I will miss Buddha around here as will many others. Good, Bad or Indifferent he was quite the personality on this forum and will leave a hole that will not soon be filled. I will probably spend the rest of my harp playing days kicking myself for dragging my feet and not buying one of his harps and getting the lesson. I figured I would see him at SPAH this year and I would talk to him then about it. Yet, a sobering reminder that life is short and often shorted than expected.
I have started this thread as a way to share, Video, Pictures, memories or thoughts of the great Chris (Buddha) Michalek
I had a harp I had to send him yesterday, but we had a snow storm and I didn't make it to the post office. Sadly, I had worked on a GM in A I was going to send with it as a gift. :( ---------- Mike VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
Chris and I shared a lot of exchanges, both on forums and via emails. We had a wager last year concerning his beloved Vikings and my Saints. As you know, I won. I thought nothing of it. The wager was for the best recipe either of us had. I did try to hold him to it, and he responded with something silly, like putting a hot dog in the microwave. This last mentioned exchange was on Facebook. He emailed me, and offered to make me a comb for one of my harps in purple(a jab from him, as a diehard Vikes fan), which he quickly found out we both shared as a favorite color(this had nothing to do with the Vikings). Knowing that making harps was his livelihood, I never held him to it. I didn't want to distract him from building harps from paying customers. I halfway wish I would have taken him up on it, as I'd have a physical memory of him now.
Two days ago, when he was banned from the forum, I had just purchased my routine lottery and Powerball tickets. Being the dreamer I am, I started to think of what I would do if I hit the big money from a harp player's perspective. I was going to start a thread entitled 'If Money Were No Object', but never did. It would include the amps I would try and buy, the mics I'd have Greg Heumann build me that would probably push his skills to their limit, and...a few Buddha harps. Also, I would bring him and his wife, and maybe even his attack dogs to New Orleans, and put them up in luxury accomodations, then have Chris teach me some of his advanced stuff. I guess i will never get that chance now. I saw through his sometimes coarse public portrayal of himself, and though I never got the chance to personally meet him, I think we would have got along nicely, and much more in common than not. I do believe in God. I can't look upon my beautiful children and not think there is a higher power involved with their creation. Regardless of what Chris would say on this subject, I know the big band in the sky just attained a highly skilled and gifted new member.
RIP. ----------
Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
Last Edited by on Dec 17, 2010 6:37 AM
This is one of the saddest mornings I have experienced in a long time. Chris made harps for me for the last two years and was such a huge influence, even though I never had the chance to meet him in person. I will miss you, Buddha.
I was waiting for an A harp from Chris. It's one of those things where you patiently wait until one day you open the mailbox and there it is. I will have thoughts of Chris every time I open my mailbox for a long time.
One of the most honest, sincere and truly generous people I've ever come into contact with. We all recognize his talent, artistry and innovation, but he was also was a person of prodigious intellect which, because of his strong personality, was easy to overlook.
A devastating loss. I miss him already. My deepest condolences to his family.
In the past 2 weeks I lost my older brother suddenly. It leaves an eerie empty feeling. Our maker makes no appointment for his last visit. My sincere condolences to Chris' family.
I remember Chris posting on Harp-L once about playing "Amazing Grace" at a friend's funeral/memorial service, and how touched he and everyone else was from hearing his soul speak through his harmonica.
We should all play our version of "Amazing Grace" sometime soon in memory of Chris. I personnaly, will find a special time this weekend to do so.
There is a God... the universe is not just some huge accident.
God bless you Chris... say hi to my many friends and family who have gone before you.
Ken H in OH
Last Edited by on Dec 17, 2010 7:42 AM
One, I am shocked to hear the very sad news of Chris's passing at only 39 years old.
Two, I am shocked by the profound effect this has had on me. I didn't know Chris apart from some short exchanges we had here on the forum. I feel I got to know him through watching his videos. He came across as genuine, enthusiastic and very generous with his knowledge.
I warmed to him when it looked like he had just got out of bed with his touseled hair to impart more harmonica wisdom. He looked as though he loved every minute of it.
What a sad day. He made more of an impact than he will know.
