Todd Michael Hall reached The Voice knockouts, then quit Riot V

He balanced Riot V with a manufacturing job

Hall joined Riot V in 2013 and sang on Unleash the Fire in 2014 and Armor of Light in 2018. By a 2019 interview with MusikHolics, his schedule included writing lyrics for the band, recording his own songs, and managing a manufacturing company full time. He had a wife and three children. Recording at home helped him fit music around those responsibilities, and he identified touring as the harder demand: “being away from home is the bigger challenge.” Years before his decision to step down, Hall had already described the practical problem of keeping his music, work, and family commitments together.

Blake Shelton’s save took him to the knockouts

On February 24, 2020, Hall sang Foreigner’s “Jukebox Hero” in The Voice’s blind auditions and joined Blake Shelton’s team. He was 50 and came from Saginaw, Michigan. His battle performance paired him with Joei Fulco on Tina Turner’s “The Best” on March 23. Nick Jonas praised his “remarkable range”. Shelton chose Fulco and used his only save to keep Hall in the competition. Hall reached the knockouts, singing OneRepublic’s “Somebody to Love” in the four-way contest on April 20. The audience vote advanced Michael Williams when the result was announced on May 4. Hall called his three performances on national television “a blessing” when he spoke to the Midland Daily News.

His audition helped start a classic rock partnership

Hall’s television performance became a way to explain the music he wanted to make. He told The Rockpit in May 2021 that he had discussed a solo album with Rat Pak back in 2018. After appearing on The Voice, he sent the label his “Jukebox Hero” link and asked for help finding a collaborator for an old-school rock project. The introduction connected him with Metal Church guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, and they discussed the plan over Zoom. During the pandemic, Vanderhoof wrote 18 songs over 21 days; Hall added lyrics and vocal melodies while his factory was shut. Their album Sonic Healing arrived through Rat Pak Records on May 7, 2021. Its songs included “Overdrive” and “Let Loose Tonight”.

His solo albums also made room for lighter songs

Hall’s solo work had begun with Letters From India in 2017, a collection inspired by the pen-pal relationship with his wife before their marriage. He described that music to Live Metal as acoustic songs and ballads. On September 27, 2022, he independently released another album in a light rock style, No Winner Takes All, through download and streaming services. A double-CD edition brought more of that work into physical form. Its second disc gathered all four of his 2019 Elements EPs: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. Those earlier releases became available on CD for the first time.

Two albums followed in 2024

On May 10, 2024, Riot V released Mean Streets with Hall on vocals through Reigning Phoenix Music in the United States and Europe and Ward in Japan. His partnership with Vanderhoof produced another album that year. Off the Rails arrived through Rat Pak Records on October 18, with ten new studio tracks and two bonus tracks. Hall said the pair had enjoyed making Sonic Healing and wanted to create a second album together. He described the new material as having “a bit more emotion interspersed throughout”. The songs included “The Doctor”, “Sitting On Top Of The World”, and “Can’t Get Enough”, drawing on their shared interest in bands such as Boston, Rush, Styx, and Foreigner.

He sang a guest duet on “Shadowfire” in 2025

Hall was still singing with Riot V at Time To Rock Festival in southern Sweden on July 5, 2025. The set included early Riot material such as “Fire Down Under” and “Swords and Tequila”. A further collaboration arrived on August 22, when Dragonsclaw released Moving Target. Hall shared vocals with Giles Lavery on “Shadowfire”, the album’s seventh track. Lavery said the song had reminded him of a current-day Riot track, prompting him to ask Hall to sing it with him. The recording placed Hall alongside guitarist Ben Thomas, keyboard player Jimmy Waldo, and drummer Mark Zonder.

• Listen to “Shadowfire” on Bandcamp

He stepped down to give his family more time in 2026

On April 28, 2026, Hall announced that he was stepping down as Riot V’s lead singer. He counted 13 years, three albums, and more than 200 live shows with the band. He said the opportunity had fulfilled many of his rock and roll dreams and that he needed a break to focus on his wife, family, and family business. His statement thanked bassist Don Van Stavern and guitarist Mike Flyntz for the opportunity, expressed pride in their music, and thanked the people who had supported it. Riot V announced Italian musician Valentino Francavilla as a temporary replacement for the forthcoming tour dates.

A July 2026 live set preserved his Japanese shows

Hall’s voice returned on Riot Matsuri 2024 Live in Japan, released on July 31, 2026. The four-CD set captured the band’s performances at Club Citta on July 20, 2024, and Shibuya Club Quattro on July 22. The concerts included songs such as “Thundersteel”, “Warrior”, and “Love Beyond the Grave”. Francavilla had appeared as a guest at both shows, putting Hall and his eventual touring replacement together onstage before the change of singers. Loudness bassist Masayoshi Yamashita also made a guest appearance. The release preserved Hall singing the band’s material across two different sets, after his decision to step away from its touring life.

• Todd Michael Hall: career and music
• Listen to Todd Michael Hall on Apple Music
• Listen to Todd Michael Hall on YouTube