Biography of Michael Laechel
Michael Laechel has been a Singer-Songwriter/Composer/Producer for the past 30+ years. Laechel grew up in Deerfield Illinois and started his musical dream by viewing many MTV videos as a child and playing with old instruments around the house. Although the electric guitar was his dream instrument, he started out playing piano and taking lessons. Years went by, and Michael played with a variety of different bands throughout the Chicago area. Laechel realized that music was his life, and songwriting was his destiny. He built his first home recording studio with only pieces from old stereos and other parts he found at his local 'Radio Shack' store.
As the years have gone by, Michael Laechel has been a noted talent throughout the Chicago/Milwaukee area. He graduated in 1999 from Barat College of DePaul University, with a B.A. in Humanities and a Concentration in Music. Michael has always been on the road to happiness and nothing has stopped the dream he has always had burning within.
After playing with many Chicago bands, Laechel went on to his solo mission. Thirty albums produced, written, recorded, and performed by Michael, have given him the support he has needed to be recognized in the music industry across the world. As a college student, he started his own record label, "Addiction Records". He has had songs of his broadcasted on Chicago's Top-40 FM radio stations, Q-101.1 and 102.3, and Milwaukee's Top-40 FM radio Rock 102.1.
When Michael graduated from college with his music degree in 1999, he knew many more albums were on the way. His goal at the time was to record 100 albums. In mid-2003, Laechel won a "Jingle Contest" for Winterfresh Gum. He recorded a T.V. Commercial that featured his jingle, and recorded several radio spots for Winterfresh Gum.
Michael released 6 CD's worldwide: The Mystic Moods - Volume 1 (1996), The Colorful Conclusion (2001), Live Internet Shows (2003-2004): Disk 1, Live Internet Shows (2003-2004): Disk 2, Faces (2005) and Soundtracks Vol. 01 (2025). Michael has been selling these recordings digitally for a few years now.
In July 2022, Michael released a large portion of his recorded music library (1998-2019) on Reverbnation.com for fans to listen to, including tons of lost demos!!
As an unsigned recording artist Michael states, "I would always be open to a recording contract when God taps me on the shoulder. I am not here to make a ton of money and become any kind of an idol in the music industry. I just want to write and perform great music that everyone at any age can enjoy for years to come. If I can just get by and make a living doing what I have been called to do, I will die a happy man."
2011-2013 Michael has been contacted by a Record Company in LA, has been working with a National Booking Agency and is back out on the road playing live shows around Chicago with other area artists.
Michael Laechel has hit the Top 10 Chicago Musical Alternative Artists/Bands charts on ReverbNation.com several times over the years, just recently in July 2025.
So far in 2025, Michael has been writing and recording instrumentals for TV/Movies and media. Recently offered a record label licensing deal in July, he did not feel it was in his best interest to sign, not wanting to give away a large ownership percentage of any of his music catalog masters.
Michael currently resides in Prospect Heights, IL.
(Last updated: 7/30/25)