User:Mikiellej/sandbox

Michelle (Miki) Ragland Moore was born in Raleigh, North Carolina on February 10, 1958 and is a regional actress and musician. At age 6, her father was transferred to Greensboro NC, where she grew up.

Inspired by 60s/70s pop rock radio, Miki began playing guitar at age 9. Early influences include The Beatles, Neil Young, Yes, Emmylou Harris, Elton John, Glen Campbell, Led Zeppelin, Rickie Lee Jones, Elton John, The Byrds, Simon & Garfunkel, The Kinks, Queen, James Taylor, Cat Stevens (add more)

At James B Dudley High School, Miki was recruited by a young and then-new drama teacher, Daniel Seaman, to audition for his first musical, Carnival. She was not cast but recruited as stage manager, and through this large production (in conjunction with Grimsley High School), discovered the world of live theatre. Her next audition landed her a role in "Interview", a production that was entered in a citywide competition. The play won Best Production and netted Miki a citywide trophy for Best Actress. Subsequently this production of "Interview" netted her trophies for Best Actress at the state, then ten-state Southeastern region.

Some regional theatre / film / television contemporaries/influences include Barry Bell, Lorri Lindberg, Hall Parrish, Stephen Gee, Lee Spencer, Brenda Schleunes, Harvey Robinson, Stephanie Lindley (add more names)

As a guitarist/vocalist, Miki began forming bands with friends at an early age, beginning with a trio in high school called Orion's Belt. In her twenties she teamed with Michael Beazlie and Nancy Golden Nolan and formed trio Fat Chance. One night they found themselves playing for audience members Doc Severensen and his band. After Nancy married and moved away, Miki and Michael Beazlie then teamed with Stacey Kent, forming Rocketbugs. In the 1990s she teamed with husband David "Driveway" Moore (formerly of the Alkaphonics) and lead guitarist Michael Lynch and formed The Turnstiles, touring regionally and appearing on a Greensboro citywide CD of original music. Miki, David and Michael stayed together through two more incarnations - Driveway and finally Reno Garage. Along the way being invited to play The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, on three occasions and opening for Little Feat to an estimated crowd of 7,000.

Regional contemporaries & inspirations from the Greensboro, Raleigh, Chapel Hill area music scenes include Ben Folds, Whiskeytown, The Squirrel Nut Zippers, Busstop, Radiance, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Treva Spontaine & the Graphic, Tornado, Evan Olson, Jimmy Carpenter, Brad Newell, Bruce Peiphoff, Sam Frazier, Scott Manring, Chuck Cotton, Chris Carroll,