Despite his commercial success in the adult contemporary genre, Bolton's work was sometimes criticized as derivative, and he faced a significant legal battle with the Isley Brothers over plagiarism, which resulted in a substantial financial settlement. Bolton’s rendition of these songs received praise, including from Redding's widow. He gained fame for his covers of soul classics, including Otis Redding's ' (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay' and Percy Sledge's ' When a Man Loves a Woman'. His early career also saw him as a successful songwriter, co-writing hits like ' How Am I Supposed to Live Without You' for Laura Branigan, which later became his own chart-topper.īolton achieved peak recognition as a pop ballad singer in the late 1980s and early 1990s with notable collaborations with songwriters like Diane Warren and Desmond Child. Bolton performed in the hard rock and heavy metal music genres from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, both on his early solo albums and those he recorded as the frontman of the band Blackjack.
Michael Bolotin (born February 26, 1953), known professionally as Michael Bolton, is an American singer and songwriter.