Micah P. Hinson

Biography

Early years

Hinson was born in Memphis, Tennessee and shortly afterwards moved with his family to West Virginia while his father completed his PhD. When Hinson was four years old his family settled in Abilene, Texas where his father had secured a professorship at Abilene Christian University. Early in Hinson's childhood his parents would listen to Neil Diamond and John Denver records and instruments such as a little Disney keyboard, a dulcimer and his grandmother's piano were ever-present in the house. Hinson's father bought him his first guitar when he was around 11 years old so that Hinson could perform in a fifth grade talent show. However, it was the influence of his older brother that really sparked Hinson's desire for music. Both the brothers owned guitars and Hinson's older brother quickly became proficient on the instrument, sparking a friendly rivalry. He began his first efforts at making music around age 12 and as he entered his teenage years he began to listen to his brother's Ministry and The Cure records. By the end of high school Hinson's tastes had expanded and he felt drawn to the sounds of Sonic Youth, wolf parade and Dinosaur Jr., as well as more popular bands like Nirvana.

He felt constrained by the smallness of his hometown, Abilene, and found escape in skateboarding, drugs and playing guitar. Hinson found employment, saved up some money and moved to Denton, Texas, beginning a college course there.

''The Baby and the Satellite''

Hinson had recorded his first full demo of material, titled The Baby and the Satellite, around 2000 and Lapham offered to sign Hinson to his label on the strength of the recording. Lapham began jointly promoting The Earlies and Hinson, sending a copy of his demo along with every copy of The Earlies' material. The demo garnered interest from Rough Trade Records and British-based label, Sketchbook Records. However neither company offered him a contract. Lapham remained convinced of the quality of Hinson's work and continued to promote it, slipping a demo of Hinson's "The Possibilities" into the running order of his BBC Radio set. Sketchbook records signed Hinson two weeks later; a year and a half after the company's initial rejection of the artist.

In the winter of 2003, Hinson recorded his debut album, Micah P. Hinson and the Gospel of Progress, produced and arranged by The Earlies under their Names On Records guise. Hinson felt involved during the recording of the album, later stating that he recorded his guitar and piano while everyone else did all the work. The music press made much of Hinson's prescription drug use at the time; claims Hinson later stated were exaggerated. Hinson also explained that that album was "kind of a greatest hits" from the songs he wrote during his teenage years, being the only time he chose between a vast number of songs.

Inspired by positive reviews and finishing his first full album, Hinson set about re-recording his demo of The Baby and the Satellite. The results of the new sessions were released as an EP in early 2005, with a European tour in support of the material. Hinson was playfully punched in the small of his back by a friend, causing back pain that was unalleviated by surgery. This caused problems with the singer's touring schedule and many dates were cancelled.

In 2005, Hinson recorded a cover of "Yard of Blonde Girls" for the tribute album Dream Brother: The Songs of Tim and Jeff Buckley. He also helped produce the record. In July 2006, Hinson formed The Late Cord with John Mark Lapham of the Earlies. Their five track E.P, Lights from the Wheelhouse was released on the 4AD record label.

Follow-up albums

Hinson released his second album, Micah P. Hinson and the Opera Circuit, in 2006. Micah P. Hinson and the Red Empire Orchestra, Hinson's third album, was released on July 14, 2008, and a tour in support of the album was announced. A new album, Micah P. Hinson and The Pioneer Sabouteurs was released in May 2010. In December 2013, Hinson released a 7" Christmas album, Wishing for a Christmas Miracle with the Micah P. Hinson Family. The album was released via the Yellow Bird Project, with all profits benefiting a children's home in Keller, Texas.{{cite news

Personal life

On December 8, 2007, Hinson proposed to Ashley Bryn Gregory at the end of a concert at the Union Chapel in Islington London. They were married in 2008 and have three children. Hinson and Gregory are both of partial Native American ancestry. The two later divorced. As of 2023, Hinson splits his time between Madrid and Denton, Texas, where he visits his children.

During a tour in Spain in Summer 2011, Hinson was seriously injured in a crash when the band's van overturned. He initially continued performing only vocals. After extensive treatment and physiotherapy he regained use of both arms and returned to playing.

Although he has always played a similar music genre, Hinson has claimed that he has never thought ahead about what genre of music he wanted to play.

Discography

References

References

1. ''U.S. Public Records Index'' Vol 2 (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), 2010.
2. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/audio/2008/jun/06/music.weekly.podcast Micah P. Hinson and Reverend and The Makers], article summarizing the [https://download.guardian.co.uk/audio/1212755774451/805/gdn.mus.080606.sc.Music_Weekly.mp3 6 June 2008 Music Weekly podcast] from guardian.co.uk. In the podcast, Hinson mentions that the month and day of birth that Wikipedia listed (March 30) was wrong; later, in response to a question, Hinson also challenged Wikipedia's characterization of his childhood household as "fundamentalist".
3. Freeman, Doug. (August 17, 2007). "The Gospel of Progress – Micah P. Hinson at the crossroads". [[The Austin Chronicle]].
4. Bennett, Ross. (February 12, 2008). "Micah P. Hinson And The Gospel Of Progress – Disc of the day".
5. Conroy, Matt. (October 2008). "The Gospel According to Micah (page 3)". Being There magazine.
6. (26 April 2023). "Micah P. Hinson: "Nunca decidí que género musical iba a tocar"".
7. Conroy, Matt. (September 2025}}, Hinson met, later member of [[The Earlies]], John Mark Lapham. Around this period{{when). "The Gospel According to Micah (page 2)". Being There magazine.
8. Conroy, Matt. (October 2008). "The Gospel According to Micah (page 4)". Being There magazine.
9. "Micah P. Hinson – Profile". Sketchbook Records.
10. "Live dates". micahphinson.com.
11. link. (May 25, 2015)
12. Chip Midnight. (2 January 2023). "Interview: Micah P. Hinson". [[The Big Takeover]].
13. "Micah P. Hinson".
14. [http://www.outlineonline.co.uk/content/interview-with-micah-p-hinson/interviews/110232/2482 Outline Magazine Interview with Micah P Hinson], 2014, Outlineonline.co.uk
15. "Micah P. Hinson – Profile". [[Jade Tree Records]].