Chris and I both went to the same school in St. Paul. It actually was a private Catholic school called St. Agnes. We both grew up in the same rough neighborhood called Frogtown. His wife grew up in a town just south a few miles from where I currently live. I knew that he liked to paint pictures from time to time and sent him some images of my paintings and he was very pleasant about it all.
I have two Buddha harps and got to hang with him at SPAH a bit. He was an exceptionally skilled teacher and knew when to push and when to praise or calm his students.
He totally was another man in person, via e-mail than he was on the forum. Why…I had some guesses as to why but I will never know for sure.
I do know that whatever topic he was a part of on the forum would not be dull! I too will really miss this man…
I've been a wreck all day and am literally doing anything I can to keep my mind busy. Usually, I handle stuff like this pretty well. I mean, I don't ignore it or stuff my feelings away, but I am able to keep pretty rationale.
I am trying to tell myself to use the impact of today's news to push myself forward as a harmonica player out of respect for his playing and with the reminder that life is way too short.
Really, I just want to go home and mope, though. I think there will be multiple tributes of sorts to the big man as the days pass. I tried to find some purple combs to honor him by, but no luck, lol.
Like everyone else, I was shocked to read the news. I met Chris in Sacramento at SPAH 2009, read his comments here and gradually developed a sense of knowing the man, respecting and appreciating him for who and what he was. How strange this technology is where we develop strong associations with people we have maybe met once.
I bit the bullet and ordered a Buddha harp a while ago. On Wednesday had 2 email exchanges with Chris that reflected his level of caring and craftsmanship. My harp was on his work desk - how insignificant that is now!!
He will be missed and my deepest feelings go to his family and friends. Man, I can't even get the harp within 6" of my mouth without tearing up in memory of him. He will be missed.
I have been (and still am) traveling for the last few days, and haven't been able to log on. Just now getting the chance to look at MBH, I am so amazingly shocked to learn of the passing of a man who I considered a friend and mentor. He let me into his home, showed me how to make harps, gave me lessons on how to play, and invited me to his shows. He did all of this because he liked me. We met through MBH, and with out it, I would have missed out knowing such an incredibly generous and talented person. I will miss him greatly. His demeanor never did translate well into the typed world of the internet forum, but his intentions were always good. He told it like he saw it. Being blunt sometimes set him at odds with the people here, but like it or not, he was usually correct. If only everyone could have got to know him in person as I did, you would have finally "got" him.
Sadly, Chris is not the only friend of mine to pass away suddenly and before his time. I have experienced this twice before in the past. Like those other friends of mine, Chris's passing has left a deep gap in my life. I intend to patch that gap as best as I can with my harmonicas and with the Blues.
At first I thought this was a joke. It would be just like Chris to do something like that. Unfortunately,it's not. Words can't express my shock and sadness. I hope he's somewhere showing Little Walter a thing or two.
I'm so glad I had a chance to meet him in person. In addition to his staggering talent and knowledge, which everyone here already knows about, he was also a really kind, generous, patient, perceptive, honest, and funny guy. I'm definitely going to miss him, and I'm always going to regret not having spent more time with him.
This is really sad. Earlier today I was angry to see that he was banned from the forum and then just few hours after that I saw he had gone. Just like that.
I knew him for a year and a half via this forum. We made a deal in the summer of 2009 to get lessons from him on harp building. He made and send me the initial set of tools and then we started to have skype sessions, emails and chats around the different topics. I remember the first skype session we had - because of the time difference it was early morning here and late at night there. He had forgot about the appointment we had but he still answered the call (stoned ;) and then we started. I liked him from the beginning.
After that we met in skype now and then and worked through the techniques to build harps. He was really open and sincere about the techniques. Actually he was also thinking through the whole concept of tools and promised to send me the rest of the new tools as the concept was ready..
I was surprised to see how big influence this news had on my feelings. I didn't realize it but I guess I really build a genuine friendship with him. I realize now that we did also talk about non-harp related things occasionally, and went also quite deep on some topics. He had this way to be sincere which made the relationship really easy. Of course there have been hundreds of emails in this forum also about various topics.
