Arbite
29 posts
May 18, 2009
10:03 PM
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We dont really know your story, How did you get started in Music, and why? Did you start of with the harmonica?
How old where you? How long have you been playing, ETC ETC
Tell us the WHOLE story,
I bet iam not the only one interested in this.
Have a great Day everyone
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http://www.youtube.com/arbite83
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TheBlackNote
40 posts
May 19, 2009
12:20 AM
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I to am interested.
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myspace.com/theblacknote
Last Edited by on May 19, 2009 12:22 AM
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RyanMortos
176 posts
May 19, 2009
5:12 AM
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There's a very good interview at The Hooter harmonica blog here:
Chris Michalek Interview at The Hooter Blog
Check it out if you have not.
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~Ryan
PA
Ryan's Tube - Containing [0] uploads and counting...
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The Gloth
46 posts
May 19, 2009
7:02 AM
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That was funny. Did you ate a clown for breakfast ?
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Buddha
446 posts
May 19, 2009
8:46 AM
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I was born a poor half white child. Just like that article says, I believe in many ways that I was born to play harmonica. There are lots of stories about me stealing harmonicas from various neighbors that would baby sit me while my folks were out on the street corners holding up signs that said "Will work for food. God Bless you"
I remember on my fifth birthday when my dad brought me out to buy my first harmonica. It was a Golden Melody, I'm sure that harmonica has been tossed by now, I remember it being a very special item to me and of course like most stupid young men, I gave it to a girl.
I don't know how I learned to play exactly, but most of it came from a How to Play the Harmonica book. It had a bunch of jig and reels and I remember learning Oh Susannah and Skip to my Lou.
My 10th birthday is another day that I recall. My dad hired an ape, I'm not kidding, he seriously hired a dude in an ape costume to come to the party. I remember him playing guitar and everybody told me to get my harmonica. I was improvising along with this guy and I recall him being really impressed that I was able to play along with him as a 10 yr old. Aside from my folks and such, I recall this guy telling me that he could tell I would become a special musician.
I don't recall the years from age 10-16. I know I didn't play a lot and remember Hee Haw was on TV and I saw Charlie McCoy playing. That sparked my interest again. I knew exactly where my harmonicas were, at the bottom of the toy barrel. I dumped it out and found my harmonicas. There were several diatonics and a couple of chromatic harps. I had a 270 chrom with a broken button. So we went to the music store and came across Dick Gardener's business card. I went to see him, he fixed the harmonica and explained everything he was doing as he did it. That was my first lesson is building harps. Dick invited me out to the twin city harmonica society and I went the next week and every week for years after that.
They mostly frowned on diatonics so I played chromatic at this club.
When I was in high school, we were coming back from a football game that we lost. One of my friends had two harmonicas. He tossed one to me and he played. He said let's play some blues so we did. The harmonicas were in different keys, He had a C harp and I had the G harp. I used my ears to match his tones. This was the moment I got serious about playing the harmonica.
For 15 years after that there wasn't a spare moment I had where I didn't play the harmonica. I used to sleep with it in my hand because I believe it brought me power. I always carried 3, 6 or 9 of them. I'm funny about numbers and believed those were power numbers that would keep me connected to the universe.
The first album I ever bought was the one with Big Walter and Carey Bell. I hated it! One day my dad came home with every charlie mccoy album that was available. I spent hour after hour learning everything on those albums. I recall thinking Orange Blossom Special was sped up because "Nobody can play that fast" I learned it though but at half speed and eventually, I got it at full speed.
Eventually, McCoy's music stopped speaking to me and I went to the library to check out any and every album that had harmonica on it. I came across a record called Beans Taste Fine by Papa John Kolstad and Mike Turk. It was by virtue of living in MN that I was able to get this album because Papa John lives in Minneapolis. This album was jazzy, blues, countryish and one that really spoke to me on many levels. I learned everything on there except for one tune. That tune had a funny note in it that I just couldn't hit.
I knew about altering reeds and started filing different reed to get that note. Eventually I found it but it wasn't the same sound. Shortly after that I had a key of B harmonica (golden melody) Blow six was stuck and the only note that would come out was the six OB. BINGO!!!!! That was the sound. I went back to that record and could now play along with it.
All of that happened in 1988. I learned every technique within the first few months of playing seriously. I also knew how to read music from playing the chromatic at the harmonica club.
Now I'm going back to the harmonica club but refused to play the chromatic because I wanted to play everything on the diatonic.
In 1991 I went to my first SPAH. I met so many people that year, Joe Filisko, Buzz Krantz, Howard Levy, Jim McLaughlin, Michel Herblin, Annie Raines ( who went by the name Annie Cohen). I met William Galison, Pete Pederson, Ron Kalina and many more. During that week, my playing skills jumped several levels. I was already a good player (more advanced than any of the current 20ish yr old players) and everyone was prodding me to enter the IHO contest but I refused. After all of them played the general consensus was I probably would have placed 2nd or 3rd.
