Biography
Who is Michelle Shocked?
Early life and real name
Born Karen Michelle Johnston, she entered the world on February 24, 1962, at the Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Her stepfather served in the US Army, which meant the family moved between different military bases before eventually living in Gilmer, Texas. She was raised within a Mormon household during her childhood.
Music career and Mercury years
In 1984, she began performing under the stage name Michelle Shocked. This name was a play on the term shell shocked, which refers to the thousand-yard stare seen in World War I victims. She first used this moniker at the Democratic Convention in San Francisco, where she was arrested while protesting corporate political funding.
Independent music and later work
Following her time with Mercury, she contributed the song Quality of Mercy to the 1995 film Dead Man Walking. In 1996, she released Kind Hearted Woman through the Private Music label. By 2002, she had launched her own label, Mighty Sound, starting with the album Deep Natural. This move allowed her to maintain ownership of her catalog and reissue her previous works in expanded formats.
Family and personal life
Her brother is Max Johnston, a musician associated with groups like Wilco and Uncle Tupelo. In terms of her personal history, she married journalist Bart Bull in 1992, but the couple divorced in 2004. Later, in 2007, she was in a relationship with David Willardson, an artist who helped design the branding for Mighty Sound and several of her album covers.
Birthday and age
Michelle Shocked was born on February 24, 1962, which makes Michelle 64 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Michelle shares the date with 52 other famous people.
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