Michael T. Wall, The Singing Newfoundlander, is someone very special - both as an entertainer and as a person. Admired and respected by all, his voice is smooth, his handshake sincere and his smile contagious. Few have met him without falling victim to the friendly warmth of his charm. My favourite Newfoundland singer, Michael is part of the province's cultural heritage, a living legend. He is as well known for his promotion of Newfoundland as he is for his music. BUT there's more to Michael than meets the eye.

When he belts out a rocking tune like The Newfie Polka you feel like dancing. His beautiful rendition of The Ode to Newfoundland can bring tears to your eyes and make you proud to be a Newfoundlander. When he sings a ballad, his smooth easy style has the ladies looking at him with stars in their eyes.

On Saturday, 20 August 1997, I met Michael T. Wall and his daughter Sabrina in St. John's, Newfoundland. He was pleasant, charming, down-to-earth and easy to talk to. The following Monday, I accompanied Michael and Sabrina downtown to the offices of Hospitality Newfoundland & Labrador, where he received the Ambassador of Hospitality Award. I then returned to his sister's place with them to help celebrate Sabrina's 18th birthday.

My initial impression was of a man who is quiet, soft-spoken, friendly and sincere. Yet, I sensed a restless energy beneath the surface, a creative force which is unleashed when he walks out on a stage. Michael is still very actively involved in music; writing, recording and doing live shows at festivals around the world. His most recent appearance was in February 2006 when he participated at a huge musical event in Australia, with a short stopover in Japan on the way back. Although he sometimes talks about retirement, I don’t think he’s ready to give it all up yet – he still has too much drive and enthusiasm for what he does.

This page, therefore, is a tribute to a man who never lost sight of his initial goals: to be an entertainer, and to promote his birthplace. He has been very successful at both and has been recognized for his efforts in both areas. Michael has also been recognized for his work in helping to preserve the musical culture of Newfoundland & Labrador, and for his promotional work for Canadian music in general.

To learn more about Michael, his daughters, and his amazing career, check out Michael's Site.