland, who at the time had three biological children and one adopted African American son.
4.
Charles Franti was a professor in the department of epidemiology and preventive medicine of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and died in 2003.
5.
Michael Franti has four half-siblings, Thea, Thomas, Charles, and Arthur Hopkins.
6.
Michael Franti went to grade 9 at Highland Junior High School in Edmonton, Alberta.
7.
Michael Franti purchased a bass guitar at a pawn shop and started creating music inspired by hip hop, punk, and reggae which was being played on the campus radio station, KUSF.
8.
The authors assert that Michael Franti's lyrics in treating women fairly in relationships is an exception.
9.
In 1994, Michael Franti dissolved the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy and formed a new band called Spearhead with a few studio musicians, including mainstay Carl Young.
10.
In 2001, Michael Franti was featured on Lamb's album What Sound, providing backing vocals on the track "I Cry".
11.
Michael Franti composed many of the songs from his guitar and, like fellow 21st-century cultural globalists Manu Chao and Ozomatli, continues to synthesize his eclectic influences.
12.
Also in 2003, Michael Franti released a mostly acoustic album, Songs from the Front Porch containing rearranged versions of older songs from Chocolate Supa Highway, Stay Human and Everyone Deserves Music as well as a couple of new tracks.
13.
Michael Franti continues to tour in addition to producing the annual Power to the Peaceful festival each year since 1998.
14.
Michael Franti continues to gain influence in both popular music and social movements largely through extensive touring and word of mouth fan support.
15.
Michael Franti played three different events to commemorate President Barack Obama's inauguration: The Green Ball, The Peace Ball and the Rock the Vote Party.
16.
Michael Franti announced in November 2009 that he would be joining musician John Mayer on the Battle Studies Tour in spring 2010.
17.
Michael Franti announced the release of The Sound of Sunshine on his official website in July 2010.
18.
Michael Franti started the recording process for The Sound of Sunshine in Jamaica but then continued to mix tracks and record in Bali before choosing to bring a portable studio on the road.
19.
Michael Franti continued to record on the road and then test his ideas in front of live audiences to see if they liked it before going back and revamping it the next day.
20.
In March 2018, Michael Franti announced a new album, Stay Human, Vol.
21.
Michael Franti did the music for the Woody Harrelson film Champions.
22.
Michael Franti is an advocate for peace in the Middle East.
23.
Michael Franti decided to embark on a three-week journey with friends to view the human cost of war in the Middle East first-hand.
24.
Michael Franti did not embark on the trip for the film with any special government groups or organizations.
25.
In 2001, Michael Franti was awarded the Domestic Human Rights Award by Global Exchange, an international NGO based in San Francisco, for his work to end war.
26.
The song consists of Michael Franti reciting spoken word with a soft electric guitar riffing in the background.
27.
Michael Franti's wish-granting nonprofit organization, Do It for the Love, is a project he founded in 2013 with his wife Sara Agah Michael Franti, with a mission to bring individuals with life-threatening illnesses and trauma, children with severe challenges, and wounded veterans to live concerts in the goal to inspire joy through the healing power of music.
28.
Michael Franti's foundation has bridged connections between fans of all ages with their musical heroes, with the participation of notable artists such as Billie Eilish, JoJo Siwa, Pentatonix, and Franti himself.
29.
Michael Franti owns a yoga resort hotel in the southern part of Ubud, Bali, called Soulshine.
30.
In June 2020, Michael Franti began hosting his "Stay at Home Concert World Tour" within his own yoga resort, taking part of the "virtual concert revolution" as a response to the COVID-19 Health Pandemic.
31.
Michael Franti is married to emergency room nurse and jewelry designer Sara Agah.
32.
Michael Franti was previously married to Tara Franti-Rye from 1998 until 2004; she is the mother of Ade.
33.
In 2000, Michael Franti decided not to wear any shoes, initially for three days.
34.
Michael Franti's music was featured twice on HBO's urban drama The Wire.
35.
Michael Franti appeared as himself in the 2010 music documentary Sounds Like a Revolution.
36.
Michael Franti has collaborated with Slacker Radio, picking the tunes and providing commentaries, to create a radio station playing his favorite artists.
37.
Michael Franti premiered his own documentary Stay Human on April 27,2018, at the Asbury Park Music and Film Festival.