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Artists Biography !
First a little family history
...Kevin Michaels grew up in a family of Musicians
and entertainers that have performed for
generations. Kevins grandparents sang on the radio
in Barbershop quartets and quintets and toured all
over the world including Asia in the 1940's and
50's and were in the Presidents Choir in 1969.
Kevin's uncle Michael Kollander played guitar for Bobby Darin, Andy Williams, Roger
Kellaway, Tom Scott,
Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Paul Potash and Charo.
Michael wrote many songs. One song he wrote was called
"Skinny Man" which was talking about
Kevins father, which received considerable
airplay. Michael also arranged songs and played
and recorded in every venue that was available at
the time. He did extensive tours, and worked in
Las Vegas in the 60's and 70's.
Kevin's other uncle John Foss, a long time Trumpet
player who graduated from New England Conservatory of Music
in the late fifties, went on to playing with many
greats such as Tommy Dorsey, Wayne Newton, the
Beach Boys, Andy Williams, Sammy Davis Jr., Robert
Goulet, Roger Kellaway, Chicago, Maynard Ferguson,
Frank Sinatra along with a whole slew of
entertainers that went through the mid 60's to
late 70's Vegas show circuit.
Kevin's aunt Cielle Kollander was a part of a
backup singing unit for Andy Williams, Roger
Kellaway, and was on many Fifth Dimension, Les Baxter,
Yma Sumac, etc.
Kevin's mother Diane sang with his aunt Cielle for
Andy Williams and Roger Kellaway and worked with
many other Artists such as, Emil Richards, Chuck
Domanico, Tom Scott, and many other greats artists
whom Kevin met early in his childhood.
Kevin's father worked with many artists
such as Elton John, Leon Russel, Barbara Keith,
Roger Kellaway, Chicago, The Beach Boys, Tommy
Bolin, Tom Scott, Linda Rondstat, Dolly Parton,
Mike Lang, Andy Williams, Billy Joel, Crosby Still
Nash and Young, Charles
Lloyd, The Beach Boys Charles Lloyd,Earle Mankey,
Alan Jardine, Billy Hinsche, Ed Carter, Dennis Wilson,
Ricky Fataar, Ron Altbach, Sidney Sharp, Marilyn Wilson,
Henry Roth, Jack Nimitz, Jay Migliori, William Kurasch,
Mike Kowalski, Jules Jacobs, Henry Ferber, and Kiki Dee.
Kevins father went on extensive road
trips throughout the world with many of them.
Kevin's father built many studios in Southern
California, mainly Brother Studio, Sound City,
Village Recorders, Gold Star, Location Recorders,
etc.
Education !
Kevin has studied drums with Ricky Fataar former
drummer for: The Flames, Beach Boys, Joe Walsh, Bonnie
Raitt, Tim Finn, Renee Geyer, Richard Clapton, Kids in
the Kitchen, Split Enz, Crowded House, Mondo Rock,
Delbert McClinton, Michael Bruce, Elton John, Robert
Palmer, Etta James, Keb Mo, Peter Cetera, Phoebe Snow,
Anne Murray, Blondie Chaplin, Stephen Bruton, Yothu
Yindi and Ricci Martin, Tommy Bolin, including country
star Dolly Parton.
Kevin has studied drums privately with Chuck Glave;
David Eagle formerly of Oingo Boingo; John Guerin who
recorded and performed with Joni Mitchell and Tom Scott
(LA Express).
Kevin is has been studying jazz, blues, rock, country,
r&b, funk, including advanced drum technology using
techniques taught and developed by Joe Porcaro since 2000. Joe has played and
recorded with Sheffield Jazz Experience, Joe Cocker,
Living Out Loud, Smooth Jazz, Rosemary Clooney, Don
Ellis, Harry Connick Jr., Frank Sinatra, John Klemmer,
David Benoit, Richard Marx, Roger Kellaway, Steven
Kowalczyk, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Harvey Mandel,
Lee Ritenour, Milt Jackson, Louie Bellson, Severin
Browne, Raymone Carter, Felix Cavaliere, Chuck Findley,
Jerry Hey, Victor Feldman, Charles Loper, Rick Baptist,
Leland Sklar, Steve Lukather, Dennis Budimir, Gary
Grant, David Paich, David Hungate and many others,
including most movie and television (including series)
sound tracks. Joe Porcaro studied under Alexander LePak
and taught at Musicians Institute (MI) in Hollywood
California and is currently co-department head at Los
Angeles Music Academy, in Pasadena California.
Kevin studied advanced drum technology in spent most of
2002 under Ralph Humphrey who is also Los
Angeles Music Academy drum co-department head(with Joe
Porcaro); Ralph has worked with many top artists
including but not limited to: Frank Zappa, Al Jarreau,
Henry Mancini, Jose Feliciano, Manhattan Transfer,
Wayne Shorter, Willie Bobo, Shirley Bassey, Peter
Allen, Karen Alexander, Caldera, Lynda Carter, Randy
Crawford, C.O.D., George Doering, Ken Wild, Dean Parks,
Napoleon Murphy Brock, Mike Garson, Don Ellis, David
Foster, Chester Thompson, Ray Kelley, Ray White,
Patrick O'Hearn, Tommy Mars, etc, etc,.