After that SPAH, I had the confidence to join a blues band. That's when I got into gear....
In 1992 the Flecktones came to town and because I'd met Howard, I got invited to play with them. (This is when they were still playing really small bars and clubs) Playing with those guys and hanging with them really changed my attitude about playing music. I learned that the best players are always giving and generally being generous with their knowledge.
I continued to go to SPAH conventions and the harmonica club. I was already modifying my own harps to play better and was making them for guys like RJ Mischo who lived in town at the time.
Now that I was serious about music, I was into listening to everything and came across a John McLaughlin album, Shakti. Indian music.... WOW that was the stuff. That's when I got into Ragas and from there I would look for music from different regions of india and eventually got into central Asian, Pakastani, Turkish, Japanese. Chinese, French, Israeli and Egyptian Music.
Around 1994 I started attending a weekly jazz Jam and really learned how to play by playing with those guys. I got into a band that was usually opening for the larger acts. Bela came through town again and I was at this time sounding very much like Howard Levy. Our band was opening for the flecktones and so I had access to the green rooms. I played a quick bebob line that turned Bela's head "HOWARD!!" and then he realized it wasn't him. I expected him to remember me but he didn't at all... but he still invited me to play after chatting with them. I got to play Howard's part in Sinister Minister. A dream come true!
After some other locals saw me playing with Bela, that opened the door for me into the elite circle of local musicians. Now I'm playing with some of the best players in Minneapolis and I was subbing, guesting or being a member of various bands that covered many types of music. I got hooked up with most of the New Power Generation guys and other players from Prince's touring groups. Lot of Pat Metheny group members lived in MN and I was playing with them, it was a great time. I met Bonnie Raitt and played with her (her brother lives in Minneapolis) I played with people like Lonnie Brooks, BB King, Buddy Guy lots of serious players. I was doing lots of sessions for local records and commercials. I started the Major Jazz Festival in MN and also put on the Global Harmonica Summit which was only possible because I knew so many great musicians and most clubs knew me as a player.
Then my wife wanted to move to AZ. We did and that pretty much killed my music life. I got a "regular job" because I couldn't make it out here with my music. Eventually, I got laid off from my gravy train job and after being broker than broke I decided to make youtube vids, give skye lessons and build harps for anyone who wanted them.
That pretty much bring me up to date.
This morning, I checked MBH and saw that Arbite wanted to hear my story so here I am writing it now.
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snakes
230 posts
May 19, 2009
1:41 PM
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Buddha,
I see you mentioned Jim McLaughlin in your comments about SPAH. Jim lives close to me and I was able to go to his wedding last year. He has been fighting lymphoma in the last couple of years. He did wear a white jacket at his wedding, but still had the tie-dye pants on. The band Jim plays in (Bobby Holland and the Breadline) played a rousing set after the wedding with Kim Field and others jamming along. Jim does an amazing train imitation where two trains pass each other in a tunnel and then the train passes a couple animals fighting in a farmer's field and then races a car to an intersection where there is a crash. Small world...
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Buddha
448 posts
May 19, 2009
2:09 PM
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Jim, is one of the most interesting persons I have ever met. I'll never forget the time he showed up at SPAH in the middle of a jam. He had back pack full of harmonicas and he dumped them on the floor because he was looking for his mouth organ. In this case, his mouth organ was a large dildo with a harmonica suck in it. You should have seen the look on the faces of all those old people.
There was another year he showed up where he was hired to drive a car from Florida to Seattle. Jim was beating the sit out of that car. Driving over curbs and in and out of ditches, I'm surprised if he even made it back with that car in working order. Note to self: NEVER hire Jim to drive your car anywhere.
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djm3801
123 posts
May 19, 2009
2:38 PM
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Chris,
Interesting life you have had. Arbite, glad you asked.
Dan M
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Arbite
30 posts
May 20, 2009
3:40 AM
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Haha just wished i had seen the Dildomonica, haha f in Hilarious
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http://www.youtube.com/arbite83
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Buddha
453 posts
May 20, 2009
6:13 AM
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"TheBuddha Rules! And he has and continues to inspire me! he kills crazy attack dogs with knives on the street when threatened, He is the man."
Ha, I was just talking to one of my neighbors about that yesterday. Apparently there were a few breakins in my neighborhood but my house was untouched. My neighbor thinks it was somebody in the neighborhood that did it and thinks I'm a totally violent whack job. He was telling me, even people blocks away know about what I did.
Before there are questions on this...
YES, I killed a dog, I nearly cut off his head with my pocket knife. Well, it's not really a pocket knife, there is a 4 1/2" blade on it.
So I just returned from working my dogs when my wife wants me to check out a garage sale with her. We grab our little 11yr pug and walk down there (four houses away). So we're at this garage sale and the owner's Akita busts through the door and attacked my pug. As I mentioned, I train protection dogs. I have ZERO fear of aggressive dogs. The pug is screaming because it's in the Akita's mouth.
