Michael Tolf
I am a singer/songwriter, who lives in the great Northwest. To be more specific, I abide in the beautiful city of Mt. Vernon. You may or may not have heard of it, but we're famous for our tulips(when walking through them, don't forget to tip toe).
My musical journey started when I was nine years young. That's when I began taking piano lessons. However, my earliest musical recollections are of my mother dancing to Elvis in our living room. I guess she was "All Shook Up". She can really move. So, having fun with her is really where it all began.
I took piano lessons for 8 years, and then became interested in learning more about music theory, improvising, playing by ear and singing. I didn't even know I could sing. I guess you can be the judge of that.
Somewhere in that process, God gave me my first song - "My Stand". I was 18 years old. I can't tell you how it happened, because every song is somewhat a mystery. As I look back on that moment, I get quite emotional. After writing "My Stand", I asked God if this might be my calling in life - my gift to share with the world. I asked Him to help me write again, and to help me fulfill my life's calling. By God's grace, I am still on the journey!
Much has happened in my life since that first inspirational moment. Like all of us, I have experienced the joys and sorrows of living in this old world. Music and songwriting have always been my outlet of expression.
We all have our favorite songs. Songs we want to hear to get us through our day, encourage or inspire us. I think this is God's way of reminding us that He's the great creator...and that He is behind the scenes, watching and preparing us for a glorious future.