Michael Lee Firkins, born May 19, 1967 in Omaha, Nebraska, is an American guitarist known for blending bluegrass, country, blues, and jazz into a rock sound. He began playing acoustic guitar at age eight, influenced by bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin. By 1985, Firkins was touring with cover bands and teaching guitar in Omaha. His career took off with the release of his self-titled debut album in 1990 on Shrapnel Records, which sold over 100,000 copies and earned him the "Best New Talent" award from Guitar Player magazine. He continued to release albums, including Chapter Eleven (1995) and Cactus Crüz (1996), incorporating more jazz elements into his music. Firkins also won the Edison Award in the Netherlands, equivalent to a Grammy.
