Michael's Bio

Welcome to Michael Popienko's music website!

My Life's Mission Statement: 

I bring transformation into the lives of people with whom I come into contact.

My creed:

"That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent

men and the love of children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; and who leaves the world better than when

he found it."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

My Mission in Music: 

To write music that human being souls are touched by.  To create a sound that is classic and yet fresh with a tone or vibration of being Beatlish, Lennonish, Dylanish, Denverish and/or of bands we recognized from the late 60s to the present. To write lyrics that inspire, that are positive and uplifting, contemplative, hopeful, vulnerable, feeling young and just plain fun. I hope you like what you hear.   I'm a growing Lab puppy at this but my tail is wagging with enthusiasm! 

Pops is a singer songwriter and overall music lover.  He has been a tennis teaching professional for nearly 25 years.  He has been writing most of his adult life since the first song he ever wrote, Thoughts of You, a song he wrote for his lovely wife Bonnie, however in the last 3 years have turned it up a big notch.  His first release, and his gift to his fellow human beings, is a song he wrote for and about Mother Earth. It is dedicate to our "Mother Earth New Beginning," kind of a Lennonish tone, a combination of Imagine and Watching the Wheels. A free download for you for just being!  It is written to and for all human beings who live on this paradise we call Earth and he hopes that it will inspire you to become even a better steward of the Earth.  He knows and believes in his heart, and our hearts, that there is much hope for us all and our best is yet to come.  He hopes you like Mother Earth's (New Beginning) and more songs, close to 50 more, are yet to come. 

Michael Popienko family history:

My family came from Belarus.  My parents met in this country and made it here in the US between 1949 (Mom) and 1951(Dad).   My Mom's father wanted to find work to support his 6 children and left Belarus to Germany and then to Toulouse France and still could not find much work.  Went back to Germany and got a Catholic sponsor from the United States.  My father's father did the same thing and come over with the help of the Red Cross/Salvation Army.  My parents met in Rockford, Illinois and were married and had 3 children, my sister's Lucy and Lisa, and me.

Personal Note of thanks from Michael Pops Popienko

I want to personally thank all song writers, past and present, especially my favorite, the Beatles, and mostly John Lennon's work, for their efforts to bring forth their music and paid the personal sacrifices in believing in their work that finally made it to my ears and makes living awesome.  I thank you all with gratitude.  I hope to do the same, with all my heart for you all as well.  

I want to thank all the people who have helped me make this journey possible.  I want to thank my wife Bonnie for letting me pursue a wild dream, my entire family, my producer Glen Pridgen, musicians and arrangers, Shannon Pengelly, Eric Frampton for helping me make my dreams of recording songs come true.  I thank you so much for putting up with me and my humble beginnings in making my music come alive.  I have learned much and respected everything you have done for me...everything!  I want to thank my early producers friends Jon Bailey and Irv Zimmerman and my voice coach Doug Derrickson.  I want to thank Billie Wilkie who took the time to listen and give me inspiration to go forward.  And to everyone else who led to the road in making music I want to thank you.

I want to thank my family, professional music friends and advisors, friends and tennis students for taking the time to listen to my songs and give comments to me about them, giving business advice to make this all possible .  Thank you so much for time.

I want to thank my best friend Brooks Hayes for believing in me and pushing me.   I want to thank Jeff Holbrook for all his help and inspiration in the design of my logo, for helping me see my vision and putting it down on paper.  You all have been awesome and are the best!