Profile
Name:
Michael Ray
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4,805
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Americana
Age:
69
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May 8, 2009
Latest Activity:
3 weeks ago
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Website:
Mike Wilhelm, fingerpickering ace and Knight of the Slide, plays with Hired Guns and solo.
About Me:
Being a founding member of San Francisco's first psychedelic rock band, the amazing Charlatans, Mike Wilhelm staked his claim in Rock and Roll history early on. The musical earthquake that happened in and around San Francisco in the mid '60s, which would go around the globe in waves, was generated by five sharp-dressed, curious and visionary musicians about to touch new land; the dawn of psychedelic rock and the fashion, image and culture that would follow was loudly trumpeted by the appearance of the amazing Charlatans. The dancehall and festival culture as well as the Vietnam protest movement were direct results of a youth that wanted to open their minds while embracing the world.
While still a teenager, he ran into Walter "Brownie" McGhee, the legendary bluesman and partner of Sonny Terry. McGhee, described by Mike as "a most generous teacher", taught Wilhelm his fingerpicking licks. Highly talented Mike impressed McGhee so much that he taught him at no charge and obviously very, very well. His fingerpicking creates the illusion that you hear at least one more guitar. His slide work has an elegant silverish tone and accuracy, both the softness and bite of a panther. He is a cultural bridge between Robert Johnson, Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Cash.
His career led him around the world, playing LA's famed Whisky a Go-Go and Berlin's historic Sportpalast as well as the legendary Avalon, Fillmore and Winterland, touring Japan and Europe, working with Janis Joplin's Big Brother and the Holding Company, Chicago blues great Nick "the Greek" Gravenites, playing and recording with Quicksilver Messenger Service's John Cipollina, influencing West Coast Sound and establishing trends as art forms with his bands the Charlatans, Loose Gravel and Flamin' Groovies. Mike tells the story of this land and its people when doing songs such as Pizen Switch and Betty And Dupree on six or twelve strings.
Writer H. C. Anderson is a music critic from Berlin, Germany who currently resides in San Francisco.
Record Label:
Six Twelve Records
Label Type:
Independent
Band Members:
Current lineup Mike Wilhelm & Hired Guns: Mike Wilhelm - guitar/lead vocal, Randy Hare - guitar/vocal, Jim "Jimmy the Lion" Leonardis - tenor sax, Jamie Webber - bass and Slammin' Scott Slagle - drums/vocal.
Influences:
Brownie McGhee, Robert Johnson, Steve Mann, Lonnie Johnson, "Robert Junior" Lockwood, Eric Frandsen, Mose Allison, Monica Dupont, many more
Sounds Like:
Mike Wilhelm
Hometown:
Hollywood, CA
Country:
United States
Occupation:
Guitar player
Interests:
Guitars, Blues, Rock 'n' Roll, Motorcycles
Albums:
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Subscribers
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BLUE FLAME by Lennie Lewis, recorded in 1946 and here released on a QUEEN label 78 rpm record. This label was made by the KING record company. EN...
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Mike Wilhelm, founder of the Charlatans and Official American Heritage holder, world-renown blues artist, and his Bottle Rock band let it roll at t...
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Channel Comments
Any new CD's? I'll buy one!
Have a great day.