Michael Joseph Corcoran

After 20 years as a newspaper writer (Dallas Morning News, Austin American Statesman) Michael Corcoran retired in 2011 to concentrate on Texas music history research and writing. His 2012 book/CD on gospel pioneer Arizona Dranes was nominated for a Grammy as best historical album. In 2016, his prime research for “Washington Phillips and His Manzarene Dreams” (Dust-to-Digital) was lauded by CNN, the New Yorker and the New York Review of Books, among others. He also contributed extensive liner notes on Blind Willie Johnson for the Alligator Records tribute album. The latest passion project for Corcoran, who began his career as a sardonic columnist for the Austin Chronicle in the ‘80s, was completely rewriting, expanding and visually overhauling his 2005 book “All Over the Map: True Heroes of Texas Music.”