music.html

Bio

    Michael started playing guitar and keyboards in 1964, mandolin and bass in 1973, pedal steel in 1974, and banjo in 1979. He grew up in the Hollywood hills and moved up to central California in 1970, for the next 25 years he made a living giging full time from Los Angeles to San Francisco, playing guitar and keyboards in rock bands, guitar and pedal steel in country bands. For several years he taught up to 50 guitar students a week, styles ranging from rock, country, bluegrass, jazz, to classical, also, he was an established in-house studio musician at several recording studios playing acoustic/electric guitar, pedal steel, mandolin, banjo, bass, co-arranging and producing.

    In 1994 Michael performed with the opening act at the three day “Live Oak Music Festival” north of Santa Barbara, CA. In other concert venues he has opened up for Delbert Mclinton, Shelly West (Dottie's daughter), Pake McEntire (Reba’s brother), Gary Morris (hit songs “Why Lady Why” and “Wind Beneath My Wings”), Restless Heart, Billy Joe Royal (hit song “Down in the Boondocks”), Dusty Chaps, Papa John Creach (post Jefferson Airplane), and Stoneground (members of Elvin Bishop band).

    Some notables he has performed and/or recorded with are Hoyt Axton, Jay Lacy (guitar and vocals with Elvis Presley and John Snyder), Billy Martin (Tele and vocals with Little Jimmie Dickens), Piper Heisig (bass and vocals in Kats & Jammers), Harold Brown (drums in War), Merrell Fankhauser (composed, guitar, and vocals in the Impacts and Mu), 1990 Grammy Award Winner Louie Ortega (guitar and vocals in the Texas Tornados with Freddy Fender), Mike Dean (guitar tech for Bonnie Raitt, Chicago, Boz Skaggs, etc), Terry Lawless (horns/keyboard and midi-tech for U-2, Cher, Chicago, Springsteen, Janet Jackson, Bowie, Buffett, etc), Archie Johnson (guitar, keys and vocals with Glenn Yarborough and John Snyder), Mike Caldwell (harmonica with Lorretta Lynn and is now hosting his own TV show in Nashville), Joe Weed (records and plays fiddle, mandolin and vocals with Rob Ickes, Norton Buffalo, David Grissman, Martin Simpson, Todd Phillips, and Joe Craven).

    While living in Santa Cruz, 1995 to 2001, he formed an all original fusion "Satriani-esque" rock band called "Xibition", moved to San Diego in 2001 and put together another all original fusion rock band called "Newer Signs". Recently, in addition to developing his own original music, performing and recording locally in the "Janet Rucci Band", he has joined the "Steer Crazy" country swing band. Michael says "it is a brand new project with great promise, fully utilizing all of our years of experience, we are all thoroughly enjoying performing in this band, I feel very fortunate and honored to be playing with these world class musicians."

Home | Art | Music Home | Famous Quotes | Contact