I'm kicking the shit out of the dog and grab it by the neck to slam it on the ground. At that second, I see the dog turn his eyes to me and begin to release the dog. The was no way in hell I was going to take a bite from an akita. Without much thought, I take out my field knife and slice it through his neck.
There were at least eight people who saw this. They all screamed like we were in some kind of reality horror show. The cops got called.
At the end of everything, the neighbor had to pay my $660 vet bill and he got a ticket from the police. Nothing happened to me except now people who live in my area think I'm completely nuts. The neighbor moved away a few months ago.
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Buddha
454 posts
May 20, 2009
7:37 AM
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I've seen the way you dress which is very peculiar for a black man. Don't forget that my dog wanted to bite you before you left. BTW- have you seen my purple re-10? I can't seem to find it since you left.
Last Edited by on May 20, 2009 7:38 AM
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Buzadero
76 posts
May 20, 2009
7:52 AM
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And, what (pray tell) is a "re-10"?
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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sopwithcamels266
51 posts
May 20, 2009
8:55 AM
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Ok Buddha's been a top pro and played with some big names.So I says to my self once a muso always a muso.
There is more to this you see. Buddha gives away a top tip in his story.Its synonomous with all top players in my view and you as the reader can take it or leave it if you recognise it.
Ok that aside Buddha says he is now in AZ.I'm thinking umm experiments, science,Genetics, technology, inovation, these could be all associated with this very fine Artist.
He is a specialist for sure.
May be a clandestine approach by Buddha until the breakthrough and he exposes it to the rest of the world.This could make him a genious.
Remember this is the man on this very forum that taught me and Ausiesucker to spin a wench in either direction,split her in half and stop her dead.
Ok, this is it you must keep the secret to help Buddha.
He trains dogs, gives skye lessons as a top harp man.
SO here it is.
A clue could be in the blues man Hound Dog Taylor
Buddha is training dogs to play diatonic harp
He owns 3 Rottweilers which my guess will do jazz, hard bop.
The Blegian malinois which i think is a smoke screen for German Sheppard, their doing blues.
Last i think his pugs are on Country and western.
If Buddha makes this breakthrough he's got the world in his hands.
Last Edited by on May 20, 2009 8:57 AM
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Buddha
455 posts
May 20, 2009
9:45 AM
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dude, it's hard NOT to profile a man who wears a scarf and a cape while sporting a funky french style moustache.
You may be a super hero in your world but in my house you're just another treat for the Rotties.
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Preston
366 posts
May 20, 2009
12:48 PM
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@Sop:
Country "AND" Western? Is that two seperate genres or one?
I always giggle when I hear that. I don't remember a time when it was ever called Country and Western, but people who are not fans always call it that.
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oldwailer
732 posts
May 20, 2009
1:44 PM
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OK Preston--so is it "Rhythm" or is it "Blues?" I always thought it was Rhythm AND Blues--but I could be wrong--I have seen Country and Western as "C&W" and "R&B" as "Rhythm and Blues," but I have never been accused of not being a fan when I called C&W Country & Western.
How could I not be a fan? I was raised in Utah where watching Red Foley and Grand Old Opry was required! ;-)
Is it Flatt or is it Scruggs?
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snakes
231 posts
May 20, 2009
1:53 PM
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Yes, Jim McLaughlin is a hoot. Shoulda' been at the wedding...
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Honkin On Bobo
71 posts
May 20, 2009
2:03 PM
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Buddha, always thought of you as a great musician and artist. As I said before, to me you're the Les Paul of the harmonica world.
But now with that "slicing the dog's head off" story you have become "The Man".
Don't get me wrong, I like dogs in general, but some, like that akita deserve what they get.
Coming back from a jam recently w/ my girlfriend. Walking up to our apartment, Some guy walking his 2 pitbulls on leashes in front of us. As we go past them the dogs start going nuts, barking, growling and straining on the leash to get at us. I've got no weapons on me. I was nervous. All I could think to do was flip my keys around in my hand so that the largest one was sticking between index/middle fingers. My thought was if they come at us I might get lucky enough to gouge one of its eyes out go get them to stop.
It never got to that as he eventually got them under control, and we weren't attacked. But I was just living vicariously through your story.
You are the man.
Last Edited by on May 20, 2009 2:06 PM
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Elwood
65 posts
May 20, 2009
2:23 PM
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Makes the monkey paw seem pretty mild in comparison...
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Preston
367 posts
May 20, 2009
2:30 PM
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Oldwailer:
I've absolutely never heard it called Country and Western by anybody except people who don't listen to it. Maybe its something geographical. I've been in the midwest all my life, and have been an avid Country fan. But then again, they have the CMA awards (Country Music Association) and they have CMT (Country Music Television) and stuff like that.
It's no big deal and totaly off of the subject from this thread, it's just something that makes me laugh when I hear it. But maybe I'm the one that says it wrong!
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harmonicanick
289 posts
May 20, 2009
2:57 PM
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Buddah you made me laugh and choke!
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