He really had a genuine relationship to the music too and considered it something more than "just" music. A form of art, a way to be a person, truly to express oneself. It was a viewpoint that inspired me. I will miss this man.
Just a few days ago I sorted through my harp collection looking for the Golden Melodly Chris tweaked for me at JR's Rockin the Rockies workshop in Boulder a few years back. It's an odd thing, I love that harp so much I rarely play it, (because I want it to last forever). Today, beginning with Amazing Grace, I'll play it every day...Chris is a beautiful being, evolved and wise enough to make this transition, just as he lived his good years on earth, with grace and childlike wonder.... Blessings, Jeff G Denver CO
I didn't know Chris other than from his forum and Youtube activities but he obviously had a deep level of knowledge, skill and passion about this instrument. If I can achieve one tenth of his level I will count myself fortunate. My condolences to his family and friends.
Chris built me a harp, a very good one. And we became friends. He was one of the most caring and passionate and kind people I ever met. I am very very sad.
My xmas gift to myself was going to be a couple of 'old jeans' combs, I'd bookmarked Chris's thread on them and often gazed at them with desire! R.I.P. Chris, you will live on forever in the harmonica world.
When I first started logging on here a few years ago, and didn't know who Chris was, I thought he was just another argumentative troll on the 'net, but I don't give them much food to feed upon.
When I saw his credentials not long after, and realized he wasn't just someone yanking everyone's chain, I started to read him differently. While I didn't always agree with him, I could appreciate his absolute bluntness to not sugarcoat anything or soften it up for easy digestion. He said it like it was, or at least like he believed it was, and there's few like that left on this planet. Sometimes text is hard to translate, losing some of the tone or personality of speech.
Once I learned Chris was a straight shooter, I could appreciate his messages and responses so much more. He riled a lot of feathers for the way he spoke, but I was able to read past that and absorb his *message*, sometimes regardless of the verbiage, or because of it.
He was an accomplished musician and will be missed for his knowledge about music, and talent for building instruments. It saddens me now, that I won't be able to order a harp from him. I got to inspect one of the harps he built for Old Wailer and it was impressive.
I'm sorta shootin' from the hip on this response. I may edit or add to it later after digesting this sudden news.
What an amazing shock and sadness today. The loss of a friend and mentor.
I was fortunate to go to Chris' house and stay with him for a week to learn customizing and get a couple of lessons. He was gracious and caring through the whole process of watching me destroy two harps. He made me two harps that I still treasure--they are the most played harps in my bag. I learned a lot in that week.
I will certainly miss him--and my condolences go out to his wife and family.
My best memory of Chris was at SPAH 2009--he was playing with Jimmi Lee near the restaurant in the hotel in Sacramento--Jimmi was playing a 12-bar vamp--calling out a new key every 12 bars--just to screw with Chris. Chris stayed with him--never changed harps--just kept playing in the new key. It was very entertaining as well as amazing that he could do that with a diatonic ten-hole GM.
RIP Chris--see you later. . . ----------
Last Edited by on Dec 17, 2010 1:57 PM
I've re-done my post several times. but I'm at a loss as what to say... My thoughts go out to his family and although I sometimes didn't like his bluntness, I'm happy I had a chance to meet him here...
Very sad day. Great loss for his family, friends and the world wide harmonica community.
Chris & I clashed here a few times ie me being arch conservative and he being one to always push boundaries in music & in forum discussions. There was much he said and played that I didn't agree with, like, or even understand, but I always respected his tremendous knowledge and his greatness as a harp player. Chris will certainly be missed around here.
So shocked to hear of his passing. He was still a young man. I also didn't care for his bluntness at times, but you can bet I read every one of his threads. He had much to say, and over time I came to understand that he knew what he talking about.
I am extremely saddened. I've come to realize that I do enjoy this community and would likely be upset equally for other members. We should all learn to respect one another and cherish the day. I worked with Chris, I built his buddhas garden website and got a chance to really get to know him in that time. He will be missed...
In life, the onliest thing you know is that 'ynever really know....
---------- I could be bound by a nutshell and still count myself a king of infinite space
This is unbelievable. I was sure this thread was an over the top way to continue discussing his recent departure from the forum. I am truly saddened to find out he has passed on.
