Michael Franti & Spearhead

Michael Franti
Michael Franti in 2011
Background information
Born	(1966-04-21) April 21, 1966 (age 51) Oakland, California, U.S.
Origin	San Francisco, California, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop funk reggae jazz reggae fusion folk jam band dancehall ska punk rock pop industrial music avant-garde
Occupation(s)	Composer musician entertainer poet rapper
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Alternative Tentacles Island Capitol Boo Boo Wax Six Degrees ANTI-
Associated acts	Radioactive Carl Young Spearhead The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy The Beatnigs
Website	www.michaelfranti.com

Michael Franti & Spearhead
Michael Franti and Spearhead performing at Wakarusa 2006
Background information
Origin	San Francisco
Genres	Roots, Rock, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Soul, Funk, Pop
Years active	1994-present
Website	www.michaelfranti.com
Members	Michael Franti (vocals) Carl Young (bass) Jay Bowman (guitar) Mike Blankenship (keyboard) Manas Itiene (drums)

Michael Franti (born April 21, 1966) is an American rapper, musician, poet, spoken word artist and singer-songwriter. Michael Franti is known for having participated in many musical projects (most of them with a political and social emphasis), including the Beatnigs and the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. He is the creator and lead vocalist of his current independent project, Michael Franti & Spearhead, a band that blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock. He is also an outspoken supporter for a wide spectrum of peace and social justice issues, and he is especially an advocate for peace in the Middle East.

Michael Franti was born in Oakland, California. His mother, Mary Lofy, had Irish, German, and Belgian ancestry, and his father, Thomas Hopkins, was of African-American and Native American descent. However, his mother put him up for adoption because she was afraid that her racist family would not accept him. He was adopted by Carole Wisti and Charles Franti, a Finnish American couple in Oakland, who at the time had three biological children and one adopted African American son. Charles Franti was a professor in the department of epidemiology and preventive medicine of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and died in 2003. Michael's four adoptive siblings are named Rebecca, Sara, Dan, and Matthew. Michael spent his grade 9 school year at Highland Junior High School in Edmonton, Alberta. He then attended Davis Senior High School and graduated from the University of San Francisco.