Michael Morales

by Tom DemalonMichael Morales, benefiting from the support of MTV, scored a couple of hits from his debut album, including a cover version of the Romantics' "What I Like About You." Born on April 25, 1963, in San Antonio, TX, Morales signed to Polygram Records in 1989. His self-titled debut, released that same year, spun off a hit with the first single, the hooky dance/rock track "Who Do You Give Your Love To?," which climbed into the Top 20 on the U.S. pop charts during the summer. "What I Like About You" was released as a follow-up and reached number 28, bettering the peak position of the Romantics' version, which fell short of the Top 40, and the album spent five months on the charts. The prophetically titled Thump arrived in 1991, failing to match its predecessor's success and generating only the minor hit "I Don't Wanna See You." Morales was dropped by his label and pursued producing and writing for others, including Selena, Flaco Jimenez, and the Texas Tornados. With brother Ron Morales, he has been nominated for five Grammy Awards and been awarded three, including one for engineering Selena's live album in 1993. In 1999, Michael Morales returned with That's the Way.