Kevin has also studied Latin percussion with
Bobby Matos, and has attend three World Beat Rhythm
Seminars under Maria Martinez and
Ed Roscetti. Our drummeister, Kevin, studied with Billy
Higgins shortly before his untimely passing! (We love
you Billy!).
Kevin since July of 2003, studied under
Alphonse Mouzon, who started the group Weather
Report. Mouzon served as a session drummer on
recordings by Tim Hardin (Bird on a Wire), Gil
Evans (Gil Evans), Weather Report (Weather
Report), Norman Connors (Dance of Magic),
John Klemmer (Magic and Movement), and Teruo
Nakamura (Unicorn). Mouzon released solo albums: The
Essence of Mystery, Funky Snakefoot, Mind
Transplant. Trilogue Live was a
collaborative group effort between Albert Mangelsdorff,
Jaco Pastorius and Alphonse Mouzon. Mouzon was a
full-time member of Larry Coryell's Eleventh House
(1974 - 1975) and Back Together Again. Mouzon
hasn't limited to just fusion however, as he's proven
his versatility by either recording with or performing
alongside the likes of Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton,
Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Patrick Moraz, Tommy Bolin,
and Chubby Checker. Additionally, Mouzon has been
acting, including a part alongside Tom Hanks, in the
film, That Thing You Do!.
Kevin is currently studying Big Band music with Danny Pucillo,
who has played along side John Foss in Robert Goulet's band in
the 70's.
Kevin is understudy to: Buddy Childers, Pat Longo and
Steve Spiegl Big-Bands; also studied under Ralph Razze, a versatile
big-band drummer, who has worked with all of the greats!
In 1970 Steve Spiegl became the chief arranger
for the Stan Kenton Orchestra, arranging one of the biggest
hits, "Hey Jude" (from the Beatles), recorded on the "Live
at Redlands University" album. In 1973, he won the Hollywood
Radio and Television Society's International Broadcasting
Award for writing the music for the "World's Best Broadcast
Ad of the Year". Steve was Director of Jazz Studies and Brass
at Pepperdine University, Malibu, and published over 50 original
compositions for school jazz bands with Maggio Music Press. In
1985 the Concord Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corp used Steve's
composition "Bacchanalia" as their opener for their winning
performance at the Drum Corp International. Over 10,000 schools
throughout the U.S. and Canada currently use Steve's compositions
in their music programs. For 34 years, Steve has rehearsed weekly
with his own band, the Steve Spiegl Big Band, which features some
of the biggest names in the Hollywood studio industry. They have
just released their fourth album "Enigma", on the Sorcerer Records
label. Prior albums have been "Hot!" (1979), "Perspectives" (1981),
and "Then and Now" (1993). Kevin at present, is studying under
the most influential players, writers, and arrangers in the history
of Big band jazz music ! This has helped Kevin's playing tremedously in icreasing
his interpretation, from subtle to ultimate ferociousness. There is also
an element of sweetness and charm to his playing; equal in small combo bands
to the ultimate of all bands, and that being Big Band music playing!!
Isn't it great to see a fifth generation musicians coming into his own!
Watch out for this boy Kevin it looks like he's on the path towards
real musical greatness!
Career Highlights !
Kevin as a teenager went to Holland with his father who
was with the Beach Boys at the time and
recorded some percussion tracks on the Beach Boys
Holland Album the songs entitled "Trader" and
"Sail on Sailor" which Brother Records/
Warner Bros. Released in 1973, and also can be heard on
their "In Concert" record later in the next
year.
Kevins father had recorded both of the tracks in the
studio at Carls request in the BBC-2 Studio that was in
a little hamlet called Baambrugge, which Kevin helped
build with the Crew his father had hired. Kevin
occassionally played with the Beach Boys in the Studio
and in Concerts which allowed him to gain first hand
experience in recording and stage performance with the
most famous bands that were successful and whom allowed
him to play on the same stages as Commander Cody and
His Lost Planet Airmen, the Grateful Dead, New Riders
of the Purple Sage, Honk, etc., while gaining much
needed experience.
Carl being one of his favorite friends in the band who
supported encouraged him to record and play whenever he
was around. Carl and the rest of the guys used to love
seeing Kevin come in while they were recording and
asked him occassionaly to sit in and play drums or
guitar or whatever seemed cool at the time. Dennis has
encouraged Kevin in learning the bass guitar when he
was young.
Kevin went on and played and with Ron Shumake, Stan Behrens, Henry Vestine, Skip Taylor who were members
of Canned Heat in 1979 along with friend Jimmy Roberts, from time to time, Kevin then joined with Kieran White, founder and
leader of Steamhammer (a blues band from England) in
1980. Kevin went on and formed his own band called Renegade shortly
after this time and the band did quite well.
