Of Warriors & Poets

A classic fusion of energetic rock-blues-funk, launching this year at the Amory Railroad Festival. Led by Michaela Compton and Tony Hooper, Of Warriors & Poets is a convergence of extensive music industry experience. Passionate, high-octane vocals, relentless electric guitar riffs, dynamic performances, classic rock and original material. Available for private parties and small, intimate venues as a duet. For corporate parties, festivals and large venues, we incorporate an elite team of musicians for a full-band experience.

TONY HOOPER - ARTIST BIO
Born in Mississipi in 1968 to a poor Pentecostal family with no television or other distractions. Tony remembers listening to 78’s and 33’s by Chet Atkins and The Singing Rambos. Tony says, “I started playing guitar around age 6 and I honestly don’t remember not playing. “I was sneaking around and listening to Public Radio when I could because everything except Southern Gospel and loving your mother was a sin.” Hooper tuned the radio in to the lonely and soulful sound of the Delta Blues and Bluegrass. “Then the 80’s happened and messed everything up.” Hooper says. “Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Steve Lukather, and others bent my ear and suddenly I became a mutt musically. Playing Rock and Roll with banjo picks should explain it.” Tony joined then famed rock band “Radio Tokyo” based in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Hooper says “I was 18 and found myself rehearsing across the hall from Lynyrd Skynyrd. Funny, at the time, I didn’t know who they were. I played Gary Rossington’s Peavey head and cabinet for a while and had no idea who he was. I was just a kid and they were nice to me.”

Tony started a Rock Christian band in 1984 with friends called Heart and Soul and recorded one LP. Then as a solo artist Tony went own to record, “Month of Sundays,” “Shepherds Field,” “ Worship Rising,” “East To West” and other recordings. Tony’s music career has been linked to the church which Hooper says is a miracle.

In 1988 Hooper joined forces with bassist and Christian Rock Artist, Rick Cua, formerly with "The Outlaws." Rick and Tony have been together making recordings and touring ever since. Recordings include: "Like A Cool Drink," "Won't Fade Away," and now, " Blues Counsel," a band of rockers featuring: Will McFarlane, Tom Lane, Tony Morra, Emedin Rivera and Rick.

Currently Tony is a co-leader of “Of Warriors & Poets” with Michaela Compton and other great musicians in North Mississippi. Hooper is also recording and touring the US and other Nations performing his music and playing for crowds from “2 people and a dog to 500,000 in Ghana, South Africa recently.” says Hooper.

Tony also mentors 30 plus young men and women in his region weekly. "It's a ministry!" says Hooper. Tony Hooper does many festivals, concerts, and large Christian events around the country and the world. Events includes: Men at the Cross with Michael W. Smith, where Tony was the music director and worship leader, E Women Events with Michael O’brien, where Tony was the guitarist and joined Michael in leading worship, Camp Electric with Toby Mac where Tony teaches guitar clinics and helps host the A Team Jam. Tony has been a regular at Kingdom Bound (with Rick Cua, Blues Counsel and others) for 30 years, Tony produces and plays guitar for others like Bryan Duncan, Heather Headley, Phil Keaggy, Ceili Rain, Lindell Cooley, Kathryn Scott, Meredith Andrews, Kari Jobe, and many more. Hooper has 1 Gold Record with "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" EMI. Tony played guitar on the studio side of the double disc release and was a writer for EMI during the early years of EMI Worship.

MICHAELA COMPTON - ARTIST BIO
Being raised in Las Vegas Nevada exposed her to an intense lifestyle of 24/7 entertainment. Formal piano and voice lessons laid a foundation for her but left her wanting more. “I would watch my friends and neighbors prepare for gigs on the Vegas strip and think, ‘where do I sign up’. By the age of 17 she was singing on radio, television and downtown Las Vegas at The California, Union Plaza and Aladdin Hotels. Her fondest Las Vegas experiences include singing with Henry and Todd Shead (from the head lining group “The Henry Shed Trio”) and Chris Heers (Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year 2016). Influenced by artists ranging from Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Janis Joplin to Santana and Prince. “I would sit in front of my record player and spin vinyl for hours, teaching myself to expand my vocal range and sing with energy”.

Opening for “Carman” (Christian music artist) while on tour in Las Vegas, her first formal band experience was “Gethsemane”, an original Christian rock band. Michaela fell in love with the process of creating, performing and recording original material at PowerHouse Recording Studios in Las Vegas. After recording demos at SonSong & Groove Productions studios in Las Vegas, she landed radio commercials, a performance on WCBI Santa Barbara and was invited to be a contestant on ‘Be A Star’ on TNN, filmed in Nashville, TN.

After moving to Mississippi, she continued to perform both rock and christian contemporary music in the U.S. and overseas, including the Philippines. "Some of my favorite Christian music influences are Jesus Culture, Third Day, NEEDTOBREATHE, Bethel, RED, Skillet. Several of these artists cross over genre boundaries, which I'm a big fan of! Can't leave off my absolute favorite, Jonny Lang. I wish I had a fraction of his raw inhibition!

Currently Michaela is a co-leader of “Of Warriors & Poets” with Tony Hooper and other great musicians in North Mississippi. Other live performance experience includes opening for “Shane & Shane” (Christian Recording Artists), leading “Devotion Song” (Christian Rock & Contemporary), performing with the Tupelo Symphony Choir, performing with Mersaidee Soules (Nashville/Country recording Artist) at the Elvis Presley Theatre, performing with the Kevin Waide Project (Mississippi Blues recording artist) at festivals and the legendary 308 Blues Club in Indianola, MS.

Michaela is starting production on a music video with JB Lawrence (Malaco Records) based on her life-story, after the loss of her husband/music partner. The video will feature her original song "Heart Still Beating”. She also had the recent experience of portraying a family member in the music video for Robert King's "Stomping Ground", Produced by JB Lawrence (Malaco Records).

Her broadcasting experience includes both Radio and Television, from concept to finished product. She was the creator, producer and host of Devotion Song Cafe and Open Mic Night on UnityTV. Currently, she is the creator, producer and host of Local Licks Songwriters Showcase on Z98.5FM, Local Licks Live at The Basement in New Albany MS and Songwriters in Concert CD Project for “7 Days for the Troops”.