User:Ro Chelle/sandbox

Michael Donnell Joyner (born January 27, 1978) is an American singer/songwriter based in Memphis, TN. He known for his acoustic sound, a mixture of funky soul, folk, jazz and rock. While working on his solo career, Joyner has developed skills in all parts of musical production by working on projects with various Memphis artists, doing everything from performing to producing.

Early Life
Born in Jackson, TN, Joyner grew up with his parents near Jackson in Finger, TN, a town of less than 400 residents. He attended the University of Memphis from 1996-1998 where he studied Electrical Engineering.

Early Career
In 2000, Joyner officially moved to Memphis to pursue his musical career. In the same year he met fellow artist, Valerie June. In 2001, Joyner and June went to Europe where they were married. Traveling around central Europe under the name Bella Sun, they collaborated artistically while playing street music and living in hostels. In 2004 Bella Sun released their first and only album, No Crystal Stair. A simple album co-created by June (lyrics) and Joyner (music). During the same time period, Joyner worked with Valencia Robinson to write, record and produce the 5-track EP Soul Searching.

Current Career
After Bella Sun dismantled in 2005, Joyner started to focus on his solo musical projects. In 2008 he released the debut solo EP called Sit And Wait. In 2012, Joyner launched a kickstarter that was featured as one of "100 Music Kickstarters to Learn From" and used the funding to produce his second album, The Pickin's Are Slim, in 2013. He is currently working on a 3rd album scheduled for release in 2015.