During our one skype lesson he said I was "an above average player" - Neither a compliment or a diss - "just the facts mam" as sgt. Friday used top say. I could live with that assessment from someone like him.
He picked up subtle things - about my posture and tension while playing that made me a more conscious player. I kept putting off scheduling another skype session, wanting to get better before sitting "in front of the master" again. Ah well - it's too late now.
His harp, (one of the black jean comb ones) I got a little while back is a treasure. My explorations of new positions, especially 12th, is directly inspired by him.
I never quite got the dichotomy of his one on one personality and his online presence. He was open, gracious, friendly and giving to me. Then again I can't say I really knew him. His posts about race and the difficulties he had when he was young stick in my mind now for some reason.
My sincere sympathies to his family. Rest in peace Buddha. You will be missed. ----------
Chris was one of the Greatest 10 hole players to have ever walked the earth. I was proud to call him friend. I told him once he was the Paganini and Stradivarius of the harmonica. He blew me away so many times. I heard him play the head to Freedom Jazz Dance and it blue me away. Once I commented about a Stevie Wonders solo and you needed the slide to get the half step he proceeded to play it like Stevie on the ten hole.
Chris was a very spiritual man His music was of the spirit His Buddhas Garden at its height was a Garden of harmonica delight. E=MC2
Happy Trails Till We Meet Again.
---------- Emile "Diggs" D'Amico a Legend In His Own Mind How you doin'
Last Edited by on Dec 17, 2010 10:19 PM
I have had many friends pass but I believe that there is no premature passing.
I believe that even Chris would agree that this was his time and it was his destiny to impact as many lives as he could, leave behind a wealth of music and to go out when called and he has been called.
We can honour him best by striving to achieve new levels of our playing and music. It is what he was trying to get us to do all along. I will strive to celebrate him and his music.
Had a pretty busy afternoon, thankfully, and without thinking went to call him on my way home to talk about the Vikes playing at TCF this Monday. Totally lost it for about 15min tonight...seeing the support for him across the online harp community made me realize how sad so many people are today - not to mention his family, wife, brother, parents...
I just couldn't handle the amount of suffering going on around just this one life today. Sometimes the world and the impermanence can be so much to fathom. ---------- Mike VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
I had a christmas party tonight and when time came to choose a shirt the one with purple in it was an obvious choice. I didn't get the chance to get to know Chris I'm mostly a reader and even on the net I'm a shy person. He was one of my favorite member I learned a lot with his post and his video. I really don't know what to say other than that this is a really sad day. My deepest condolences to his family. I hope I'll get a chance to meet you in the next one. Rest in peace
Martin ---------- Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Isaac Asimov
Sad, don't know what to say except it does help to hear everybody's thoughts. Say's something good about this circle of people. I'm reminded to keep doing good things everyday. -while I have a chance. Thanks Chris
Last Edited by on Dec 17, 2010 7:30 PM
I didn't know Chris personally, but I bought some stuff from him--a harp he made for Jason Ricci and some tools--and he was really nice to deal with. I definitely piled on him and his abrasive ways during the Christelle kerfuffel a while back, but after that I decided he was worth the crap he would throw around on the forum, and would just let it pass.
I've been playing harp for 2 years, I'm not very good but music and the harp in particular means a lot to me. Tonight, for the first time I played in public--at a bar, packed full house. Chris was definitely on my mind. I tried to channel him a bit. Nothing mystical/magical happened, I was very nervous but did ok. I never bought in to Chris's metaphysical postings, personally I think...well it doesn't matter what i think, but I did believe Chris' message that we can be whatever we want to be if we work hard enough. So I plan to keep at it.
I have never posted here. I visit the forum almost every day, and never liked the Way Chris Wrote. I found him harsh and unforgiving , but of course very very knowledgeable , and always read what he had to say. when I read of him being banned it troubled me, and I came back to see if things have been sorted out and Chris is back, but the news of his Death has Shocked me and I Never thought The death of someone I dont know would trouble me so much..RIP Chris, and My deepest condolences to his familyI still wish this is a joke!
Last Edited by on Dec 17, 2010 1:57 PM
