Michael Mayes: Rockabilly Cowboy or Flexin' Texan?

Michael Mayes rehearses “Die Fledermaus” with the Opera on the James

Michael Mayes was not only one of our most popular singers featured in last  year's calendar, but he became an inspiration for other singers after he appeared in our "BariChunk to BariHunk" feature. The Texas baritone lost fifty pounds and buffed up to play the role of Joseph de Rocher in Jake Heggie's "Dead Man Walking." The post has become one of our ten most visited posts of all-time.

Chris Carr's transformation was inspired by Michael Mayes

His workout routine consisted mostly of a fierce dedication to the Spartacus workout program. While at the Des Moines Opera earlier this year, he inspired countless singers, especially fellow baritone Chris Carr, who went through an amazing transformation.

Mayes also started a Facebook site called Operaticus where singers can go and post their progress with the Spartacus workout, ask questions or post workout tips.

Michael Mayes using a rock for his workout when there were no barbells

Mayes is curently preparing to open as Gabriel Eisenstein in Johann Strauss' Die Fledermaus with Opera on the James in  Lynchburg, Virginia. The cast also includes fellow barihunk and 2012 calendar model Jordan Shanahan as Dr. Falke. There is one performance on Sunday, November 11th. Tickets are available online.

A recent feature article on Mayes in the Lynchburg Burg newspaper referred to Mayes as the "Rockabilly Cowboy" (or as we'll call him, Rockabilly Baritone). However, he's also been dubbed the "Flexin' Texan." We want readers to decide which is the best nickname for Mayes. You can vote in the sidebar to the right.

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