Michael Franti (born April 21, 1966, in Oakland, California) is an American poet, musician, and composer of African, Native American, Irish, French, and German descent. Franti is the creator and lead vocalist of Michael Franti & Spearhead, a band that blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock. He is also an outspoken supporter for a wide spectrum of peace and social justice issues.
Michael Franti w...
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Michael Franti (born April 21, 1966, in Oakland, California) is an American poet, musician, and composer of African, Native American, Irish, French, and German descent. Franti is the creator and lead vocalist of Michael Franti & Spearhead, a band that blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock. He is also an outspoken supporter for a wide spectrum of peace and social justice issues.
Michael Franti was born to an Irish-German-French mother and an African-Amercan and Indian father. However, he was given up for adoption by his mother because she was afraid her family would not accept him. He was adopted by Carole Wisti and Charles Franti, a Finnish American couple in Oakland, who had three biological children and one other adopted African American son. Charles Franti was a professor in the department of epidemiology and preventive medicine of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and died in 2003. Michael's four siblings are named...
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