By Adam Gonshor

TORONTO, Ontario (andPOP) – 14 artists at Kiss 92?s Wham Bam Thank You Jam had record deals. 1 did not. 14 artists had main stream radio airplay and recognizable songs. 1 did not. Jacob Michael took the stage in Toronto on July 21, 2001, for his first performance ever. The 15-year old singer from Winchester, Indiana wrote a letter to the radio station asking them to allow him to perform at the concert. They agreed, and he performed ?Big Shot,? one of two songs he has recorded.

So how did Jacob do in front of 16,000 people? ?My heart was pounding,? he tells andPOP immediately after his performance. ?It didn?t go well. The CD didn?t start, the mic wouldn?t turn on, but then once everything started, it was as good as gold.?

Jacob?s been singing since he was a little boy. ?I?ve always known that I wanted to perform. I sang in my preschool choir.? He made a music web site and became familiar with how the business works. ?By doing this, I learned contacts and what do when becoming a performer.?

Jacob is a very close friend of Aaron Carter, but Jacob has not asked his friend for any help on the way to stardom. ?We like to keep our friendship and business relationships separate because it causes problems with money and I just don?t want him to be like ?yo, you?re using me to help your career.? I?d just rather keep it separate.?

Jacob Michael is still looking for a record deal, and hopes to get signed soon. ?Right now I?m basically doing all the stuff on my own. I?ve talked to some managers and submitted my package to O-Town?s manager, Mike Cronin, to see what he thinks of it and if he?s interested in helping. About getting signed, I want to go under development with a company this fall to get a whole complete demo made, and then get them sent out to the record labels and then get signed and that way I have enough material to go out on tour.?

Up next for Jacob is performing several dates on the Blockbuster Teen Festival. Check out Jacob Michael on the web at www.jacobmichael.com. Also look out for a Jacob Michael contest on andPOP where we will be giving away 10 autographed photos.






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