Michael Passons was born and raised in Yazoo City, Mississippi, and as a toddler, began to sing and play piano.

As a young musician, Passons was influenced by music from the small country church where his family attended, and also popular mainstream singer/piano player artists like Elton John and Lionel Richie.

[1] The band made its debut in November 1995, in San Jose, California, at the start of the multi-city arena tour, "The Young Messiah," alongside such artists as Steven Curtis Chapman, CeCe Winans and Michael W. Smith.

[1] After years of public statements by Avalon to the contrary, Passons confirmed in a 2020 podcast interview that he was forced out of the group because he was gay and that he ultimately refused to attend reparative therapy.

He has also collaborated with Country Music singer Ty Herndon and Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth to record a new inclusive version of Avalon's 2006 song "Orphans of God".