Michael Ross Perkins grew up in Fairborn, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton, and during his early years his family lived on Titus Avenue in Dayton's Northridge neighbourhood, a few houses away from Guided By Voices frontman Robert Pollard. Perkins has stated that his proximity and early exposure to Guided By Voices was influential, noting that Pollard's lo-fi production technique and uninhibited vocal approach gave him the confidence to "make weird sounds" with his voice. In 2002, he began experimenting with a Tascam Portastudio 4-track cassette recorder and amassed a catalogue of original songs, and in 2007 his early psychedelic material was discovered by MGMT, who offered him a touring support slot at the time of their debut release, 'Oracular Spectacular'. However, Perkins declined due to anxiety, but he did work as a roadie for Buffalo Killers, on multiple tours in support of The Black Crowes, and this was repaid later when all three members of Buffalo Killers acted as his live backing band for a brief period. Sofaburn Records approached Perkins with a recording contract in 2015, after Zachary Gabbard of Buffalo Killers presented the company with a collection of Perkins' home recordings, and in January 2016 Perkins recorded the drum tracks for his debut release at Gabbard's analog studio, Howler Hills Farm, before completing the remainder of the album's instrumentation alone at his own home studio.
The album 'M Ross Perkins' was released by Sofaburn in October 2016, and critical reception was enthusiastic, with Record Collector calling it "a truly great album", and others drawing notable stylistic comparisons to solo artists such as Harry Nilsson and Emitt Rhodes. After touring in support of the debut, Perkins produced a follow-up EP entitled 'What Did You Do For Summer Break', which Sofaburn released in streaming format in August 2018, and critics noted a shift to a more sophisticated and precise, pop-oriented writing style throughout the EP. While promoting the EP, Perkins performed the song 'Amazing Grace (Grandma's Dead)' on the Jerry Springer Podcast, with Springer and producer Jene Galvin calling it the best song ever performed on the show. In 2020, Ohio-based soul label Colemine Records signed Perkins to their Karma Chief imprint and released the song 'Wrong Wrong Wrong', both as a 7" single and on their 2021 'Brighter Days Ahead' compilation. Colemine/Karma Chief went on to release Perkins' second full-length album, 'E Pluribus M Ross', in March 2022, which had been recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, with Perkins again performing all of the instrumentation in his home studio.
The album again received critical acclaim, with Shindig! giving it 5 out of 5 stars and Uncut calling it "a record full of harmonic joy". After the release of 'E Pluribus M Ross', Perkins made guest appearances on a number of Colemine/Karma Chief releases by Andrew Gabbard, playing bass alongside Karma Chief labelmate Neal Francis on 2022's 'Live in Loveland' and performing keyboard on 2023's 'Cedar City Sweetheart'. In May 2025, Perkins released his third full-length album, 'What's The Matter, M Ross?', which mixed his reverent nostalgia, self-deprecating humour, and a heavenly gift for melody, with vox pops trying to answer the title question. If you have yet to discover this intriguing singer/songwriter then here is a selection of some of his best songs for you to sample.
Track listing
01 Humboldt County Green (from 'M Ross Perkins' 2016)
02 Wrong Wrong Wrong (from 'E Pluribus M Ross' 2022)
03 Restless Amy (from 'What Did You Do For Summer Break' EP 2018)
04 Let A Little Lazy (from 'M Ross Perkins' 2016)
05 Tired Of Me (from 'E Pluribus M Ross' 2022)
06 Hey Man/Hey Self (from 'What's The Matter, M Ross?' 2025)
07 Industrial Good Day Mantra (from 'E Pluribus M Ross' 2022)
08 Bed Sheet Wing (from 'What Did You Do For Summer Break' EP 2018)
09 Local Showcase (from 'M Ross Perkins' 2016)
10 Gone (In The Morning) (from 'What's The Matter, M Ross?' 2025)
11 The New American Laureate (from 'E Pluribus M Ross' 2022)
12 Someone Else (from 'M Ross Perkins' 2016)
13 When You’re Near Me (from 'What Did You Do For Summer Break' EP 2018)
14 Amazing Grace (Grandma’s Dead) (from 'M Ross Perkins' 2016)
15 Funeral For A Satellite (from 'E Pluribus M Ross' 2022)
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