Kevin quit Renegade then got some guys together and
called themselves Guitar Willie and Freeride and
performed as a cover band that played top forty and
some original compositions until 1981. Shortly after
this Kevin left the band and joined up with Gene
Summers and played all of Gene's original folk, blues
oriented songs, that had a taste of JJ Cale, and the
captivating Eric Clapton guitar sound to it.
In 1982 Kevin formed another Band Called Oxiegen. This
band was another Studio oriented band much in the style
of Steely Dan in the early days, while writing and
recording songs in the Studio then releasing great
songs. Oxiegen has currently recorded more than fifty
hours of original songs including some greatly
re-arranged and burning top forty songs like Santanas
"Black Magic Woman," and others like the
Beatles, "Glass Onion." Of all the top forty
songs recorded the ones Kevins band recorded are still
more refreshing and pleasing today then when they were
done by the original artists. In 1983 Kevin worked with
Brian Bouchard in Seattle.
Kevin has done Concerts like the "Summer of Love
Revival" Concerts held in San Francisco in 1987--
in fact the Crowd and the Stage Manager loved Kevin and
his band so much that he was asked to play an extra
hour on top of the forty-five minutes allotted to all
of the other bands that were scheduled to perform that
day.
Kevin Michaels Band was made up of, Don Julio -Lead Guitar player & Singer, Richard Simon the
Bassist, Alex Escovel - Rhythm Guitar, Dave "The
Conga Man from West Hollywood California" and
Keyboardist Luke "Super Cool" Theule (from
the Procol Harum band). Kevin performed on the many of
the same stages along with Moby Grape, in fact at one
gig Don Stevenson asked if he could play on Kevins
Black Chrome Slingerland Drums, while doing a joint gig
at the Moscone Center, since both were doing separate
shows there that day.
Kevin has also played on the same stage with It's a
Beautiful Day, John Sebastian of the Lovin Spoonful,
Fraternity of Man and Strawberry Alarm Clock , Country
Joe, Maria Maldaur, plus Max Gail and Friends, Brewer
and Shipley, Joe Houston, Mickey Champion and many
other exciting Artists such as Ice Breaker, Michael
Stevens, Curtis Gray and the Blues II Blues Band, Under
the Wheel (a spanish rock band), Kerry Doolin, Jimmy
Roberts, Gerald Ishibashi& Stonebridge, Guitar
Shorty and The Darlings, Champagne Velvet (Country),
Alley Gators (Blues Rock), The
Martins, Teddy Lee Hooker, Tommy Tedesco, Jimmy Smith, JK Coltrain, John Rangel, Michael Saucier,
Mack Dougherty, etc. etc.,
and can often be caught at The Baked Potato, the Whisky
a Go Go, Rocco's in Bel Air and many other fine Music
Venues in and around Southern California.
What others have said about Kevin !
"you sound like Neil Peart, Billy Cobham and
Vinnie Colaiuta all rolled into one!"(Kenny Kasman of
the Kazmaniax)
"your drum sound and style is like Nigel Olsson,
the drummer for Elton John"
"you sound like the early Mitch Mitchell and Keith
Moon"
"you drum like Ginger Baker"
"your playing reminded me of Tony
Williams"(Nick Future, Producer: Keith Washington)
"You play hard without your ego getting in the way, and very polished" (Johnny Mayer)
"You're going to be big!" (George Mason, Jazz Bassist)
"You have more chops than any other drummer i've played with!" Will Ray (Helecasters)
You must remember that what people say is only a
partial truth about Kevin and based only according to
their own perceptions of taste and style rather than on
knowledge gained from a handful of exceptional
instructors that Kevin has personally chosen to study
under, all of them combined have really broadeneded and
diversified his styles of music, knowledge,
coordination and technique; all of this has resulted in
a new style of application and approach to music which
is now at the fore-front of this 'New Music Business.'
Personal
thoughts and motivations in music
As a solo artist, producer and writer
Kevin is obsessed with expanding the boundaries of
percussion and drums in all types of musical settings
(genres). He attempts to incorporate heavy elements of
jazz, rock, fusion, country, latin and classical
including worldbeat and pure energetic and sweet
african rhythms into his music; writing lyrics that are
literate and self-consciously meaningful, and he has
never been afraid to emphasize this fact in the press
and to many of the Artists and Bands he has been
involved in. He is a true leader in incorporating many
diverse rhythms into all types of tunes such as rock,
old and contemporary blues to jazz, while not being
showy but adding a scintillating and energetic flavor
and feel to his playing, much like Jeff Porcaro and
other great drummers did before him.
If you are interested in local or world-wide events,
please sign in. Your name, address, telephone number
will never be sold, given away without your permission,
ever !
Contact Kevin !
Please contact Kevin
for any information that you may need for musical
services or band for any public appearances or
performace requests to promote musical interests in the
local community or world at large.
If you
wish to contact Kevin,
Email addresses are:
kevinmichaels2004@yahoo.com
or,
Worldwide Artists, Ltd.,
P.O. Box 38412,
Los Angeles 90038,
California
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