Michael Hund, Class of 1985

From the snow-bound city of Buffalo, New York, born in Hamburg and raised on country and blues, Michael Hund still calls his mother “Ma” and speaks with an easy, cool softness. A true gentleman—and one intense guitarist—Michael became fascinated with the instrument at an early age.

After receiving his first guitar for his seventh birthday, he cut his teeth on the popular rock of the ’70s but soon felt the pull of the blues. His mother, a pedal-steel player in several local bands during the ’60s, encouraged him to explore not only the music of his own generation but also the country-blues tradition she loved. Michael quickly immersed himself in the sounds of Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed, then discovered Jeff Beck, which opened the door to the blues masters and the groundbreaking Jimi Hendrix.

The rest, as they say, is history!

In 1986, Michael moved to Los Angeles to earn the respect of the city’s top session players, performing on more than a thousand recording sessions and sharpening his skills along the Sunset Strip. A year later he became a steady studio musician, playing venues across the U.S. and signing a record deal with PolyGram Records.

Michael’s debut CD, GraFFiti, showcases searing guitar riffs and soulful, deep-rooted vocals. His influences are unmistakable, yet he’s evolved into a style all his own—a high-octane mix of blues, southern rock, funk, R&B/soul, and country. A typical GraFFiti show offers something for everyone: original songs and inspired covers, from a twangy Jeff Beck tune to a jam-heavy Allman Brothers classic to a hard-driving Janis Joplin number, complete with Michael’s signature theatrics—screaming solos played with his teeth and behind his back.

Honors and milestones followed. In 1992, Michael became the youngest artist ever inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. After the birth of his son that same year, he returned to Hamburg from Beverly Hills and embarked on worldwide tours from 1993 to 2007.

In 2007 he signed with CMG Records in Nashville, releasing an instrumental and vocal album that quickly sold out. By 2012 he was sharing the stage with legendary vocalist Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent). The following year he joined the backing band for Appice Drum Wars and became part of the Texas Guitar Army alongside Hexx Henderson, Pat Travers, Danny B. Harvey, and Kirk Harper.

Michael continued to expand his collaborations: in 2018 he joined a supergroup with Jessie Galante, and in 2019 his original band, Von Hund, began making waves in the music community. In 2020 he became part of the Classic Rock Allstars with members of Talas, Foreigner, Lou Gramm, and Black Sheep. Most recently, in July 2024, he appeared in Guitar World magazine.

Truly, Michael Hund is the kind of guitarist who must be seen!