Michael Blair is an American percussionist based in Sweden who has worked with Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Lou Reed, T-Bone Burnett and many others. He was born to a military family and spent his youth moving around the United States, and his interest in music was influenced heavily by his parents record collection of 60s pop and rock'n'roll. His unique approach to percussion played a large role in defining the sound of Waits' lauded album Rain Dogs.