With his dark, somber lyrics set to Americana-meets-the-blues arrangements, Michael de Jong has brought a new edge to the rock of the Netherlands, where he enjoys his largest fan base. His high-energy guitar wizardry inspired San Francisco Examiner critic Philip Elwood to write, "[de Jong] is my favorite local guitarist, an unforgettable voice and such a powerful delivery." Born to a Dutch father, who fled to France during World War II, and a French mother, de Jong spent much of his early youth living in Holland. He emigrated with his family to the United States in 1950, where he lived for the next 14 years. He has since divided his time between the San Francisco Bay Area and the Netherlands. De Jong has become known for his quick approach to recording. Nearly every track on his albums is the result of one or two takes. ~ Craig Harris